Joking—Is it a sin? What does the Bible say about jokes?

TL;DR:

Joking is not inherently a sin. The Bible encourages the building up of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and joking can be a good thing to be enjoyed.

God is the giver of laughter. Joking and the laughter that comes with it are good things, as long as our speech is motivated by love and grace. Our aim at all times should be to seek peace and build each other up, not joke with the intent of putting someone down. In the moment, an insensitive joke may seem like no big deal to us, but we must remember that our words are powerful and that what we do (including how we joke) should be done for the glory of God. We also need to avoid putting a stumbling block in front of our brothers and sisters in Christ, which means being respectful of people’s idiosyncrasies, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc. when making certain jokes. We are told in Proverbs that “a joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22), and laughter from jokes is part of that. At the same time, there is a time for joking around and lighthearted fun, as well as a time for weeping and mourning (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Overall, we should seek to honor God even with our jokes.

from the old testament

In Psalm 126:1–3, God is depicted as the giver of laughter.
Proverbs 17:22 says, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” and Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." We can uplift others through our speech, including through making jokes that can bring a smile to their faces. Jokes should not come at the expense of others, putting them down.
While laughter is good, we should avoid using jokes as a way of avoiding painful or serious subjects. There is a time for laughter and a time for solemnity (Ecclesiastes 3:4), and we need wisdom to know when it’s time for a joke and when it is not.

from the new testament

Our speech should be motivated by love (John 13:34–35). This extends to the type of jokes we make.
Christians are called to build one another up and to live at peace (Romans 12:18; 14:19).
Our speech should also bear in mind our audience. Even if a joke may be permissible, we do not want to cause others to stumble (Romans 14:13–19).
We need to ensure that our speech—in jest or in seriousness—is a glorifying reflection of God (Colossians 3:17).
Ephesians 4:29 instructs, "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." Our joking should be good for building up our brothers and sisters in Christ.
James 3 pictures the tongue as a horse's bit and a ship's rudder—small, yet very influential. James also says our words can become like flames. Obviously, our words carry power. Saying a hurtful joke may seem harmless to us, but it can really tear someone down. Similarly, making a lighthearted joke to try and lift someone’s spirits may seem inconsequential to us, but it could benefit that person in ways we can’t always see—like helping them feel loved through our efforts to cheer them up.

implications for today

Joking is rather a loose term. We have clean jokes, crude jokes, belittling jokes, stupid jokes, and just plain old jokes. Some joking, such as that which finds humor in blasphemy, is obviously contrary to the Bible's teaching, but joking in general is not a sin. It is really a matter of Christian freedom. In our jokes, we must never belittle or degrade another; instead, our speech should be gracious and always edify our hearers (Ephesians 4:29). Though God is deserving of our reverence and fear, He also has a sense of humor. At the same time, we must make sure our sense of humor reflects His character. That means knowing when it’s the right time to joke and when it’s not. It also means knowing what should be joked about and what shouldn’t. There are certain subjects that are not to be joked about out of reverence for God and respect for others. Yet God is the God of joy, who created us with the capacity to joke and laugh.

understand

God is the giver of laughter and joy.
Joking is not inherently a sin; our joking can honor Him.
Joking can be sinful depending on the intent, focus, timing, and respect given to a topic.

reflect

How do you draw the line between godly and ungodly joking?
How do you seek to honor God with your humor?
How do you know when it’s an appropriate time to joke or not?

engage

What can we do when someone crosses the line into inappropriate joking?
How can we see joking, jokes, and laughter as a gift from the Lord?
What role does joking and jokes have in encouraging others and enjoying Jesus together?