Albert Barnes Commentary Amos 5:15

"Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." — Amos 5:15 (ASV)

Hate the evil and love the good - A person will not entirely cease to “seek evil” unless they “hate” it; nor will they “seek good” unless they “love” it. Jerome says: “He ‘hates evil’ who not only is not overcome by pleasure, but hates its deeds; and he ‘loves good’ who, not unwillingly or of necessity or from fear, does what is good, but because it is good.” Dionysius states: “Evil of sin must be hated, in and for itself; the sinner must not be hated in himself, but only the evil in him.” They hated him who reproved them; he bids them hate sin. They “set down righteousness on the ground;” he bids them, “establish,” literally, “set up firmly, judgment in the gate.” To undo, as far as anyone can, the effects of past sin, is among the first-fruits of repentance.

It may be that the LORD God of Hosts will be gracious - He speaks so, with regard to the changeableness and uncertainty, not in God, but in humanity. There is no question that God is gracious to all who hate evil and love good; but He does not always deliver them from temporal calamity or captivity, because it is not for their salvation. Yet if Israel had hated evil and loved good, perhaps He would have delivered them from captivity, although He frequently said they should be carried captive. For so He said to the two tribes in Jeremiah, Amend your ways, and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place (Jeremiah 7:3). But since God knew that most of them would not repent, He says not, “will be gracious unto Israel,” but, “unto the remnant of Joseph,” that is, “the remnant, according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:4–5); such as had been “the seven thousand who bowed not the knee unto Baal;” those who repented, while the rest were hardened. He says, “Joseph,” not Ephraim, in order to recall to them the deeds of their father.

Jacob’s blessing on Joseph descended upon Ephraim, but was forfeited by Jeroboam’s sin with which he made Israel to sin. Rupertus comments: “Joseph in his deeds and sufferings was a type of Jesus Christ, in whom the remnant is saved.” A remnant, however, only, should be saved; so the prophet says.