Fiery Arrows, False Witness, and Joking
"Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" - (Proverbs 26:18-19).
The image in this proverb is striking—someone wielding weapons of destruction with reckless abandon, harming others without care, and then brushing it off as a joke. It's a vivid metaphor for the careless, cutting words we so often toss around. We laugh, quip, gossip, and mock—all while thinking it's harmless. But Scripture shows us otherwise. Our words are like arrows; once they're loosed, they strike their target, often leaving wounds we cannot take back.
The Ninth Commandment tells us not to bear false witness against our neighbor, and when we think of this, we often imagine lies in courtrooms or overt slander. But bearing false witness is much more insidious—it's wrapped up in the humor, sarcasm, and gossip we use daily, often without a second thought. Like a madman "who throws flaming arrows of death" (Proverbs 26:18-19), if we participate in this, we are compared to a raving lunatic, wildly hurling weapons of destruction, claiming it was all in good fun. This ancient proverb is a powerful reminder of how carelessly we use our words—wielding them like arrows, thinking the damage is harmless, only to leave destruction in our wake.
We often picture bearing false witness as some dramatic courtroom perjury or a blatant, public lie. But Scripture tells us that false witness includes more than that. It's the subtle ways we use sarcasm, mockery, gossip, and hurtful humor to tear others down. And often, we excuse it by saying, "I was just joking." But, like the madman in Proverbs, those words are not just harmless; they are deadly.
The Silent Arrows of Sarcasm and Jokes
Take the example of a wife who mocks her husband in front of friends or family. She may say things like, "Oh, he doesn't know what he's doing," or "He's so clueless about fixing things." Everyone laughs, and she smiles as if it's all in good fun, but her words sting. Each sarcastic jab is an arrow, wounding the husband's dignity and eroding trust. The laughter doesn't lessen the impact; it amplifies the humiliation. She may later brush it off, saying, "I was only joking," but the damage is real.
Or consider the husband who, out with friends, takes the opportunity to bash his wife. "You wouldn't believe how bad she is with money," he chuckles. His buddies nod along, and the conversation moves on. But what has just happened? The husband's words have borne false witness against his wife, distorting her character and reducing her to a punchline. It may seem small, but in God's eyes, this violates the Ninth Commandment. The laughter disguises the actual sin: dishonoring one's spouse.
Then there are the workplace dynamics. How easy it is for coworkers to malign their boss behind closed doors. "He's the worst manager I've ever had," someone might say during a lunch break. The stories of incompetence pile up, each one worse than the last, until everyone nods in agreement. But are these stories true? Or are they exaggerated, blown out of proportion by frustration? Even if the boss isn't perfect, is this gossip preserving his good name, as the Bible calls us to do? Hardly. This, too, is bearing false witness, shrouded in frustration and idle chatter.
Gossip: The Poison That Spreads
Proverbs 18:8 says, "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts." Gossip is delicious—it feels satisfying at the moment but leaves a bitter aftertaste. It seems harmless: a whispered conversation about someone's personal life, a shared prayer request with a little too much detail, a story passed along with a hint of scandal. Yet, every time we gossip, we spread false witness, damaging reputations and distorting the truth.
The wife who shares private frustrations about her husband with her friends, the husband who tells his buddies about his wife's perceived flaws, the coworker who tears down their boss at every opportunity—all of these are forms of gossip. Each word is like an arrow released into the air, and the damage is done once it lands. Gossip may feel like a minor sin but is deadly to relationships, trust, and reputation.
Sarcasm: The Veiled False Witness
Sarcasm is another arrow in the quiver of false witness. "Oh, you're always late," we say to a friend who runs five minutes behind schedule. "Nice job, genius," we quip to a spouse after they make a small mistake. These words may seem lighthearted, but they carry a subtle poison. Sarcasm distorts the truth. It exaggerates a minor frustration, painting the other person as perpetually flawed. Even if the sarcasm is masked in humor, it bears false witness by misrepresenting the reality of who that person is.
And it doesn't stop there. Sarcasm often hides more profound critiques we're too afraid to say directly. We use it to mask our frustrations, to throw a punch without fully committing to it. But God sees through this veneer. In His eyes, sarcasm that tears others down is no less sinful than outright slander.
The Weight of Our Words
When we reflect on the Ninth Commandment in light of these examples, it becomes clear that we violate it far more often than we realize. Every sarcastic jab, gossipy whisper, and joke at another's expense bears false witness. They all distort the truth and harm the reputations of others.
We often think our words are inconsequential, but Proverbs paints a different picture. Our words have power. They can wound like arrows, and they can heal like a balm. And too often, we use them to wound.
James tells us that the tongue is "a fire, a world of unrighteousness" (James 3:6). Left unchecked, our words can set ablaze relationships, communities, and even entire lives. The humor we use to cut others down, the gossip we pass along to feel important, and the sarcastic remarks that hide deeper frustrations come from the same place: a heart that needs redemption.
Finding Hope and Healing in Christ
But here's the good news: though our words may fail, Christ's words never did. Jesus, the Word made flesh, perfectly fulfilled the Ninth Commandment. He never spoke a careless word, bore false witness, gossiped, mocked, or maligned others. Even when falsely accused and mocked Himself, He remained silent, trusting in the Father.
And on the cross, Jesus took on the penalty for all our careless words. Every sarcastic jab, every harmful joke, every piece of gossip—we deserve to be condemned for them. But Christ bore that condemnation in our place. He was wounded for our transgressions, pierced for our iniquities, and by His wounds, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
In Christ, there is forgiveness for every false witness we've borne. When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). More than that, He gives us the grace to speak the truth. By His Spirit, our tongues are transformed. No longer must we hurl arrows of death with our words—we can now talk about life, truth, and encouragement into the lives of others.
A Call to Radical Truthfulness
As Christians, we are called to reflect Christ in all we say. This means that our humor must be kind, our sarcasm must be abandoned, our gossip must be repented of, and our words must build up rather than tear down. We must ask ourselves: Are we using our tongues to wound or to heal? Are we bearing false witness through sarcasm, jokes, and gossip, or are we speaking the truth in love?
Let us examine ourselves. How have we used our words to harm others, even under the guise of humor? How have we borne false witness against our spouse, friends, coworkers, or neighbors? And more importantly, how can we repent and turn to the One who is the truth? In Christ, there is forgiveness, transformation, and grace.
May we become people whose words reflect the character of Christ—faithful, accurate, and full of grace. And may we use our tongues, not to fling arrows of death, but to speak words of life and healing, as those who have been redeemed by the truth Himself.
