Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Parallel Translations
-
Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
-
Wherfore be ye not vnwyse but vnderstonde what the will of the Lorde is
-
Wherefore, be ye not vnwise, but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is.
Cross-references (17)
Passages linked to Ephesians 5:17 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Romans 12:2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
- Colossians 1:9 For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Ephesians 5:15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,
- Jeremiah 4:22 “For my people are foolish. They don’t know me. They are foolish children, and they have no understanding. They are skillful in doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good.”
- 1 Peter 4:2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,
- Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
- John 7:17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
- Psalms 111:10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Job 28:28 To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
- Deuteronomy 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
- Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
- 1 Kings 3:9-12 Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?” This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice; behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.
- Proverbs 2:5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.
- Psalms 119:27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works.
- Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise. He whose
17. Wherefore be ye not unwise. He whose
“delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates in it day and night,” (Psalm 1:2,)
Read full note →
will triumph over every obstacle which Satan can oppose to his progress. Whence comes it that some wander, others fall, others strike against a rock, others go away, — but because we allow ourselves to be gradually blinded by Satan, and lose sight of the will of God, which we ought constantly to remember? And observe, that Paul defines wisdom to be, understanding what the will of the Lord is
“How shall a young man,” says David, “direct his way? By attending to thy word, O Lord.” (Psalm 119:9.)
He speaks of youths, but it is the same wisdom which belongs to old men.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what…
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ver. 17. But understanding what] Drawing your knowledge into practice, as Eph 5:10. For "the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding," Job 28:28: where wisdom (proper to the understanding) is ascribed to the will, because practice should be joined to knowledge. Hence also, Ecc 10:2; "A wise man’s heart is at his right hand," because his heart teacheth his hand to put things in practice.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Understanding, diligently considering,
Understanding, diligently considering,
what the will of the Lord is, in the understanding of which your chief wisdom consists.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain As if he had said, "Seeing the times are…
As if he had said, "Seeing the times are so perilous, and your opportunities of doing good so uncertain, be wise, and understand what are the proper duties of your place and station, and know how to manage yourselves in every relation, with reference to the duties, dangers, snares, and temptations, which may be before you, and this according to the will of God revealed in his word.
Learn hence, That it is a special part of divine wisdom to understand and know what is the mind and will of God concerning us, in every condition of life which his providence brings us into; to the intent that we may fill up every relation with the proper duties of it, to the glory of God and our own and other’s satisfaction: Be not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual…
Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,.... By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that goes by that name, for other psalms there are none; and by "hymns" we are to understand, not such as are made by good men, without the inspiration of the Spirit of God; since they are placed between psalms and spiritual songs, made by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; and are put upon a level with them, and to be sung along with them, to the edification of churches; but these are only another name for the Book of Psalms, the running title of which may as well be the Book of Hymns, as it is rendered by Ainsworth; and the psalm which our Lord sung with his disciples after the supper, is called an hymn; and so are the psalms in general called hymns, by Philo the Jew (n); and songs and hymns by Josephus (o); and , "songs and praises", or "hymns", in the Talmud (p): and by "spiritual songs" are meant the same Psalms of David, Asaph, &c. and the titles of many of them are songs, and sometimes a psalm and song, and song and psalm, a song of degrees; together with all other Scriptural songs, written by inspired men; and which are called "spiritual", because they are indited by the Spirit of God, consist of spiritual matter, and are designed for spiritual edification; and are opposed to all profane, loose, and wanton songs: these three words answer to the several titles of David's Psalms; from whence it seems to be the intention of the apostle, that these should be sting in Gospel churches; for so he explains speaking to themselves in them, in the next clause:
singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; singing, as it is a distinct thing from prayer, so from giving of thanks, which is mentioned in Eph 5:20 as another duty; it is not a mental praising of God, for it is called speaking, and teaching, and admonishing, but it is a praising of God with the modulation of the voice; and is rightly performed, when the heart and voice agree; when there is a melody in the heart, as well as in the tongue; for singing and making melody in the heart, is singing with, or from the heart, or heartily; of as elsewhere, "with grace", and which the Alexandrian copy reads here; that is, either with gratitude and thankfulness, or with grace in exercise; and the end in view should be the glory of God.
