Hatred is the seventh sin in the list of the works of the flesh. Paul was writing unto Christians, and warning them lest they fail to "inherit the kingdom of God." Sin is serious, yet so many lost souls engage in the works of the flesh. Unfortunately, sometimes even the children of God commit such sins. The word translated in the list of the works of the flesh as "hatred" is defined by Thayer as "enmity." We read in Luke 23:12, "And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves." Pilate had a hatred for Herod. They were political enemies. Yet they had a temporary ceasefire or friendship, since Pilate sent Jesus to Herod for questioning. In Galatians 5:20, "hatred" or "enmity" is plural in number. Literally, it would be translated as "enmities."

Why should there be hatred or enmity in the Lord's church? Congregations divide, have strife, and bring about nothing but sorrow when brethren are at war one with another. Petty jealousies and envies are not only in the world, they are often in the Lord's church.  Hatred is a work of Satan. God is love and His children practice love. We read in I John 4:7-8, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." And again in I John 4:20-21, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

Love distinguishes the children of God from the children of Satan. "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous" (I John 3:10-12). Brethren who have hatred in their hearts toward their brothers or sisters in Christ are deceived and lost. God is very clear about this subject.

Let us learn to love the brethren. Sometimes this is hard to do, nevertheless, God has told us, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (I John 3:14-15). Let us remove all malice, hatred, and envy from our hearts. These things will destroy our joy and rob us of heaven. May God help us to truly love one another.