Walk in Wisdom
EPHESIANS 5:15-17
OUR PASSAGE THIS THIS FROM THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS AGAIN DEALS WITH how we should walk, more specifically what the “worthy walk” should look like. You may remember Paul’s foundational practical admonition in chapter 4, verse 1…
NAS Ephesians 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
PAUL GOES ON TO SAY IN CHAPTER 4 THAT BELIEVERS ARE ALSO TO “WALK in Unity” (4:1-16). Then in chapter 5, he commands Christians to “Walk in Love” (5:1-2), “Walk in Purity” (4:17-32; 5:3-7), and Walk in Light” (5:8-14). Now, in our message this week from chapter 5, verses 15-17, Paul exhorts his readers – and us to day – to “Walk in Wisdom”…
NAS Ephesians 5:15-17 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
“VERSE 15 SERVES AS THE BASIS FOR THE MANY EXHORTATIONS FOUND in the rest of chapter 5 and the first 9 verses of chapter 6.” – Hoehner/TAR…
PAUL SAID A SIMILAR THING IN HIS LETTER TO THE COLOSSSIANS. First from the NKJ…
NKJ Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
COLOSSIANS 4:5 FROM THE NAS…
NAS Colossians 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
AND FINALLY FROM THE NIV TRANSLATION…
NIV Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
A PARAPHRASE OF THIS VERSE FROM COLOSSIANS MIGHT BE, “Be tactful and wise in all your relations with unbelievers; buy up every possible opportunity to influence them for the kingdom of God.” – Harris (A “paraphrase” is a round-about way of saying something.)
THESE THREE DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE WORD “walk” means in the N.T. Our “walk” is how we conduct ourselves, how we act and speak. Our “walk” is the visible outgrowth of what we believe. If we have truly been saved and if we have any idea of God’s grace in saving us, we should want to “Walk Worthy.”
THE GREEK WORD FOR “WALK” IS THE VERB περιπατέω (pe-ri-pa-tay-oÒ). It is found 969times in the N.T. That’s a lot. Literally, it means to walk up and down, to walk about. The Gospels and Acts use the word mainly in this literal way. Consider these three examples…
NAS Matthew 4:18 And walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
NAS Matthew 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
NKJ John 5:11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed (“pallet” – NAS) and walk.’ ”
THE NAS TRANSLATES περιπατέω (pe-ri-pa-tay-oÒ) “PROWL” IN 1 PETER 5:8…
NAS 1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
THE NKJ TRANSLATION READS…
NKJ 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
BUT PAUL AND JOHN IN THEIR LETTERS TO THE CHURCH USE THE WORD “WALK” metaphorically. Walk is a common idiom for one’s lifestyle, behavior, or manner of conduct. Here are a few examples…
NKJ Romans 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
NKJ 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
YOU’RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PASSAGE FROM 1 JOHN…
NKJ 1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
“WHAT BELIEVERS ARE GIVES CREDIBILITY TO WHAT THEY SAY. Believers are to exhibit a carefully planned, consistent, righteous Christian life. It is only if believers live wisely will the watching world see the power of God working in them.” – MacArthur
THAT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND. Our profession of faith in Christ, while it means everything to us, means nothing to the outside world. Unbelievers are interested very little if at all in what we say, but they cannot ignore what we do.
CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT THE “WALK” OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS. Consider how much a good walk influences people. I know in my life I thank the Lord daily for faithful men God has placed in my life, especially men like David Jeremiah, George Hare, and Gary Coombs. The faithful, wise walk of these men – without a word being exchanged – inspire me and hold me accountable to walk in the same manner. Such faithful walks are noticed by the unbelieving world, though unbelievers rarely if ever acknowledge the fact.
