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The expression "hate the sin, love the sinner" gets thrown about in both Christian and non-Christian circles, but it does not seem to a bible verse. Is it a biblical concept or just a popular cliche? If Biblical, does it apply to God, men or both?

Some say "that's the way that Jesus lived". Are there examples of Jesus conduct that demonstrate this one way or another? How are Jesus followers expected to behave?

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possible duplicate of Does God hate Sinners like he hates Sin? –  Ray Aug 29 '11 at 20:09
@Ray: I'm going to argue that this is not a duplicate because the other question does not deal with how MEN are supposed to treat MEN, which is the primary context that this cliche is used. The primary focus is on that cliche and whether it is theologically sound and appropriately used or whether it's a miss-directed cliche. –  Caleb Aug 29 '11 at 20:49
See the Epistle of Jude, specifically 1:23. –  user1679 May 23 '12 at 18:36
I find the phrase functions as a very useful warning. Anyone who uses it has just alerted the world that they are going to be a judgmental pratt. But maybe that's just me. –  TRiG Jul 6 '12 at 19:29

4 Answers 4

I think "hate the sin, love the sinner" is a very Christian concept.

God hates sin, and in fact he hates sinners.

Romans 9:10-18





We see here that God chose to hate Esau before he was even born. He chose to harden Pharaoh in Egypt for his own purposes.

However, we do not know who God has elected to save and so we should treat everyone with the love and respect that he has given to us.

Matt 22:37-40 (NIV)


We are to love our neighbors (a pretty expansive group, potentially all we come into contact with) as we wish to be loved. This is a huge command. We are to love everyone in our lives as much as we love ourselves (be honest its a lot).

Loving others is our greatest command at this point

Romans 13:8 (NIV)


God's perfection cannot tolerate sinners. However, we are by no means perfect creatures and have little to no right to render judgement upon a creature god has created. Thus we should live as if each action we take and word we speak are towards each other and those outside of our circles are towards a brother in Christ, because we can not see who God has chosen and who he has not.

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John 8:11


We'll there was the women caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus demonstrated his love to her and showed her mercy, but at the same time He commanded her to sin no longer.

There there was the time that Jesus drove out the money changers at the temple(with a whip I might add).Mark 11:15-19 So it's pretty clear he has a passion for disliking sin.

in Luke 19:1-10 Jesus shows love to Zacchaeus, who was abusing his position as tax collector, and it was because of Jesus showing love first that Zacchaeus repented, then Jesus said he came to save those who where lost.

Romans 12:9


That says hate evil right there.

1st John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another, For love is of God And everyone who loves Is born of God and knows God.

Matthew 5:43-48 tells us to not only love our Neighbor, but love even our enemy. and then he commands us to be perfect, as God is perfect.

Hebrews 1:9


In Hebrews it is commending people who love rightness, and hate sin.

John 3:14-19


So in other words, Jesus dosen't condemn people, people don't believe aren't condemned after the fact, they are already condemned because of their preexisting condition (just like the people in the wilderness, they didn't die from not looking at the on Moses' poll, they died from the snake bite before that(and the snakes were there because of their sin!), if they would choose to look at the snake on the poll they would have been saved), Jesus came to Save them from their preexisting condemnation IF they will choose him, If they don't choose to believe they stay as they were.

Romans 5:6-8


So yes God does love the sinner!

Psalm 97:10


But Hates the Sin!

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Since you haven't accepted an answer, I'm assuming you are looking for something more explicit.

Hate the sin

There is a clear call in Scripture for the people of God to hate sin:

  • The fear of the LORD is to hate evil -Proverbs 8:13

  • Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! -Amos 5:15

  • Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; ... he has ceased to be wise and to do good. ... he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not despise evil. -Psalm 36:1-4

Love the sinner

The following passages should make it clear that we are called to love sinners:


This is about the toughest group to love, to be sure: your enemies, and those who persecute you. Jesus uses this extreme to show that His call to love is all-encompassing. Notice also that the reasoning for this is that we will be more like our Father, who is gracious to everyone - righteous and unrighteous - as seen in His provision of sun and rain to both groups. (Of course, numerous other examples of God's grace could be given - indeed everything good that the sinner has comes from God.) Why would God provide like this? Because He is love.


The lawyer has been caught by his own words, and realizes that if the criteria for inheriting eternal life includes 'loving your neighbor', his eternal security depends heavily on the definition of 'neighbor'! In response to the lawyer's question, Jesus goes on to tell the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus ends the story by telling the lawyer that he is responsible for being a neighbor to those in need. In other words, anyone you come across is your neighbor if you are fulfilling your duty to others.


If I could pick a "most important passage in Scripture" for interpreting the Old Testament, it would be this one. All of the commandments can be summed up by saying "love your neighbor". This was God's message from the beginning. And of course, this includes sinners. (Hopefully that is clear; It would be quite a stretch to argue that it's OK to covet your neighbor's wife, as long as your neighbors aren't Christians!)


The phrase "hate the sin, love the sinner" appears to be a catchy teaching comprised of two Biblical doctrines, presented together for mutual clarification.

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First we have to understand that all people are sinners according Romans 3:23. But God still loves some sinners (John 3:16) but hate other sinners (Malachi 1:2,3). So there must be something that separates one group from the other. What plays a significant role in God's view is the motive of the sinner.

For example, does a person understand that he is a sinner and repent from them? An excellent example of someone who recognized his fault is Job, who said:

Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.Job 42:6

Also we have to recognize that someone may sin, but without knowing what God requires. This person is not a sinner to the same extent as someone who recognizes God's will (1 Timothy 1:13, Luke 12:47, 48)

If someone who understands God's will and wittingly does what God forbids then "no sacrifice for sins is left"(Hebrews 10:26-31). These are people that God doesn't accept and we must see them in the same way (Psalms 139:21,22).

Insight on the scriptures comments:

This hate does not seek to inflict injury on others and is not synonymous with spite or malice. Rather, it finds expression in its utter abhorrence of what is wicked, avoiding what is bad and those intensely hating Jehovah. (Romans 12:9, 17, 19) Christians rightly hate those who are confirmed enemies of God, such as the Devil and his demons, as well as men who have deliberately and knowingly taken their stand against Jehovah.

Insight on the Scriptures vol.1, p. 1043: Hate

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Are you saying that it is enough to please God if you mean well but still sin? –  Caleb Aug 29 '11 at 21:34

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