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Please see A Biblical Perspective On “Narcissistic Projection” for Part 1

To recap Part 1*, scoffers are hypocritical judges who accuse others of the very things of which they are guilty.  This action is the Biblical equivalent of what the secular world calls “projection”.  From Wikipedia:

“Psychological projection is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against their own unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is habitually rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. It incorporates blame shifting.”

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An example of this is in Mark 3:

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^20&22 And He (Jesus) came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.….

…The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

 ²³ And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.²⁶ If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! ²⁷ But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. 

Mark 3:20-27

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The scribes were jealous over Jesus’ growing fame.  In their insolent pride, it was impossible for them to admit that His teaching and healing were good things, as this admission would ratify His higher standing in relationship to them.  So, they needed to bring Him down.  Rather than attacking His results, they attacked the source of those results.  This is a common practice of narcissists, who will discount others’ success by suggesting they had an “unfair” advantage, or cheated, or something similar.

In the process, and consistent with those who judge others, the scribes pinpointed the very issue which they themselves had.  Jesus had already identified the scribes and Pharisees as under the influence of Satan when He said to them,

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You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

John 8:44

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