HOUSMAIL Number HM#012 - SARCASM                                                                              31 December 1998

" Noun . [L. sarcasmus, < Gr. sarkasmos, a bitter laugh, < sarkazo, to tear flesh like dogs, to speak bitterly,

               < sarx, sarkos, flesh.] A bitter, cutting expression; a caustic remark; a gibe; a taunt; the
               employment of ironical or satirical language." (The Living Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the
               English Language, by The English Language Institute of America, Chicago, {c} 1974.)

The specific word, 'sarcasm' , is not found in the Bible, however we do find the Greek word 'sarx' which is the root word for sarcasm. According to Young's Analytical Concordance it is translated as follows in the King James Version:

sarx

           flesh -- 147 times [Matthew 16:17; 19:5,6; 24:22, 26:41; et. al.]
           carnal -- 2 times [Romans 8:7 and Hebrews 9:10
           carnally -- 1 time [Romans 8:6]
           fleshly -- 1 time [Colossians 2:18]

In addition two other words which have their root in 'sarx' are:

sarkikos

                carnal -- 7 times [Romans 7:14; 1 Corinthians 3:1,3(2x),4;
                2 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 7:16]
                fleshly -- 2 times [2 Corinthians 1:12]
                carnal things -- 2 times [Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 9:11]

sarkinos

                fleshly -- 1 time [2 Corinthians 3:3]

For study and comparison concerning the thoughts expressed in the English

definition of 'sarcasm' note the following verses:
                Matthew 7:6 (literally, or with words, or both?]
                Deuteronomy 32:24,32,33
                Psalm 64:3
                James 3:11
                Hebrews 12:14,15

For contrast study and compare those same thoughts with the following verse:

Concerning the 'Fruit of the Spirit':
       love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
       faith (which comes by hearing the word of God, which is the
       sword of the Spirit),

       meekness, temperance (or, self-control).
                                       Galatians 5:22,23

And concerning these weapons of our godly warfare:

        2 Corinthians 10:4-6

Examples:
        2 Corinthians 10:1-3

        Ephesians 4:1-7
        2 Timothy 2:24-26

Study this also in the light of the following verses:
        Matthew 12:34-37
       James 2:2-12
       Proverbs 25:11
       Ecclesiastes 5:1,2 -- be not hasty with thy mouth
       Colossians 3:16,17
       Psalm 19:14

The words of God do give us insight about how we should speak and how we should not speak. We should not be defensive because of God's admonitions, but we should reflect and correct our ways, our minds, our speech to conform to His Spirit, the spirit of righteousness.

       Romans 8:10 -- the spirit is life because of righteousness.

       Galatians 5:5 -- we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
                                righteousness by faith.
       Ephesians 5:9 -- the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness
                                 and righteousness and truth.

When the Pharisees heard the words of Jesus, and perceived that he was speaking of them, their reaction was not to 'listen to' or 'to hear' what he said, but to:
                  Matthew 21:45,46
                  John 11:47-54

                  John 7:25-30; 8:37-59; 10:31,32

                 Matthew 23:34-39
                 Acts 28:23-26,27-31

"Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches"
                Revelation 2:7,11,17,29
                Revelation 3:6,13,22

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Ron Rankin, December, 1998