What does it mean that love does not rejoice at wrongdoing (1 Corinthians 13:6)?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

1 Corinthians 13:6 tells us that love does not rejoice at wrongdoing. Why? Because love is rooted in the unchanging righteousness and truth of God, who is perfect and does not delight in evil (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 33:5). Love refuses to celebrate sin even when it is socially accepted or entertaining (Psalm 37:27–28; Proverbs 24:24–25). The Bible teaches that the righteous hate evil and cling to what is good because true wisdom never finds pleasure in what destroys others or dishonors God (Psalm 97:10; Amos 5:15). Rather than celebrating sin, love celebrates what is good and true (Ephesians 5:8–11; Philippians 4:8). Love rejoices in truth rather than wrongdoing because it is committed not just to feelings or culture but to what is eternally real and good in God.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Love is part of God’s character and in line with all other aspects of His character such as truth and righteousness, not evil or injustice (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 33:5).
  
• God delights in justice and calls His people to reflect that same moral seriousness rather than celebrating sin (Psalm 37:27–28; Isaiah 1:16–17). This is why love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.
• True wisdom and righteousness involve refusing to approve or take pleasure in wrongdoing, even when it seems advantageous or socially accepted (Proverbs 17:15; Proverbs 24:24–25).
• The righteous are called to hate evil and cling to what is good. Love cannot celebrate what destroys others or dishonors God (Psalm 97:10; Amos 5:15).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Love is inseparable from truth, meaning it cannot affirm what contradicts God’s moral reality (John 14:6; Ephesians 4:15).
• Love refuses to take pleasure in sin—whether in ourselves or others—and instead seeks repentance and restoration (Romans 1:32; Galatians 6:1).
• Jesus consistently confronted wrongdoing while still offering grace, showing that love does not celebrate sin but moves toward redemption (John 8:10–11).
• Believers are called to reject darkness and participate in what is good. Fellowship with Christ shapes what we rejoice in (Ephesians 5:8–11; Philippians 4:8).
• 1 Corinthians 13:6—7 tells us that love rejoices in truth. This means that love refuses to rejoice at what is wrong or to find joy in moral failure. Rather, love rejoices in what is right, pure, and life-giving (1 Corinthians 13:6–7).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

How many times have you found yourself scrolling through social media or watching videos online and laughing at someone else’s embarrassment, failure, or poor choices—slowly becoming entertained by things that actually reflect brokenness rather than goodness? This is one of the subtle ways our hearts can drift into “rejoicing at wrongdoing” without even realizing it. Love, however, refuses to find joy in what is sinful, harmful, or dishonoring to God, even when it is packaged as humor or entertainment. Instead, love learns to grieve what is evil, to resist celebrating what destroys others, and to care about what leads people toward truth and restoration.

At the same time, this does not mean love becomes harsh, joyless, or overly critical of everything. In a world that often rewards mockery, scandal, and moral confusion, true love stands out as different. It is a love that celebrates righteousness, not ruin, and finds its deepest joy in what reflects God’s character and brings real life.

UNDERSTAND

• Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing because it is rooted in God’s unchanging character.
  
• Love rejects celebrating sin or moral failure.
• Love finds joy in what is good, true, and life-giving.
  

REFLECT

• How can you keep yourself from being desensitized to wrongdoing being treated as entertainment or humor?
• In what situations do you find yourself more tempted to laugh at or enjoy sin rather than grieve it or see it clearly, and how can you respond biblically?
• How does what you rejoice in reveal what you truly value?

ENGAGE

• Why are people often drawn to laugh at or enjoy content that highlights others’ mistakes or failures, and how should we respond?
• How can Christians cultivate joy in what is good and true without becoming judgmental or disconnected?
• What witness does it provide to others when Christians refuse to rejoice at wrongdoing?