Read full note →
(n) De Mutat. Nomin. p. 1062. & alibi. (o) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 3. (p) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 94. 1.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain What the will of the Lord is - In…
What the will of the Lord is - In every time, place, and circumstance.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise] Μη γινεσθε…
Verse 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise] Μη γινεσθε αφρονες· Do not become madmen. Here is a most evident allusion to the orgies of Bacchus, in which his votaries acted like madmen; running about, tossing their heads from shoulder to shoulder, appearing to be in every sense completely frantic. See the whole of the passage in Livy, to which I have referred on Eph 5:12.
But understanding what the will of the Lord is.] It is the will of God that ye should be sober, chaste, holy, and pure. Get a thorough understanding of this; acquaint yourselves with God's will, that ye may know how to glorify him.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Be ye not unwise - Be not fools in…
Be ye not unwise - Be not fools in the employment of your time, and in your manner of life. Show true wisdom by endeavoring to understand what the will of the Lord is, and then doing it.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Wherefore--seeing that ye need to walk so circumspectly, choosing…
Wherefore--seeing that ye need to walk so circumspectly, choosing and using the right opportunity of good.
unwise--a different Greek word from that in Eph 5:15. Translate, "foolish," or "senseless."
Read full note →
understanding--not merely knowing as a matter of fact (Luk 12:47), but knowing with understanding.
the will of the Lord--as to how each opportunity is to be used. The Lord's will, ultimately, is our "sanctification" (Th1 4:3); and that "in every thing," meantime, we should "give thanks" (Th1 5:18; compare above, Eph 5:10).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 17. Unwise—Heedless, not using the wits and the knowledge…
17. Unwise—Heedless, not using the wits and the knowledge you have.
Understanding—By direct testing, as in Eph_5:10.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 17. be ye not] Lit., become ye not; let…
17. be ye not] Lit., become ye not; let not unwatchfulness pull you down.
understanding] Better, probably, understand.
Read full note →
what the will of the Lord is] “The good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God” apprehended by the disciple who is “being transformed by the renewing of his mind” (Rom_12:2, a passage much in point here). Not independent reason but the illuminated perceptions of a soul awake to God will have a true intuition into “His will,” both as to that invariable attitude of the Christian, subjection to and love of the will of God, and as to the detailed opportunities of action in that attitude.—Cp. on the Divine Will and our relation to it, Psa_143:10; Mat_6:10; Mat_7:21; Mar_3:35; Joh_7:17; Act_13:36; Act_21:14; Act_22:14; 2Co_8:5; Col_1:9; Col_4:12; 1Th_4:3; 1Th_5:18; Heb_13:21; 1Jn_2:17; below Eph_6:6. And on the example of the Lord, cp. Psa_40:8; Luk_22:42; Joh_4:34; Joh_5:30; Joh_6:38.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (17) Be ye not unwise.—The word here is stronger…
(17) Be ye not unwise.—The word here is stronger than in Eph_5:15; it is properly senseless, used of “the fool” (in Luk_11:40; Luk_12:20; 1Co_15:36; 2Co_11:16; 2Co_11:19; 2Co_12:6; 2Co_12:11). By it St. Paul emphasises his previous warning; then he adds the explanation that to be “wise” is to “understand what the will of the Lord is”—to know His purpose towards us and towards the world, and so to know the true purpose of our life. Hence we are told in Job_28:28, that “the fear of the Lord is wisdom,” or, more precisely, in Pro_9:10, that it is “the beginning of wisdom.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Wherefore be ye not unwise, hut understanding what is…
Wherefore be ye not unwise, hut understanding what is the will of the Lord. The "wherefore" bears on all the preceding argument: because ye are children of light; because light is so valuable and so indispensable; because your whole circumstances demand so much care and earnestness. "Unwise" is equivalent to senseless; "understanding," to both knowing and laying to heart, as in parable of sower: "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not," i.e. does not consider or ponder it, "then cometh the wicked one," etc. The will of the Lord is the great rule of the Christian life; to know and in the deeper sense understand this, is to walk wisely and to walk surely.
The right understanding of duty.
Read full note →
This is necessary to its efficient performance.
I UNWISDOM. The thought of the apostle turns upon the misapplication or misdirection of our powers. "Be ye not unthinking and senseless." It is a sin against our rational nature, against our high calling, against the Lord, not to use our intellectual faculties with supreme relation to the Lord"s will.
II THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD"S WILL. Religion is a question of knowledge as well as feeling. Knowledge supplies the basis of feeling. Though Scripture tells us not to lean to our own understanding, it tells us to love with knowledge and all judgment. The knowledge is needed both to stimulate and to regulate the love. We must know our duties, dangers, temptations, in respect to every condition of life in which we are placed by Divine providence. It is the will of the Lord Jesus Christ which supplies the true standard of action to every Christian. The direction of our life is to be determined by his precepts. T.C.
