Hate Sin, Not the Sinner
2 Chronicles 28:15 Because King Ahaz sinned greatly and his people suffered for his sin through the hands of Israel, but the prophet Obed stood up for the captives. Like Obed, we are to hate sin, but not the sinner.
6/17/20261 min read
Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So, they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria. 2 Chronicles 28:15 (NKJV)
When Ahaz became king of Judah, he was wicked and sinned, so God sent Syria, and then Isreal to defeat him. When Israel came against him, they took two hundred thousand prisoners to be slaves for them. But the prophet, Obed, stood up and said that God used Israel to punish Judah for their sin, but it was wrong to take the prisoners because they also sinned against the Lord. So, Isreal clothed all who were naked, returned their belongings, and returned them back to Judah.
When we look at other people's sin, we tend to forget that we are sinners, and the phase of the prophet Obed, "but are you not also guilty before the Lord your God?" applies to us. God wants us to hate sin, but He wants us to love the sinner. Romans 12:9 says, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good," instructing us to hate the evil deed, while loving the person. When it comes to correcting someone, love works better than hate in building trust, encouraging openness, and leading to positive change, bringing the individual and us closer to God.
Choose to hate the sin but love the sinner, rejecting harmful actions while showing compassion and care for the person committing them. Recognize that a person’s worth is not defined by their sins, focusing on their potential for change and redemption, and aiming to restore, rather than condemn. Remember that you are no better in the eyes of God and you need to show the love that Jesus showed you when He died for your sins. When you correct sin in love, you show the sinner their worth, promoting their spiritual and personal growth.