1. Exposition

Is it acceptable to "hate" certain persons?

Revelation 2:6 (ESV)

6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

The language the Saviour uses here is reminiscent of Psalm 139:21: “Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?” Because their cause is against God (see Psalm 139:22), the devout child of God cannot but hate these God-haters. Such hating means these Christians keep themselves far away from any risk of being contaminated in their thinking and behaviour by these Nicolaitans.