Vers. 17-21.
Inspiration, spirituous and spiritual.
Following up his exhortations about holy living, Paul now proceeds to the subject of understanding the Lord"s will. In doing so he comes across the necessity which human nature feels for excitement of some kind, and, warning the Ephesians against the low excitement of wine, he commends the high excitement of the Spirit, with all its pleasurable manifestations. In other words, he speaks of inspiration, but condemns the spirituous while he commends the spiritual. We have thus suggested
I THE NEED OF SOME STIMULUS FROM BEYOND OURSELVES.
(Vers. 17, 18.) This is apparent from the fact that every one needs some excitement, as it is called, to keep him moving something to "interrupt our quiet and ordinary state of mind with some more lively feeling, which makes us live more consciously and in a manner quicker than we do in common." We all feel this. Now, this goes to show that we are not self-contained, no matter how much we desire to be so, but need a helping hand from without our personalities. Withhold food, and we perish. Withhold all stimulus from us, and we go of necessity to pieces. The whole question comes to be, therefore, where we shall get our required stimulus.
II THE STIMULUS OF WINE IS ATTENDED WITH DANGER.
(Ver. 18.) This is an inspiration which comes through sense. Now, all of us need a stimulus through our senses. Food is such a stimulus. A well-digested meal makes life move faster and quicker than fasting would. But the vinous inspiration leads to "riot" (Revised Version), and is inconsistent with that unity of the Church for which the gospel calls. We should abstain from such a dangerous stimulus as this, for its effect has been hostile to unity of spirit. But we might extend the precaution here to all those excitements of a sensual nature which exhaust and retard the spirit. As Robertson says, "Wine is but a specimen of a class of stimulants. All that begins from without belongs to the same class. The stimulus may be afforded by almost any enjoyment of the senses. Drunkenness may come from anything wherein is excess from over-indulgence in society, in pleasure, in music, and in the delight of listening to oratory, nay, even from the excitement of sermons and religious meetings. The prophet tells us of those who are drunken, and not with wine." Arnold, in the same way, bases upon this passage warnings against excess of bodily exercise, excess of intellectual exercise, excess even in our hours of work, excess, in a word, so far as it militates against Christian sober-mindedness.
III THE INSPIRATION FROM ABOVE CAN HAVE NO ATTENDANT EXCESS.
(Vers. 18, 19.) We may be filled with the Spirit, and no riot result, nothing which will do anything but foster the glorious unity. For, as Arnold shows, the gospel and the inspirations from God "at once excite and soothe," so that the soul is kept in holy equilibrium, and the inspiration has its natural manifestation.
1. There will be harmony in social song. Poetry and music will become tributary to unity of spirit. The Holy Ghost will permeate by his harmonizing presence social praise.
2. The praise offered to the Lord will be heartfelt. It will not be a form of praise, but the very heart going up to heaven.
3. Thanksgiving will be mightily promoted. In the midst of manifold mercies our God in heaven looks for constant thankfulness from us. And, indeed, if we understand his love we shall be prompted to give thanks "always for all things," in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. And inspiration will promote mutual subjection in the fear of Christ (so Revised Version). Thus it comes to pass that an inspired people proves a praising and united people. What harmony the society filled with the Spirit realizes! It is heaven begun below. What we need, therefore, is a Pentecost. If the Holy Spirit is pleased to fill us, then shall our discords vanish and our hearts beat in unison. It is by inspiration that the unity of the Church shall be secured. R.M.E.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the…
Eph_5:17
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Read full note →
On the excellence and utility of the truths contained in the gospel
The will of God, which determines the whole extent of our obligations, is principally unfolded to us in the doctrines and moral precepts which are delivered in the sacred Scriptures. It is expedient, therefore, to explain to you, from the pulpit, these Divine oracles, by showing you, first, their superior excellence to all other instructions; secondly, the inestimable advantages which they are capable of producing in securing your peace and happiness.
I. As man was created to be eternally happy in the clear and perfect knowledge of the infinite perfections of the Divine Being, there is naturally inherent in the mind of each individual an insatiable thirst after knowledge. But, my beloved friends, if human wisdom be unquestionably a valuable and precious acquisition, certainly the knowledge of those truths to which religion invites our attention must be incomparably more estimable. Yet, inconceivable as it may appear, it is an undeniable truth that many amongst us, while they give themselves to the pursuit of inferior attainments with indefatigable application, will scarcely devote one moment, without reluctance, to the gaining of a proficiency in that sublime and noble science which the fountain of all knowledge pours out so liberally before them. What a lamentable degradation of our mental faculties!
