- Joined
- May 13, 2025
- Messages
- 160
One of the most surprising facts in Scripture is that some of the most vicious enemies of God are also the most religious. Jesus discovered this first hand. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of His day, were not pagans or atheists or street-corner rebels. They were men who quoted Scripture, led the worship of the people, and appeared devout. But when the Son of God stood before them, they mocked Him. Luke records that “the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed Him” ~Luke 16:14.
That one verse pierces through the mask of religious appearance. Their mockery was not simply a matter of intellectual disagreement over Jesus’ teaching. Rather, it exposed what was ruling their hearts. They loved money more than God. They valued power more than purity and reputation more than repentance. When the light of truth came into their camp, they sneered. The same spirit lives on today in those who would preach comfort rather than conviction; those who replace repentance with self-esteem; and those who use the name of God to line their own pockets.
The Bible says flatly, “Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” ~John 3:19. When the light of truth shines, the hypocrite flees or fights. This is why so many false teachers ridicule biblical preaching that calls for holiness. They laugh at those who take God’s Word seriously. They label obedience “legalism” and sound doctrine “division.” But their hostility only proves the truth of what Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money” ~Matthew 6:24.
Faith runs to the light, it does not run from it. Those who truly belong to Christ love the truth even when it stings, because they know that the Word is life. But the false teacher has to protect his system at all costs. He will twist Scripture to justify sin and deaden conviction. Just as the Pharisees “justify themselves before men, but God knows their hearts” ~Luke 16:15.
Mockery of the truth has become fashionable again. Those preachers who are willing to call sin what it is are now labeled intolerant. Churches who hold on to the authority of Scripture are accused of being “outdated.” But God is not mocked. “Whatever a man sows, that will he also reap” ~Galatians 6:7. The sneer of a false teacher may sound confident today, but it will not silence the voice of judgment tomorrow.
Religion without repentance is just a stage act. It may impress men, but it disgusts God. “That which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God” ~Luke 16:15. The showy prayers, the polished speeches, the claims of enlightenment, all of it means nothing if the heart refuses to bow to Christ.
The gospel pierces the heart. It calls every person, religious or not, to confess their sin and trust in the only One who saves. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me” ~John 14:6. Any message that denies or dilutes that truth mocks God Himself.
So when religion scoffs at God today, when the pulpits grow soft and the world applauds, remember this: the same sneer that turned on Jesus will turn on anyone else who is willing to stand for His Word. But just as He conquered every mocker at the cross, His truth will stand long after the laughter has died away. “The Word of the Lord endures forever” ~1 Peter 1:25.
Every false religion says man must climb his way up to God. The true gospel proclaims that God came down to us in Christ. The Lord who was mocked by men now offers mercy to all who will turn from sin and believe. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” ~John 3:16.
Turn to Him while there’s still time. The One the world mocked is the only One who can save.
