Introduction
In the laughter study, I ran across the phrase "to laugh with scorn" often. This gave me the impression that laughter was used almost exclusively as mockery in the Bible. However, it seems that most comedy in the world is based on making fun of others. The pie in the face and slipping on a banana peel are laughing at others' calamity. Although, the humor seems to work best when the recipient is someone you don't like or don't know.
Isn't it the sweetest mockery to mock our enemies?
Sophocles
When the pie hits your face, it is harder to laugh. But perhaps there is something to gain from being mocked.
After all, wasn't the 17th century novel, Don Quixote, written to mock the chivalric romances that preceded it. And it has become one of the most translated book ever written.
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| Man Of La Mancha |
The novel Don Quixote inspired the musical Man Of La Mancha, which in turn, inspired the song. The song was chosen for the 6th CD I made for my son. The theme that year was "Hope." What may have started as a joke has turned into inspiration. So, there just may be a benefit to mockery.
Here are my top 12 verses on Mockery:
Jesus On Mockery
Matthew 20:17-19 King James Version
17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Luke 4:22-24 King James Version
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Luke 13:31-32 King James Version
31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Mockery In The New Testament
2 Corinthians 11:19-21 King James Version
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
Galatians 6:7 King James Version
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Mockery In The Old Testament
Genesis 21:9-10 King James Version
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
1 Kings 18:27 King James Version
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
2 Kings 2:23-24 King James Version
23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
Job 22:19 King James Version
19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
Psalm 59:8 King James Version
8 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
Proverbs 1:22-26 King James Version
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Habakkuk 2:6 King James Version
6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
Conclusion Of The Whole Matter
Clearly, mockery is most prevalent in the Old Testament. We have Ishmael mocking Sarah, Elijah mocking the prophets of Baal, little children mocking Elisha, the righteous mocking the unrighteous, and God mocking the heathen and scorners. Of course, sometimes the ridicule goes badly. For example, Ismael gets kicked out from Abraham's family and the little children are mauled by bears. However, mockery seems to be a last resort effort by God to warn the foolish to mend their ways.
The New Testament seems to continue this theme. Jesus knew he would be mocked and seems to respond in kind. He mocks Herod with a nickname to the Pharisees and mocks his hometown listeners with the "taunting proverb" when they question his origins as, perhaps, being unbecoming of a prophet. His response to them hits the mark and almost ends up badly for him as they try to push him off a cliff.
Paul seems to use the same tactic with his readers when they set his counsel at nought and uses foolish talk to warn those who act foolishly. Of course, he also reminds us that God will not be mocked.
50 Bible results for “mock” from King James Version.
- Old Testament (32)
- New Testament (18)
1 Bible results for “derision” from King James Version.
- Old Testament (15)
41 Bible results for “scorn” from King James Version.
- Old Testament (38)
- New Testament (3)
9 results for “mock” from previous Solomon's Colonnade studies.
21 results for “derision” from previous Solomon's Colonnade studies.
2 results for “scorn” from previous Solomon's Colonnade studies.
Scripture contributions for February 2022 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson
