Scoffers and Mockers: The Peril of Rejecting Truth
Introduction:
The scene at the cross is a stark reminder of the human capacity for disbelief and mockery. Even in the face of divine suffering, those who should have recognized the Messiah turned away, their hearts hardened by their own preconceived notions. Today, we will examine the nature of scoffing and mocking, and the dangers of turning away from the truth of Jesus Christ.
I. The Mockery at the Cross (Matthew 27:40-43, 49):
A. Well-Educated Religious People Mocking Jesus:
• "…and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ Likewise the chief priests, also mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down from the cross, and we will believe Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’…The rest said, ‘Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.’”
• Those who should have recognized the Messiah, the religious leaders, mocked and ridiculed Him. Their preconceived notions of what the Messiah should be blinded them to the truth standing before them.
B. Echoes of Mockery Today:
• This same spirit of mockery continues today. Many ridicule Jesus and His followers, dismissing the gospel as foolishness.
• How do we mock Jesus today? By ignoring or distorting His teachings, by selectively choosing what we want to believe, and by refusing to acknowledge the fullness of His truth.
II. Heed the Warning: Turning Away from Sound Doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-5):
A. Itching Ears and False Teachers:
• "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth…"
• Paul warns of a time when people will reject sound doctrine, preferring teachers who tickle their ears with pleasant lies.
• This is a dangerous spiritual condition, a rejection of God's truth in favor of man's opinions.
III. Scoffers and Mockers: Rejecting the Will of the Father (Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 10:1-4):
A. Practicing Lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23):
• "Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not…done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
• Mere words are not enough. True faith is demonstrated by obedience to God’s will.
• Religious activity without obedience is lawlessness.
B. Establishing Their Own Righteousness (Romans 10:1-4):
• “…they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
• Some, like the Pharisees, are zealous but misguided. They seek to establish their own righteousness, rejecting God’s righteousness offered through faith in Christ.
• This is a form of spiritual pride, a refusal to submit to God’s authority.
IV. The Inevitable Arrival of Scoffers (2 Peter 3:3-4):
A. Walking According to Their Own Lusts:
• "…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?…all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’”
• Peter warns that scoffers will deny the Lord’s return, living according to their own desires.
• This denial is a form of spiritual blindness, a refusal to acknowledge the truth of God’s word.
B. The Bottom Line:
• Scoffers and mockers have always existed, and they will continue to exist.
• We must not ignore, neglect, or be ignorant of the “total” teaching of Jesus.
• We must embrace the whole truth, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging.
- Preaching on Indifference: A mistaken stance
- Preaching on Pilate: Don't Wash Your Hands
- Preaching on Be Angry, and Do Not Sin Ephesians 4:26-27
Conclusion:
Do not be swayed by the voices of scoffers and mockers. Let us not allow our own preconceived notions to blind us to the truth of Jesus Christ. Let us embrace the fullness of His teachings, living lives of obedience and submission. Let us heed the warnings of scripture and remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that the Lord’s return is certain. Amen.
