Doesn’t the Bible Say We Should “Hate Our Enemies”?
Some Christians have wondered about passages like Psalm 139:21–22, where David writes:
"Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?... I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies."
At first glance, this seems to contradict Jesus' command to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). In fact, it likely contributed to the common teaching in Jesus' day, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (Matt. 5:43). Yet a closer look shows these passages are not at odds.
First, David's hatred is directed toward those who hate God, not merely those who have wronged David personally. David is not seeking personal revenge. Rather, he identifies himself with God's cause, counting God's enemies as his own. Throughout Scripture, believers are called to hate evil (Amos 5:15), not to cherish personal bitterness. At the same time, the New Testament commands us to pray for our enemies because, while they remain opposed to God today, they may yet be saved by His grace. Our prayer should be, "Lord, save them. But if they refuse to repent, let Your will be done."
Second, David speaks of "complete" or "perfect" hatred. This is not sinful malice but wholehearted loyalty to God. Notice what follows immediately: "Search me, O God... and see if there is any grievous way in me" (Ps. 139:23–24). David invites God to expose any sinful, selfish motives in his own heart. Like Paul's command, "Be angry and do not sin" (Eph. 4:26), righteous hatred is hatred of evil that remains submitted to God's holiness. One of the ways that commentators explain this Hebrew term is in contrast with devotion to God. Or to put it another way, the rejection of the wicked becomes a statement of loyalty to God, as the psalmist hates those who have a total hatred for God. This points to aligning ourselves with God’s will, which is to “hate evil and love good” (Amos 5:15).
Third, David was Israel's king. As God's appointed civil ruler, he had a unique responsibility to execute justice against evil. His prayers often reflect that office. Christians today are not called to wield the sword, but to leave vengeance to God while praying both for justice and repentance. These are not contradictory prayers. We may ask God to restrain evil, frustrate wicked plans, or bring justice, while still sincerely desiring the salvation of those who oppose Him.
Finally, the Bible often uses the language of "hate" comparatively rather than emotionally. Jesus said we must "hate" father, mother, wife, children, and even our own lives to follow Him (Luke 14:26). Clearly, He was not commanding sinful hostility, since elsewhere He commands us to honor and love our families. Rather, He teaches that our devotion to Him must be so great that every other allegiance pales in comparison. The same pattern appears when Scripture says, “Jacob I loved, Esau I hated” (Mal 1:2–3). Or when Jacob himself says, “Rachel I loved, and Leah I hated” (Gen 29:31). “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
There is so much more that could be said, but the overarching truth that we must live by is to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” (Mt 5:44). We can hate evil, long for justice, and reject wickedness while still seeking the eternal good of those who oppose God. After all, we ourselves were once God's enemies, yet "God, being rich in mercy...made us alive together with Christ" (Eph. 2:4–5). The gospel teaches us to oppose sin without ceasing to love sinners, praying that God's grace would triumph in their lives just as it did in ours.
Pastor Caleb
39: What guidance has God given us for our prayers? The whole Word of God is a guide and inspiration for our prayers and specifically the prayer Jesus taught His disciples (Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4).