II. The value, moreover, and the excellence of any science, is generally, and very justly, estimated by its utility, by its tendency to promote our interests and advantage. On this account the arts which are calculated to add to the convenience and increase the happiness of society, the arts which tend to cultivate and embellish human life, are held in peculiar esteem, and encouraged by every mark of public approbation. Considering, therefore, the doctrines of Christianity in this point of view, we discover, at the first glance, that they stand eminently superior to every other knowledge which can possibly be acquired. The information which they impart regards whatever is dear and interesting to us in time and eternity. They furnish us with arms for our defence against every enemy that seeks our destruction, and secure us against every danger which surrounds us. (J. Archer.)
Wisdom is necessary to accurate walking
That wisdom and a good understanding of the will of God is necessary to accurate walking or ready obedience.
I. Before I give you the reasons, let me state the point as it lieth in the text.
1. That every man that hath a tender conscience would be accurate and exact in his obedience to God, not contenting himself with a slight tincture of Christianity, but looking into every creek and turning of it, that he may in no point be lacking and defective in his duty. Now this cannot be without much wisdom and knowledge; therefore here, when the apostle presseth them to walk circumspectly, he presently addeth, Not as fools, but as wise.
2. We have no sure rule to walk by but the will of God.
3. This will is revealed to us in His Word. There our duty and our happiness is clearly stated (Psa_119:105).
4. This word we need thoroughly to understand, otherwise how shall we know our duty? (Pro_19:2.)
5. This understanding must not be idle, but reduced to use and practice. A readiness to serve God in Gods way bringeth us soonest to a knowledge of Gods will. The Word was not given us to try the acuteness of our wits in disputing, but the readiness of our obedience in practising.
6. This reducing what we know to practice is our wisdom. Knowledge is never right but when wisdom goeth along with it.
II. The reasons why much wisdom and a good understanding is required of Christians.
1. That they may resemble God, and discover His perfections to the world.
2. That there may be a due impression of His word upon us, which is all wisdom; and if we understand it and improve it, it must needs make us wise also; for the impression is according to the nature of the seal; and so the new creature must needs be the wisest creature on this side heaven.
3. The great danger of ignorance, or the evils that come from the want of spiritual wisdom.
(1) To ourselves. Our worship is but a fond superstition, a blind devotion to an unknown God, a mere guess directed by custom and some devout aims (Joh_4:22). Our zeal is but a wild fury (Rom_10:2).
(2) To others. There is no preventing trouble in the Church or scandals to the world if we have not spiritual wisdom and understanding.
4. The incredible delight and peace it begets in our souls.
(1) The bare knowledge of Gods will is very delightful, and yieldeth much more pleasure to the mind than an epicure can find in his most exquisite sensual enjoyments.
(2) The peace which accompanies it.
5. The properties of this knowledge and wisdom show the necessity of it.
(1) Because it is employed about the highest things, to know Gods nature and will, what He is, and how He is to be enjoyed.
(2) These things are most useful and profitable (Joh_17:3).
1. Is of reproof to divers sorts of persons who live in ignorance, or countenance ignorance upon several pretences.
(1) That it belongeth not to them that dig in the mines of knowledge; they leave that to clerks and men of learning.
(2) Others have a little general and traditional knowledge of the religion commonly professed among us, and talk of it by rote after others, but generally look no further than the outside of it.
(3) Some confine their knowledge to a few obvious truths, and for other things they leave it to preachers more accurately to search after the mind of God, and content themselves to see with other mens eyes.
(4) Some think ignorance is the mother of devotion, and that men leave off to be good when they grow more knowing.
2. Is to press us to get this knowledge and understanding of Gods will. The apostle speaketh to children of light; and none of us know so much but we may know more.
(1) Labour to get a more full knowledge of heavenly mysteries, especially of those which are necessary to salvation (Heb_5:12-13).
(2) Get a more clear knowledge. Fulness relateth to the object, or matters known; clearness to the subject or faculty knowing.
(3) Get a more certain knowledge, or more confirmed knowledge in the truth (Act_2:36; Joh_4:42; Joh_17:8).
