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... Did you know that God sees hatred as murder in the heart? It surprised me too, but here is the verse, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer" (1 John 3:15). Jesus said that anyone who is angry with someone without a good reason is in danger of judgment (Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV). I didn't understand this at first, but then one day it made sense... What is the essence of hatred? Hatred is a fundamental disrespect, devaluing, or dishonoring of life—life that only God can give. Life is a very precious thing to God—sacred. He has chosen to give, to love, and to maintain our lives. Hatred is like standing before a painting, cursing about it's hideousness, with the painter standing right beside you. The painter is going to take your disrespect, dishonoring, and devaluing of his creation very personal. Isn't he? That painting is a reflection of the painter. In the same way, our hatred is offensive to God and is a direct insult against Him. And what is murder? At its core, murder is a disrespect, devaluing, or dishonoring of life. Murder is the final product of hatred. Murder is the final evidence that hatred has taken its natural course! ...