By: Undre Griggs, Jr
In English “scoffer” can mean; “one who mocks, ridicules, or scorns the belief of another“. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word translated as “scoffer” can also be translated to mean “ambassador”. Meaning a scoffer does not simply disagree with an idea, but they make it their personal mission to prove your idea wrong. Throughout the Bible, a scoffer is considered someone who chooses to disbelieve God and His Word. This is not limited to nonbelievers who believe there is no God (Psalm 14:1), but also believers who choose not to be obedient to all of God’s Words (2 Timothy 4:3).
You will notice scoffers do not like to:
Be Corrected - Proverbs 15:12 (ESV): A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
Listen to Correction - Proverbs 13:1 (ESV): A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
Grow in Understanding - Proverbs 14:6 (ESV): A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
Have People Around Them Who Correct Them - Proverbs 9:8 (ESV): Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
We will never truly be able to avoid scoffers. They will be present within our family, our faith, and our workplace. To combat scoffers, we should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks . . . to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15). With that said, it is important to understand that we need to avoid speaking to scoffers once we start to become influenced and not influencers (1 Corinthians 15:33). But rest assured, there is coming a promised day when "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). On that day there will no longer be any scoffers. They will finally accept the whole truth, and their scoffing will be forever silenced.
RSS Feed