(4) Get a more distinct knowledge. Truths are best known in their frame and dependence. A confused knowledge is always unsatisfactory; it is not till we see how one truth agreeth with another, as the curtains of the tabernacle were fastened by loops; till we are able to compare things spiritual with spiritual (1Co_2:13).
(5) Get a more experimental knowledge. Most of Christianity is not only to be believed, but felt (1Jn_5:10).
6. Get a more practical knowledge. Knowledge is for use, not an idle speculation. As a gallant and a physician cometh into a garden, one looketh upon the colour and beauty, the other upon the virtue and use of herbs and flowers: For if, these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ (2Pe_1:8). He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1Jn_2:4). A practical Christian is more ready to serve and please God every day. (T. Manton, D. D.)
Understanding Gods will is true wisdom
That this is true wisdom appears thus.
1. It brings us to that frame of mind with which God is pleased (Isa_66:2; Rom_7:7-11).
2. It points out a certain way of escaping the misery due to us as sinners (1Jn_5:11-13; Heb_6:17-18).
3. It gives that view of God which excites us to love and give ourselves to Him (1Jn_4:9-10; 1Jn_4:19).
4. It removes the fear of death and the grave.
5. It gives the best ground of submission to the trials of life.
6. It lays the strongest restraints upon sin, which is our disgrace and misery.
7. It shows us that all our enemies are under Divine control.
8. It puts into our hands the best Weapons of defence (2Co_10:4-5).
9. It assures us that God will soon set all matters right (2Th_1:6-10). If so, how foolish and ungrateful are the neglecters and despisers of this will of God. Let us pray and study to know this will of God. (H. Foster.)
Value of wisdom
If the mountains were pearl, if every sand of the sea were a diamond, it were not comparable to wisdom. Without wisdom a person is like a ship without a pilot, in danger to split upon rocks. The price of wisdom is above rubies. The ruby is precious stone, transparent, of a red fiery colour. It is reported of one of the kings of India, he wore a ruby of that bigness and splendour that he might be seen by it in the dark; but wisdom casts a more sparkling colour than the ruby; it makes us shine as angels. (J. Watson.)
Eight marks of folly
If you would know such as are wise above sobriety you shall discern them by these marks:--
1. They have all the talk, wheresoever they come, like parrots.
2. They contemn others, like the Pharisees.
3. They spurn at them which tell them of their fault, like Abner.
4. They jump with Caesar, like the Herodians.
5. They turn with the time, like Demas.
6. They seek their own credit by the discredit of others, like the enemies of Paul.
7. They love to hear their own praise, like Herod.
8. Above all things they would have their own will, like Jezebel.
Whensoever these eight marks meet there is a wise man and a fool; a wise man in his own conceit, and a fool in proof: these are the wise men of the north, and the philosophers of England. (Henry Smith.)
Submission to the will of God
There is a memorable passage in the history of St. Francis that may throw light on this subject. The grand rule of the order which he founded was implicit submission to the superior. One day a monk proved refractory. He must be subdued. By order of St. Francis a grave was dug deep enough to hold a man; the monk was put into it, the brothers began to shovel in the earth, while their superior, standing by, looked on, stern as death. When the mould had reached the wretchs knees St. Francis bent down, and, fixing his eyes on him said, Are you dead yet? Is your self-will dead? Do you yield? There was no answer; down in that grave there seemed to stand a man with a will as iron as his own. The signal was given, and the burial went on. When at length he was buried up to the middle, to the neck, to the lips, St. Francis bent down once more to repeat the question, Are you dead yet? The monk lifted his eye to his superior, to see in the cold grey eyes that were fixed on him no spark of human feeling. Dead to pity and all the weaknesses of humanity, St. Francis stood ready to give the signal that should finish the burial. It was not needed; the iron bent; he was vanquished; the funeral was stopped; his will yielding to a stronger, the poor brother said, I am dead. I would not be dead as these monks to any man. The mind and reason which I have got from God Almighty are to bend implicitly and blindly before no human authority. But the submission I refuse to man, Jesus, I give to Thee--not wrung from me by terror, but won by love; the result, not of fear, but of gratitude. (T. Guthrie, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 17. Be ye not unwise. That is, so foolish…
17. Be ye not unwise. That is, so foolish as to not understand the will of the Lord.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain 17. “Therefore be ye not foolish, but understand what…
ARGUMENT 22
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT”
Read full note →
17. “Therefore be ye not foolish, but understand what is the will of the Lord.”
William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.