Audio commentary on this verse

Note 1 at Rom. 12:9: The dictionary defines "dissimulate" as "to disguise under a feigned appearance." The Greek word that was used was "anupokritos" meaning "without hypocrisy, unfeigned." This Greek word was only used six times in all the New Testament. In James 3:17 it was translated "without hypocrisy" and four times it was translated "unfeigned" (2 Cor. 6:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:22).

Paul is still talking about love when he said, "Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good." Part of true love is hatred (see note 2 at this verse, below). If we don't hate the things that oppose the one we love, then it is not God's kind of love. If we don't hate evil, then our love for God is with dissimulation. It is hypocritical.

It has become customary in our society to conceal our real feelings behind a hypocritical mask. Although we should be tactful and not purposely say things to offend people, there is a time and a place for speaking the truth, even if it isn't popular.

In Leviticus 19:17, the Lord said, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him." That verse is saying that if we fail to rebuke our brother when we see sin approaching, then we hate him. Many people have concealed their true feelings about evil under the pretense of "I just love them too much to hurt their feelings." The truth is, they just love themselves too much to run the risk of being rejected. That's hypocrisy.

This scripture commands us to abhor (see note 2 at this verse, below) that which is evil. We need to love the sinner, but hate the sin. We need to be outspoken on what is right and wrong. Jesus illustrated this scripture when He drove the moneychangers out of the temple with a whip (Jn. 2:14-17).

Note 2 at Rom. 12:9: The Greek word that was translated "abhor" here is "apostugeo" meaning "to detest utterly."

Sometimes people have misunderstood and misapplied God's kind of love so that they no longer hate evil. However, Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil." Those who love the Lord hate evil (Ps. 97:10). Only the wicked don't abhor evil (Ps. 36:4).

Jesus got angry (see notes 5-6 at Mk. 3:5, p. 161) and the scriptures say His hatred for sin was the reason God anointed Him with gladness above His fellows (Ps. 45:7; Heb. 1:9). It is impossible to truly love someone with God's kind of love without hating anything that comes against that person. There is a righteous type of anger which is not sin (Eph. 4:26).