Love Does Not Insist - JM Bible Studies

1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

You’ve often heard the precept “Love the sinner and hate the sin.”

That truism is not in the Bible. Beware, because almost every time you see that phrase is used, it is a DANGEROUS LIE.

The idea that we can “love the sinner and hate the sin” presumes we can strike a balance between our hate and our love, that hating and loving are somehow two sides to the same coin. Satan loves to lure Christians into hating this way because it completely hides the Love of Christ for those who are feeling hated.

Hate and Love cannot coexist. Hate is loud and destructive. Love is quiet, patient, and enduring. Hate is forceful. Love does not insist on its own way. Hate says that the ends justify the means. Love knows that every action, no matter how small, is an end to itself.

Jesus gave us a better model to follow in how He lived, expressing love when others expected hate. Jesus expressed how He felt about those that were to have Him crucified in Matthew 23:37: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

Stop hating.

Just Love.