17. READ: GALATIANS 6:7-10
a. God cannot be what?
Answer: God cannot be mocked, (verse 7).
"Mock" comes from the Greek word mukterizo, which is taken from the Greek word mukter, which is the nose, and it has the meaning "to turn up the nose at, sneer at, treat with contempt."
The use of the word "mocked" in Galatians 6:7 does not mean that men do not mock Him. Many have treated God with contempt, turning up their nose at Him and sneering at Him. But it is impossible to impose (meaning "to take advantage of," "to cheat," "to defraud," "to practice deception") upon God because He KNOWS the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The meaning here is that even though men deceive themselves that they can mock God by their actions, God is not deceived--He is not mocked--by their actions. By their own evil actions, men will be known for what they really are. You reap what you sow no matter how much you "thumb your nose" at God:
Titus 1:15-16: "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."