After rebuking the Ephesians, Jesus commends them for hating the works of the Nicolaitans. Commentators highlight that this is a crucial Christian virtue. True faith involves not only loving what is good but also having a righteous zeal against sin and false teaching. As one scholar notes, indifference to evil is not true charity and is displeasing to Christ. Importantly, this hatred is directed at the sinful deeds, not the people themselves.