Receiving Reproof

Proverbs 15:12

A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.

The cynic, or scoffer, thinks he is wise because he is able to find fault in others, especially those in authority. And the greatest scoffers are those who have never held position of authority or responsibility. They despise reproof, they think, because of the faults they find in authority figures such as parents and teachers. The reality is that they hate reproof because of their unwillingness to face their own faults.


Everyone has faults. Even the wise are not wise about some things, including their own behavior. Such is the doctrine of sin. But wisdom lies in recognizing one's own shortcomings and in recognizing the insight of others, whoever they may be. Even a fool can be right sometimes, and the wise person will recognize the rare time he is.

The wise also have the humility necessary to be discerning. Because they are not caught up in their egos, because they are not focused on looking wise, they can spend the effort on gaining further wisdom. All this the scoffer dismisses to his own loss.

And thus the reason so many never come to Christ. For such requires humility to be discerning, to hear and understand the gospel, to be cut to the quick, and to turn to the wise Son of God.