Relevance of Scoffers in The Bible
The Bible has a lot to say about turn of the century scoffers. In the New Testament, Jesus mentions them several times, saying ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at feasts – they devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make lengthy prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” (Luke 20: 46-47).
In brief, a scoffer is someone who mocks the truth, sneers at those who believe, speaks mockingly and provokes others with insults. In the Old Testament, God particularly mentions the wicked, scorning, mocking and speaking abominations against God, His prophets and his instituted laws, who would be destroyed with no one to deliver them (Isaiah 28:14-15, Proverbs 19:25).
Scoffers, according to the Bible, are a type of unbeliever – people who, despite all evidence and warnings, deliberately reject the truth, seeing it as outdated and foolish, or out of style. They are small-minded people, with narrow thinking and a shallow approach to life. They tend to be unstable and easily swayed, seeing the world only from their own point of view and not from the perspective of others.
The Bible teaches that while believers are transformed by God’s Word, scoffers remain stubbornly opposed and reject any notion of Godly truth. Peter said, “For scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’ (2 Peter 3:3-4). This passage gives us a vivid picture of how scoffers think – they look to their own appetites, motivations and desires, instead of looking to God. This refers to a refusal to accept God’s truth that is often seen in those who want to live according to their own convenience.
Scoffers are particularly dangerous to the spread of the Gospel, for they often make light of sin and attack the message of the Bible. They can be convincing as they try to persuade others through logic and reason, but their arguments have little spiritual value. Because of their attitudes, many people turn away from God, turn a deaf ear to His warnings and eventually perish. As Jesus said, “Whoever rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Consequences of a Scoffer’s Rejection of Truth
The consequences of scoffing are severe in the eyes of God. In the Old Testament, scoffers were not only punished but often God used them as examples to show what happens when people reject Him. One instance can be seen when God asked the Prophet Ezekiel to prophesy to a group of scoffers, saying “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: Because the enemy has spoken against you, ‘Aha!’ and ‘The ancient heights have become our possession’. Therefore prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Because they made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, therefore you shall be the possession of the rest of the nations’”. (Ezekiel 36: 1-15).
This reveals God’s heart towards scoffers – He punishes them, but also reveals that He is a redeemer. Even though scoffers are punished, God still gives them the opportunity to turn away from their sin and accept Him. In the New Testament, Jesus warned the people to heed him and warned of the consequences for turning away from the truth of the Gospel, saying “Whoever disobeys the Son will not escape punishment, but the one who obeys him will have eternal life” (John 3:36). This shows us that God offers redemption, grace and hope to all who accept Him, even for those who have rejected Him.
Dangers of being a Scoffer
Scoffers have a dangerous habit of ridiculing those who offer a different point of view. Often, they make unrealistic demands that nobody can meet and then laugh when they fail to do so. This causes a type of social ridicule, where people mock and laugh at people of faith, in effect turning a joke into an attack against God and His truth. For example, when the people of Jesus’ time heard of his miracles, they ridiculed him, saying ‘”Can any good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
The danger of being a scoffer is evident in how they cause others to turn away from God. They ask questions in order to mock, ridicule and discourage spirituality. This can have a tremendous impact on those who are trying to live a godly life – by their mocking words and laughter, they can cause others to abandon their faith and turn away from God. The Bible warns that “A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, Nor will he go to the wise” (Proverbs 15:12).
The Gospel to Scoffers
Despite the danger of being a scoffer and the consequences of their actions, believers can still reach out to them with the Gospel. The Bible says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
The Good News of the Gospel is a message of redemption, hope and restored relationships with God. It is a message of forgiveness and grace to all, and it is never too late for scoffers to turn back to God if they accept the message of repentance.
God offers this message in the hope that scoffers will turn from their wicked ways and receive His grace. He does not judge them for their sins, but instead offers His love and hope. He chose to die for them, and even though scoffers may have rejected Him, He still loves them and offers a chance for a new life through salvation.
The Need for Understanding
Scoffers may seem hopeless and difficult to reach, but believers should see them as people who haven’t had the chance to experience God’s truth. Instead of condemning them, we should seek to understand them, give them a chance to hear the Gospel and show them grace and love. We must remember that while they may have rejected God and His truth, God has not rejected them.
Ultimately, it is God’s grace, love and mercy that will draw a scoffer to Himself. As Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20). This is a direct invitation for scoffers to open their hearts to the love of God and experience the fullness of His grace.
Dealing with Adversity
When evangelizing to scoffers, believers should remember to be patient and kind, and be aware of the different types of difficulty they may experience. Scoffers might become defensive or aggressive when presented with the truth of the Gospel, or they may be mocking in their reaction. It is important to be prepared for the various types of responses, and to remain humble and gentle in our approach.
One way to deal with difficult conversations is to use stories and illustrations to demonstrate the power of God’s love and grace. Stories have the power to capture the attention of even the most hardened scoffer, as they serve as a way to illustrate God’s truths in a way that is easily understood. Another way is to speak the truth in love. No matter how the scoffer responds, the goal of evangelism should always be to point them to God and the hope that is found in the Gospel.
Prayer for Scoffers
It is not easy to reach out to scoffers. They can be difficult people to confront, and they often don’t respond positively to God’s truth. But believers should never give up on them. We can be praying that God will speak to them in times of temptation and keep them from straying away. Pray that God will give them a heart that is willing to accept His truth and repent of their sins, and that He will give them a desire to live a life that honors Him.
We can also pray for our own patience and love for scoffers. Pray that God will grant us strength as we reach out to them, and that He will use us to lead them to freedom and redemption through Jesus. How great would it be for scoffers to come face to face with the love of God and find forgiveness, hope, and peace? It is our prayer that God will use us to lead scoffers to salvation.
