Christians should not expect the unbelieving world to be always friendly towards them. It will never be possible for them to avoid the hatred of the world. Jesus had categorically said to His disciples that the world would hate them – “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18-20). When Jesus prayed for the believers, He said, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14).
The adverse reaction from the unbelieving people is described by the word “hate”. The original Greek word for “hate”, miséō, implies an expression of hostility or ill will either in word or in conduct. The world’s hatred towards Christians will manifest both in verbal and physical assaults; unbelievers may unleash their unhappiness and fury against Christians any time. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
John the apostle also reminds Christians about the world’s hatred in 1 John 3:13: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” From time to time, the unregenerate people will express their dislike and intolerance of the Christian faith and practice. Their antagonistic behaviour should not surprise Christians at all. Christians should always anticipate and be prepared to face strong opposition and severe troubles from the unbelieving world.
Jesus said that hatred against Christians can come even from their closest of family members who are not yet saved. “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:21-22). So the message is clear that Christians must always be prepared for harsh realities of hatred towards them, even from close quarters.
Jesus also said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:16–18). Even as the Lord cautioned Christians to be careful to do nothing malicious to provoke the hatred of the world, He also told them to be prepared for unsympathetic and aggressive actions from the world.
What reasons did Jesus give for the hatred of the world? Why does the world hate genuine and godly Christians, especially when they are only concerned about the salvation and well-being of the souls of men?
The first reason that Jesus gave in our text was that the world hated Him whom we follow. He said in John 15:18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” The reason why the world turns against Christians is that it hates their Lord and King, Jesus Christ. So whoever that lives to serve Him will also be treated cruelly by the world.
This reason for the world’s resentment is restated by the Lord Jesus in John 15:20 that we may not forget it – “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” Herein is a confirmation of what Christ had spoken about being hated by the world. It is only reasonable to expect the world’s hatred for Christians when we are mindful that it hates their master, Christ, who is far more excellent than them. Just as they have been vicious in their attack of Christ, they will also act viciously against Christians. Just as they maliciously used Christ’s words against Him, they will also maliciously use the words of Christians against them.
The prince of the world, Satan, is the archenemy of Christ. Jesus said, “…the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). The satanic hostility towards Christ dominates the whole world, and that undergirds the world’s animosity towards Christians. Matthew Henry said, “If we should put it to the vote between Christ and Satan, Satan would out-poll us quite.”
The second reason that Jesus gave in our text was that Christians do not belong to the world. Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). While Christians are in the world physically, they are not of the world spiritually because Christ has chosen them for Himself. They are not in the world to live for the world but for Christ. As far as their desires, choices and actions are concerned, they are led by Christ and/for His glory.
Genuine Christians appear dead to worldly passions and goals as Paul said in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Such an impassionate attitude towards the world makes Christians intolerable to the world. Moreover, the words and actions of Christians will be a rebuke to the world that lies in sin. They are exhorted to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). Hence, the rest of the world finds Christians at odds with them, giving rise to their bitterness, dislike and hatred.
The third reason that Jesus gave in our text was that the world is ignorant of God, the Father. Jesus said in John 15:21, “But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” Later in verse 23, He said, “He that hateth me hateth my Father also.”
As Jesus reminded the disciples that the fury of the world would rage against them, He also mentioned that it is because they do not know His Father who sent Him to call and save them for Himself. Just as the world’s hatred towards Christians is shown in its hatred towards Christ, it also proves its hatred for God who loves them through Christ. This is wilful ignorance; it is a conscious rejection of the truth of God in Christ, which is embraced by Christians. Such deliberate ignorance of God provokes the world to make war with Christ, His Father and His people.
When the world rejects the authenticity and authority of the Gospel of Christ, its disregard for God who authored and designed it becomes very apparent. Rejection of Christ is rejection of God. Hatred for Christ is hatred for God and this explains the world’s hatred for those whom God and Christ love. The world that hates God will hate His darlings who live in the world.
