The Rule of God’s Law: First Things (18)

Click here to watch a brief video introducing this week’s study. This week’s video is the same as for lesson 2.

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart…”Leviticus 19.17

The opposite affection to love is hate. Hate is a valid affection; we must not think that because hate and love are opposing affections that they necessarily cancel one another out, as though a heart increasing in love has no place for hate. We must learn to love what God commands and to hate what He hates. For example, God commands us to hate sin, and therefore we must train this affection to that focus, according to the Law’s definition of sin.

Hate is a powerful aversive affection, and it can engender other powerful affections – such as anger, vengefulness, and malice – which, unchecked, can lead to sin. Thus the Law of God speaks directly to the proper use of this powerful affection: We must not hate our neighbors. Whenever, resting in God’s searching Spirit, we sense the presence of hate in our hearts, as indicated by any of its attendant affections, we must examine our hearts to make sure that hate is not improperly focused but is being put to its God-intended use.

When the Law of God is in our hearts, it not only warns us against hate, it leads us to structure relationships that keep hate in check. Instead of hating a neighbor who has slighted us, we need to talk with him, explaining our upset, seeking clarification and, where necessary, redress (Lev. 19.17, 18).

Moreover, we must not allow hate and anger at some injury done to a loved one lead us to seek revenge unjustly against perpetrators. The cities of refuge in ancient Israel were established to allow for affections to “cool down” while incidents could be investigated and justice pursued in a decent and orderly manner. The various elements of retributive justice, which could include capital punishment, were also intended, not only to increase fear of God, but to inculcate hatred of sin and its consequences.

The Law of God thus reminds us that, as valid as hate is as an affection, it must be made to serve its proper function and not be allowed to override the demands of love for God and neighbors. Whenever we sense the presence of hate in our hearts, we must turn to God’s Law and Word in order to make sure that our hatred is properly ordered and reflects the hate which God Himself sustains against all evil.

Next steps –Transformation: As you pray through the Ten Commandments, seek the wisdom of God to help you hate the opposite of what each Commandment teaches. For example, ask God to help you identify and hate any idols to which you may be inclined, or any practice of “stretching the truth.” Pause in silence over each Commandment until you can pray specifically concerning something you ought to hate.

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of the Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

We’re happy to provide In the Gates and other online resources at no charge. If this ministry is helpful to you, please consider joining those who support our work financially. It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.