Proverbs 10:12 Commentary and Bible Study

You notice, actually, that speech is not mentioned here. But because it is one of the three verses in the whole block that does not directly mention speech, we interpret it in the context of speech. The love and hatred in this verse are evidently expressed in words; this can be judged both from their effect and from the active theme. It is the man in the previous verse and it is the believer, let's say, who has got into the way of being driven by feelings and not with restraint, by prayer. As soon as somebody says something offensive, he will be enflamed because there is hostility and hatred in the heart. Not only hatred, maybe just selfishness, self-pity, any strong feeling which is dominating the heart – it cannot cope with an offensive statement, it cannot cope with some inflammatory comment, it reacts and stirs up the argument. By contrast ‘love covereth all sins.’ Love smothers the fire. Love for the Lord, and for his commandments, and for the soul of the other person, leads us to self-restraint. No instant response. Keep the rules. And of course if it is a fellow-believer, love for that fellow-believer covereth all sins. We will not make an issue of this. We will overlook that offence. We will let that go by. The proverb shows what a great difference grace makes in the heart. What is natural in man is to express hatred towards an enemy, and hatred in one person produces hatred in another for the human heart is almost waiting to express the worst. Depending on circumstances and opportunity it may be subtle, masking itself, or it may be overtly hostile and destructive, but it is active and skilful in searching how to hurt others. Hatred like love is a powerful organizing principle which orchestrates all speech in order to achieve a desired effect. Hatred has no desire for peace but delights in variance and contention, and is happy to provoke the worst response in others, pouring fuel on the fire. But love is well aware of the tinderbox nature of the human heart and understands how reactive human beings are by nature. It hates strife and therefore speaks modestly, calmly, gently even when it is well aware of evil in others, for it leaves judgment to God and promotes good relations with all. It suppresses resentment and cruel words, and overlooks minor irritations. The secret of good words therefore is to cultivate love in the heart and to drive out hatred, because words will flow almost automatically from these affections within us.