Commentary - Proverbs 15:12

Bird's-eye view

This proverb provides a crisp, two-part diagnostic for identifying a particular kind of fool, the scoffer. It is a spiritual MRI, revealing the inner condition of a man's heart by observing his outward reactions. The first clause tells us what the scoffer hates, and the second tells us what he avoids. Together, they paint a portrait of terminal pride. The scoffer's central problem is not a lack of information but a malignant condition of the soul. He is unteachable because he despises the very medicine that could cure him: reproof. Consequently, he quarantines himself from the source of that medicine: the wise. This is not a description of a man struggling with a particular sin; it is the description of a man who has made his bed in that sin and refuses to be disturbed. He is not just wrong; he is militantly wrong, and his entire posture is one of armed defiance against wisdom.

The core issue is love. The scoffer "does not love" the one who reproves him. This is a matter of the affections, not just the intellect. His hatred of correction stems from a love of self and a love of his own sin. Because wisdom and reproof are inextricably linked to the fear of the Lord, the scoffer's condition is ultimately a theological one. He is at war with God, and his interactions with men are simply skirmishes in that larger conflict. This proverb, then, serves as both a warning to the reader not to become such a man, and as practical counsel on how to identify those who are best left to their own devices.

Outline

Context In Proverbs

The book of Proverbs consistently draws a sharp contrast between the wise man and the fool. But "fool" is not a monolithic category. There is the simple fool (pethi), who is naive and easily led astray but potentially teachable. There is the thick-headed fool (kesil), who is dull and obstinate in his folly. And then there is the scoffer or mocker (lets), who is the subject of our verse. The scoffer is the most dangerous and incorrigible of the three. He is not merely ignorant of wisdom; he is contemptuous of it. He mocks righteousness and scorns those who would seek to correct him. This verse fits squarely within this broader theme, providing a key diagnostic tool. It follows verses that speak of a wholesome tongue as a tree of life (15:4) and the value of correction (15:5, 10), setting up a clear antithesis. The wise son heeds his father's instruction, but the scoffer hates the very idea of it.

Key Issues

The Unteachable Heart

At the center of the Christian life is the necessity of repentance, and at the center of repentance is the willingness to be corrected. The Holy Spirit is given to us to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). To resist that conviction, to stiff-arm that reproof, is to resist the central work of God in our lives. The man described in this proverb, the scoffer, has made this resistance his settled way of life. His heart is calloused and his ears are stopped.

This is why the book of Proverbs treats the scoffer so seriously. To deal with a scoffer is not like dealing with a normal sinner who has a moment of prideful defensiveness. We all have those. The scoffer is a man whose pride has metastasized. It has become his defining characteristic. He has built his entire identity around the idea that he is not in need of correction. Therefore, when correction comes, he does not perceive it as a helping hand, but as a hostile attack on his very being. He reacts with hatred because his false self is being threatened with exposure. This is a profound spiritual pathology, and this proverb gives us the two primary symptoms: a hateful reaction to reproof and a deliberate avoidance of the wise.

Verse by Verse Commentary

12a A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,

The proverb begins by identifying the subject: the scoffer. This is the man who treats holy things with contempt. He is cynical, arrogant, and mocking. The verse then goes straight to his affections. It does not say he "disagrees with" or "debates" the one who reproves him. It says he does not love him. In biblical terms, this is tantamount to saying he hates him. Why? Because the reproof is a righteous threat to his unrighteous kingdom of self. The reprover, by speaking the truth, shines a light on the scoffer's sin, and the scoffer, like all who do evil, hates the light (John 3:20). His response is not intellectual, but visceral. The man who brings the reproof becomes the object of his animosity. He personalizes the correction because his sin is intensely personal to him; it is what he loves. To attack his sin is to attack him. This is the very opposite of the righteous man, who loves those who rebuke him wisely, seeing it as a kindness, like precious oil for his head (Psalm 141:5).

12b He will not go to the wise.

The second clause follows from the first with deadening logic. If a man hates the medicine (reproof), he will naturally avoid the place where that medicine is dispensed (the company of the wise). The scoffer is not stupid in a conventional sense. He is shrewd enough to know that if he hangs around wise people, he is going to get more of what he hates: correction, challenges, and calls to repentance. The wise man's very presence is a rebuke to the fool. So, the scoffer practices a kind of spiritual social distancing. He insulates himself from wisdom. He will seek out flatterers, sycophants, and other scoffers who will reinforce his delusions and applaud his folly. He will not willingly place himself in a situation where his pride might be pricked and his conscience awakened. This avoidance is an active choice. It is a deliberate "will not." He sets his course away from the harbor of wisdom and steers directly toward the rocks.

Application

This proverb has two sharp edges for us. The first is a mirror. We must ask ourselves, how do I respond to reproof? When my spouse, my pastor, my friend, or my brother in Christ points out a sin or a blind spot, what is my gut reaction? Is it defensiveness? Anger? Resentment? Do I shoot the messenger? If so, we have the seed of the scoffer in our own hearts, and we must repent of it immediately. A love for gracious, biblical reproof is a sign of spiritual health. A hatred of it is a sign of advanced spiritual disease. We should actively pray for God to make us teachable, to give us a heart that loves the truth more than it loves our own ego.

The second edge is a window. This proverb teaches us to be discerning in our relationships and especially in our ministry efforts. There is a difference between a sinner who needs to be patiently instructed and a scoffer who needs to be avoided. Jesus Himself told us not to cast our pearls before swine (Matt 7:6). The book of Proverbs says, "Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse" (Prov 9:7). There comes a point where attempting to reprove a hardened scoffer is not only fruitless but also foolish. This does not mean we are unloving, but rather that we are stewarding our time and energy wisely. Our primary responsibility is to seek out the teachable, the humble, those who are willing to "go to the wise." The scoffer has made his choice. Unless and until God grants him a miracle of repentance, his door is closed and locked from the inside.