THE OBVIOUS QUESTION THEN IS “WHAT IS BIBLICAL WISDOM”? The Greek word is σοφία (sa-fee-a). BDAG, the leading Greek lexicon in the world today, defines σοφία (sa-fee-a) as 1. the capacity to understand and function accordingly, wisdom that God imparts to those who are close to God. It is used 51 times in the N.T. in a variety of ways (218 times in both Testaments). For example, did you know that unbelievers can have wisdom? The only problem is, worldly wisdom is not acceptable by God…
NAS 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”;
BUT MOSTLY IN THE BIBLE WISDOM REFERS TO GOD AND BELIEVERS. Most often wisdom is portrayed as desirable; we are exhorted to acquire wisdom…
NKJ Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
JESUS IN HIS HUMANITY WAS FILLED WITH WISDOM…
NKJ Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
AND, AGAIN KEEP IN MIND WE ARE TALKING OF HIM IN HIS HUMANITY, the Bible says Jesus “grew in wisdom”…
NAS Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing (imperfect tense – TAR) in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
A BRIEF, TO-THE-POINT DEFINITION OF “WISDOM” IS FEARING or reverencing God and applying God’s Word to practical situations of life. Wisdom in the Bible has much more to do with practicality than it does intelligence…
IN STUDYING “WISDOM” ONE FINDS IT IS NOT THE EASIEST WORD TO DEFINE. “Though wisdom and the wise men who perpetuate it have been around almost as long, if not as long as have people, the study of wisdom in the ancient Near East is a relatively new endeavor. This has been due, in part, to a lack of clear definition of the term ‘wisdom,’ as well as the difficult nature of the poetic language within which most of the wisdom material is found.” – Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary…
WHERE DOES WISDOM COME FROM? As you might imagine, it comes from God…
NAS Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
“AS BELIEVERS IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST, it is wisdom that will enable us to determine just how, in given situations, our new way of thinking, our new set of values, should be put into effect.” – Moo
WISDOM IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE OBEDIENT, EFFECTIVE BELIEVER.
NAS Ephesians 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,
“’BE CAREFUL’ COMES FROM A COMMON GREEK WORD (βλέπω [blep-po]) that refers to seeing. Here, it refers to spiritual perception. Along with the adverb ‘how,’ the construction is best translated ’look how carefully you are walking.’ It refers to the mode of careful walking as a Christian duty.” – Hoehner/TAR
“THE BELIEVER IS TO MAKE A HABIT OR A PRACTICE OF WALKING CAREFULLY.” –Hoehner
A WORTHY WALK (cf. 4:1) IS A CAREFUL WALK.
“NOT AS UNWISE, BUT AS WISE” EXPLAINS WHAT SORT OF WALK we are to maintain. “A walk that is careful and accurate is a wise walk, based on that store of spiritual knowledge of God’s will, which has been revealed in Scripture. We are to wisely put that knowledge into operation in daily life.” – Kent/TAR
REMEMBER, WE ARE IN THE PRACTICAL SECTION OF EPHESIANS (chapters 4-6); this is invaluable information from God’s Word, telling us how we are to live, how we are to behave ourselves, how we are to “walk.”
IF YOU ARE NOT REGULARLY IN THE BIBLE, YOU WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY WALK unwisely. I don’t mean to be unkind, just being real. Conversely, if you are regularly in the Bible, you will be regularly impacted by the truth of the Bible and tend to walk wisely.
IN EPHESIANS 5:15, PAUL SAYS TO “BE CAREFUL.” We are to keep a vigilant discerning and corrective eye on how we walk. Then in v. 16, Paul clarifies “careful” with these words…
NAS Ephesians 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
LITERALLY THIS CLAUSE COULD BE TRANSLATED “BUYING BACK THE TIME.” The Greek verb ἐξαγοράζω (ex-a-ga-rod-zo) means to buy up, to ransom, to rescue from loss. It is used to describe Christ’s redeeming sinners from the slave market of Satan…
NAS Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us– for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree “–
NAS Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
GOD PLACES A VALUE ON TIME; SO SHOULD WE. We are not to waste it.
BECAUSE THE MAIN VERB “BE CAREFUL” IS A COMMAND, the participle “redeeming,” which modifies the verb, should be taken as a command also. God commands us to be careful how we walk in wisdom and to take advantage consistently of the opportunities we have to influence unbelievers for the cause of Christ.
“BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL”…
NAS Ephesians 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
SCHOLARS DIFFER ON JUST HOW THIS DIMENSION SHOULD BE INTERPRETED… “The statement ‘the days are evil’ may imply that, whatever difficulties lie in the way of Christian witness now, they will increase as time goes on.” – Bruce
ONE COMMENTATOR INTERPRETED COLOSSIANS 4:5 THIS WAY: “We must guard our testimony, and we must guard our time. We are stewards of our time. Time is a nonrenewable resource. It slips past us at an alarming rate. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. It can never be recalled. We invest each fleeting moment with something, even if it is only idleness. ‘Redeem the time,’ says Paul. Everyday God gives us 1440 minutes to be spent by us and us alone. We cannot save up some of today’s time for tomorrow.” – Phillips
“ALL OF THESE PRECIOUS MOMENTS ARE OURS. HOWEVER, when life is over, there will be a strict accounting of what we have done with the time God has given us. We, as Christians, will give our accounting at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The unsaved will render account for their time at the Great White Throne. Paul says, ‘Make the best possible use of your time.’” – Phillips
ESV 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
“THE POINT IS THAT CHRISTIANS NEED TO EMPLOY THEIR SPIRITUAL
KNOWLEDGE so as to grasp every opportunity for fulfilling Christian duty and displaying spiritual fruit. ‘Buying up’ or ‘making the most of’ our time suggests the necessary price in time and effort. ‘Time’ or ’season’ denotes the time that is appropriate, a time with special characteristics that require wisdom to navigate.” – Kent/TAR
“BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL”…
NAS Ephesians 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, “WICKEDNESS ABOUNDS IN OUR WORLD TODAY. Satan relentless opposes God’s work in the world. The Devil watches for opportunities to hinder God’s purposes. Even though this is the reality, believers must not fear evil days. God’s people must not waste opportunities to advance His holy and gracious purposes because they fear potentially dangerous consequences. Living wisely by using opportunities to please God isn’t easy; it never has been.” – Garner/TAR
WHAT A GREAT EXAMPLE PAUL HIMSELF IS FOR US. Listen to his testimony in his letter to the Philippians…
NAS Philippians 1:12-14 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
YOU KNOW, AS I THOUGHT ON THIS VERSE THIS WEEK I COULD NOT HELP BUT see again the importance of being in God’s Word regularly. As I have asked you and myself on a number of occasions in these blogs, “How can one expect to effectively live out what one does not first know?”
SIMPLY PUT, “HOW CAN YOU DO GOD’S WILL IF YOU DO NOT KNOW GOD’S WILL?”
“WISDOM” IS HAVING A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL AND THEN OBEDIENTLY and worthily walking in that will through the practical situations of life. For years I defined wisdom as knowing the right thing to do and say at the right time and in the right manner to please God.
OUR LAST VERSE FOR THIS WEEK IS V. 17, and what a pointed, difficult to misunderstand verse it is…
NAS Ephesians 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
“SO THEN” OR “ON ACCOUNT OF THIS”…
“A FOOL IS A PERSON WHO LACKS UNDERSTANDING, or despises knowledge.” – Hoehner…
NAS Proverbs 1:22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
NAS Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
EPHESIANS 5:17 IS A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FOOL WHO DESPISES WISDOM and the wise believer who embraces it and daily walks in it.
“IT IS NOT ONLY HEARING WHAT IS SAID BY GOD BUT UNDERSTANDING IT.” –Hoehner/TAR… “As in the O.T., the N.T. also teaches that the lack of understanding is not just a simple lack of knowledge but results from human beings’ rejection of God. The command indicates that believers are to make it a practice to understand what the will of the Lord is.” – Hoehner
“UNDERSTAND” IS AN INTERESTING GREEK WORD. συνίημι (su-nee –ame) means literally “to set together,” i.e., to set facts, information together; to comprehend intellectually and thereby gain insight. In street talk, we might say, “to get it together.”
THE ESSENCE OF THIS VERSE IS “BE WISE BY UNDERSTANDING.” If we are to become wise, we must know God’s will, which is perfect wisdom. And how can we know God’s will if we do not consistently and diligently study our Bibles? It is no exaggeration to say that everything about our faith ultimately has to do with the Word.
“THE EARLY CHURCH OF PAUL’S DAY HAD NONE OF THE MODERN MEANS of advertising the gospel, such as TV, radio, tracts, books, magazines, or bumper stickers – and, of course, fewer also of the scandals. Yet by living out the truth of the gospel in their personal and corporate lives, they turned the world upside down. May that be said of us today in our culture.” – MacArthur…
GOD’S WORD FOR US TODAY: “WALK IN WISDOM”…
– Professor Thomas A. Rohm
