"How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?"
— Proverbs 1:22 (NIV)
Mockery is not always loud. Sometimes, it's a quiet chuckle. A shared glance. A whispered comment. But at its core, it is rooted in pride—using laughter to tear down rather than build up. And many who mock do not start with speaking—they start by listening with contempt.
To hear with mockery is to listen, not with love or humility, but with the intent to ridicule, dismiss, or scorn. It's a hardened ear that absorbs someone's words only to twist or laugh at them. And Scripture makes it clear: mockers are not seekers of truth—they are enemies of wisdom.
The Ear That Listens to Mock Will Never Grow in Wisdom
Mockers may seem confident, witty, or bold. But spiritually, they are immature. They cannot receive correction. They scoff at conviction. They delight in putting others down to lift themselves up. And the ears that indulge in such mockery are being trained to despise what is sacred.
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers."
— Psalm 1:1 (NIV)
God blesses those who separate themselves from mockery—not those who join in with laughter, smirks, or silence.
Modern Forms of Mocking With the Ear
You may be hearing to mock without realizing it. This sin isn't always about being the loudest voice in the room—it often hides in the background. Signs include:
Listening to someone share their faith, testimony, or conviction, and laughing about it later
Watching videos or content that mock preachers, Christians, or moral values for entertainment
Rolling your eyes or snickering when someone speaks passionately about God
Hearing sincere struggles from others, only to joke about them privately
Repeating or imitating someone's words to make them look foolish
Joining in group conversations that belittle righteousness or those trying to live holy lives
Mockery kills compassion. It creates distance where love is needed. And it often disguises itself as humor when it's really cruelty in disguise.
The Spiritual Cost of Mockery
When you listen with a mocking heart:
You harden your heart toward truth
You become unteachable and defensive
You create division instead of unity
You begin to laugh at things that break God's heart
You slowly lose the fear of the Lord
"Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you."
— Proverbs 9:8 (NIV)
Mockery rejects correction. It disguises pride as cleverness and calls it maturity. But true wisdom listens to be changed, not entertained.
How to Guard Your Ears From Mockery
1. Refuse to Use Others as Entertainment
Never let someone's pain, passion, or faith become your source of laughter. Don't listen just to ridicule.
(Proverbs 14:21 – "Whoever mocks their neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.")
2. Learn to Discern the Tone, Not Just the Words
Sometimes the sin isn't in what's said, but in how it's said. Don't participate in sarcasm that tears others down.
(Ephesians 4:29 – "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths…")
3. Surround Yourself With Those Who Honor Others
Mockery spreads through groups that find unity in scorn. Be with those who honor, not humiliate.
(Proverbs 13:20 – "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.")
4. Let Conviction Replace Comedy
When you feel the urge to mock something serious, pause and examine why. Often, it reveals fear, pride, or insecurity.
(Proverbs 3:34 – "He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.")
5. Be Known for Kind Listening
Be the person others can talk to without fear of being ridiculed later. Reflect the heart of Christ, who listened with compassion.
(James 1:19 – "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.")
Prayer for a Gentle and Humble Ear
"Lord, forgive me for the times I've listened with pride, laughed at what is holy, or mocked what I didn't understand. Soften my heart. Give me ears that hear with compassion, not contempt. Help me resist the urge to join in scorn or ridicule. Let me honor You in how I listen, even when others do not. Use my ears to bring healing, not harm. In Jesus' name, Amen."