John Calvin Commentary Amos 5:10

"They hate him that reproveth in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly." — Amos 5:10 (ASV)

It is probable that in this verse also, the judges are rebuked by the Prophet, though what is said here can also apply to all the people. However, since nearly the entire discourse is directed against the judges, I readily agree with the opinion that the Prophet now accuses the judges for this reason: because they could not bear to be corrected for the great license they allowed themselves but, on the contrary, detested all those who corrected them.

What he then says about the reprover being hated in the gate is to be explained in this way: when judges sat in the gate and perverted justice and righteousness, and when anyone reminded them of their duty, they arrogantly rejected all admonitions and even hated them.

In the gate then means that those who ought to rule others, and to correct whatever vice there may be among the people, cannot themselves endure any reprover when their own vices require strong remedies.

And it would be well if this disease were healed today. We indeed see that kings and those in authority wish to be considered sacred, and they will permit no correction. Immediately, the majesty of God is violated in their person, for they complain and cry out whenever teachers and God’s servants dare to expose their wicked conduct.

This vice then, which the Prophet condemns, is not the vice of one particular time. For, even today, those who occupy positions of judgment wish to be exempt from all corrections and would claim for themselves complete freedom in sinning, since they do not think they belong to the common class of people and imagine themselves exempt from all correction.

In short, they wish to rule without any equity, for power, to them, is nothing but unbridled licentiousness. We now understand the Prophet’s meaning.