They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
The hates of sin
Amos has here preserved a characteristic of the society of his time which throws much light on the real character of sin--its hatred of justice and truth.”
1. “They hate him that rebuketh in the gate.” At the gate the princes of the East sat in judgment (Job 29:7; Psalms 127:5). No wonder such men as Amos laboured amongst hated the judge. His practised eye pierced their disguise and detected the hypocrisy and sin that lurked for their prey. He was vested with power which could thwart all their purposes. No good man fears justice. It is the friend that frees him from the attack of his enemies, and preserves to him the peace and prosperity of his home.
2. But there is another particular added. “They abhor him that speaketh uprightly.” They could not even bear to hear the truth. Amaziah (Amos 7:12-13) resorts to stratagem to free the country of words that revealed the true condition of things (also 1 Kings 22:8, also Ahab and Jezebel’s hatred of Elijah). The condemnation of sin is pronounced in this description of it. What can be said in defence of that which makes men hate justice and truth? Yet this spirit is widespread. See the story of the Greek who voted for the condemnation of Aristides because he was tired of hearing him called “the just.” Christ endured its utmost rancour.
The reasons for these hates of sin.
1. Justice is a reproof of its own course. Such words and deeds make conscience sting (Proverbs 9:8).
2. Justice snatches away the booty of sin, and truth (him that speaketh uprightly) robs it of the respect that even sin likes to have. Hence the hatred.
3. Warning of future punishment. These censures are warnings of the final judgment which God shall pronounce on sin. Who would cast in his lot with such men? (J. Telford, B. A.)