What does it mean that God is not mocked?

[missmuffet]

What is mocking God?

[Mr. M]

10 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

What is mocking God?

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;

for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Psalm 94:

7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

10 He that chastises the heathen, shall not he correct?

he that teaches man knowledge, shall not he know?

11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

[PATrobas]

It depends. If talking about when they mocked Jesus before His crucifixion, (Mk.15:20 etc.) it means they made fun of Him and laughed at Him for His claims of being the Messiah. But if in Gal.6:7 where it says that God is NOT mocked, it means He can't be tricked, fooled or deceived.

[missmuffet]

25 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;

for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Psalm 94:

7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

10 He that chastises the heathen, shall not he correct?

he that teaches man knowledge, shall not he know?

11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Scripture is good but what is your personal opinion of what it means to mock God?

[AnOrangeCat]

10 hours ago, PATrobas said:

It depends. If talking about when they mocked Jesus before His crucifixion, (Mk.15:20 etc.) it means they made fun of Him and laughed at Him for His claims of being the Messiah. But if in Gal.6:7 where it says that God is NOT mocked, it means He can't be tricked, fooled or deceived.

I agree with this, and I find it very applicable to deathbed conversions. I've heard people say things like they'll live it up until they're old and dying, then become Christian. To me this seems like an instance of someone trying to mock God by way of cheating the system, for lack of a better term. But God knows our hearts, and He can certainly tell when someone isn't sincere. In the verse after 6:7 we get this: "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life"

We can't expect to live in sin and not reap the consequences. It's cause and effect in action.

[BibleStudent100]

6 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

To me this seems like an instance of someone trying to mock God by way of cheating the system, for lack of a better term. But God knows our hearts, and He can certainly tell when someone isn't sincere.

So true OrangeCat.  Trying to "negotiate" with God by sowing one's wild oats and then returning to the Lord at the last minute "mocks" God by thinking that one can "out maneuver" God.  

[Marathoner]

Excellent contributions. Sincerity is what Lord esteems.

I remember an elderly fellow many years ago in the mountains. Before I came up there he had been looking after my adopted mother, giving her firewood for the winter and gifts of food from his extended family. He did this with no expectation of reward and asked nothing from her  in return. 

He was sick with cancer and was in and out of the hospital. When he returned from a lengthy hospital stay, I met him for the first time. We hit it off very well, and he expressed his gratitude for staying with her and looking after her. He was the most important elder in the nearby village but I wasn't aware that in his youth, he served as an enforcer who dealt with degenerates. Law enforcement refused to come up there, so he had served as their defacto sheriff. 

I'll never forget the last time I was with him. He looked at me with grave concern in his eyes and confessed that he was afraid of passing. "I have done terrible things," he said in tears. "I don't think God forgives me." 

I embraced him and said, "I have nothing against you. You have been kind when no one else was kind, and you have given to others freely with no expectation of reward. I have watched how you care for the rejected and the neglected. You know Christ, and He knows you. You don't have to be afraid. I know what I will say if called upon to speak about you."

He passed a few months later in the hospital. His sincerity was not in question.