What Does God Hate?

By: Bill Bratt 


We know that God is Love, but is there anything that God hates? If we did a search in a concordance on this topic the following would pop up.

Seven Things the Lord Hates

Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: {17} A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, {18} A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, {19} A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren."

God not only hates these things, notice that they are an abomination to Him. A proud look is based on pride. Notice that a couple of commandments are being broken, bearing false witness, murder and hate.

God Hates Sin and Iniquity

If I were to ask you what does God hate, chances are the first thought you would think of is ‘God hates Sin!’

What is sin? The definition of sin is found in 1 John 3:4 and the King James Version says: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

The New King James Version says: "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."

Proverbs 10:29, "The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity."

Iniquity is similar to sin, referring to: wickedness; evil, unrighteous and unjust.

Isaiah 1:4 "Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked Him to anger."

Ezekiel 18:30 "The Lord GOD says. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin."

Notice that the answer to sin is to repent!

God Hates Lawlessness

  Let’s look at a few more verses pertaining to lawlessness.

Matthew 13:41 says, ""The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, {42} "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. {43} "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Matthew 24:12, ""And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."

Notice the effects of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.

The apostle Paul says in Romans 6:19, "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness."

2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"

God Hates Wickedness

Psalms 11, beginning in verse 5, "The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. {6} Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. {7} For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright."

Deuteronomy 12:31, ""You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods."

This reminds you of abortion, when after the body parts are removed and sold, the unused parts are incinerated. This is not done in the name of religion but it is done for monetary reasons and selfishness.

God Hates Idol Worship

Deuteronomy 16:22, ""You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates."

Notice what Jeremiah says that relates to this in Jeremiah 10 verse 2, "Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Heathen; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Heathen are dismayed at them. {3} For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. {4} They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. {5} They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.""

This sounds like it could refer to a Christmas Tree. Could this be a "sacred pillar which the LORD your God hates?"

God Hates Divorce

We can’t forget to mention this one.

""For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously"" (Malachi 2:16).

God Hates Hypocrisy

Jesus repeatedly reproved the Pharisees over their hypocrisy, Matthew 23:28, ""Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." {29} "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, ... {33} "Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?"

"If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1 John 4:20).

In Conclusion: Let’s notice what the apostle Paul said, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19).

"Repent, ... for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38).


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