Is it wrong to be sarcastic?
Friends and family agree that I speak two languages: English and sarcasm. Depending on how you define the word, "sarcasm" is either humor or disrespect. I don't make a habit of putting people down. I wouldn't consider my sarcasm to be rudeness. But I do think before I speak (Proverbs 10:19; James 1:19).
The Bible records godly people using forms of sarcasm. But it's a verbal tool that can easily cause damage; it's a sword that needs to be welded with caution (Proverbs 12:18).
What is sarcasm?
According to the dictionary, "sarcasm" is made of two parts: style and intent. One style of sarcasm involves saying one thing while meaning the opposite. For example, saying, "you did all you could," or, "way to give 110%," to someone who made no effort. The other style is using words that mean more than one thing. For example, telling an angry customer, "I hope you get what you're asking for."
The second component is an intent to ridicule or put down. The word "sarcasm" comes from a term that implies cutting flesh; it's supposedly meant to hurt. In theory, the polite stuff is "satire," and the mean stuff is "sarcasm."
Of course, the dictionary once defined "awesome" and "terrific" to mean "makes people afraid." The word "radical" originally referred to the core or the foundation; now it's every politician's favorite way to make things sound scary and extreme. "Literally" has become a figure of speech, so it's hard to even explain what the original word means!
So we can't really go by the dictionary definition of sarcasm. What people call "sarcasm" today is much broader than the book definition. But it isn't the label that matters. The important part is being aware of what's being said and the impact it has. It's the same principle we apply to dark humor and rough joking. Intent matters (Matthew 12:36; Titus 1:13). But so does the effect on the other person (Proverbs 15:1; Colossians 4:6).
Sarcasm in the Bible
Scripture includes examples of sarcasm. Elijah used it on false prophets (1 Kings 26–29) to express intentional mocking. The insulting language was meant to show how absurd their worship of Baal was. Cain's response when God questioned him about his brother (Genesis 4:9) and some of Israel's complaints to Moses (Exodus 14:11) are examples of snide sarcasm. Joshua's response to stubborn people (Joshua 17:15) is a use of sarcasm to make a point more vividly. Paul even gives a sarcastic scolding to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 4:8-13).
Jesus seemed to use sarcasm when He met Nathanael. Nathanael dismissed Jesus for being raised in Nazareth (John 1:46). Jesus' response (John 1:47) would be like saying, "Yes, let's go ahead and judge people based on their heritage. Your ancestors were totally honest, weren't they?" But Nathanael—like all Israelites—was the descendant of a known liar, Jacob (Genesis 32:28). Jesus is pointing out that Nathanael wouldn't want others to judge him the way he's judging a person he hasn't even met (Matthew 7:1-2)!
Is sarcasm good or bad?
Sarcasm, satire, irony, teasing, and such aren't always insulting, but they can be used that way. Sometimes, close friends or family might poke fun at one another; as long as the line is understood and not crossed, it can be totally harmless. But since sarcasm is intended to poke fun, it can cross that line very easily.
Sarcasm is also a common option when someone wants to attack another person. It can combine "here is my statement" with "I'm making fun of your view." Humor is double-edged. We can laugh "with" people, or we can laugh "at" them. If we learn that we've hurt someone with our words, we ought to seek reconciliation and forgiveness with them if possible (James 5:16; Ephesians 4:32).
Handling Words with Care
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." —Ephesians 4:29
Just like other forms of speech, sarcasm can be appropriate or inappropriate, depending on the situation. It's not something we need to avoid entirely. But it should be treated with care.
Part of handling sarcasm correctly is knowing that some people might not take it well. No one can read our minds. Written words, like texts, are especially limited in correctly expressing sarcasm—even with emojis, gifs, or /s additions. Offending with sarcasm, even if we didn't mean to, is still our fault (Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3), and we need to take responsibility for any harm we've caused.
That's obviously the clearest response you'll ever read, so you couldn't possibly have more questions about sarcasm. My writing is so deep that there's NO reason to check out our other articles or submit a personal question. You're welcome.
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TL;DR
There's nothing wrong with using irony, banter, humor, or even teasing in the right way. The Bible shows us the use of sarcasm—even Jesus said things that come across as sarcastic. We can be "sarcastic" in loving or unloving ways. What matters is if we're trying to harm and whether we're causing harm. Sarcasm can hit hard, so wield that sword with caution. Now, how could anyone not understand everything about sarcasm after a summary that good?
Writer: Jeff Laird
Jeff is a staff writer with Got Questions Ministries and used to be a mechanical engineer. When he's not accidentally setting things on fire in his workshop, or petting strange dogs, he loves helping people better understand God’s Word and how it applies to our lives. Jeff's calling is to untangle the "big picture" of Christian faith, making it easier to understand.
