11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light; for everything that is made manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
15 “Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.”
Golden Text.—“Be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot.” Verse 18.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1.) What should be our attitude toward sin? Verse 11. Note 1. (2) To what depth of degradation do they go who indulge in such works? Verse 12. (3) How are the works of darkness made manifest? Verse 13. Note 2. (4) What does the Word say to those who are in the dark? Verse 14. Note 3. (5) In what way are we instructed to walk? Verse 15. Note 4. (6) How should we regard the time allotted to us? Why? Verse 16. (7) What should be our attitude toward God? Verse 17. Note 5. (8) Against what habit are we specially warned? What shall we imbibe instead? Verse 18. Note 6. (9) How are Christians to encourage one another? Verse 19. (10) When, for what, to whom, and in whose name, are we to give thanks? Verse 20. (11) How are Christians to regard each other? Verse 21. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. “Unfruitful” in this text means barren of good fruit. Good fruit can not be grown in the dark. “When ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Rom. 6:20-22.
2. Light Is a Reprover.—The most effectual reproof of evil is to bring it to the light. “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:20. The best reproof of evil that the Christian can give is to manifest the light of truth in his own conduct. “He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” Verse 21. Evil is always reproved by contrast of deeds, rather than by sharpness of words.
3. Christ being the light of the world, those who can not see such a light are surely asleep, blind, or dead. The cold or inactive Christian is reckoned as asleep, which is virtually being dead. “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.” Rom. 13:11. See also Isa. 60:1-3.
4. To “walk circumspectly” means to walk “with watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger, cautiously.” Christ never was taken by surprise, or caught unawares; and the Word says, “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6. See Eph. 2:10.
5. “The will of the Lord” is expressed in His law. Ps. 40:7, 8. And David, again prophesying of Christ, says: “Thou through Thy commandments hast made Me wiser than Mine enemies; for they are ever with Me. I have more understanding than all My teachers; for Thy testimonies are My meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts.” Ps. 119:98-100. Also John 15:10.
6. “Riot” (or “excess,” as in A. V.) implies utter lawlessness, wastefulness, profligacy; hence opposition to salvation. Such is the tendency of wine-drinking, which here stands for all intoxicants. Drunkenness is evidence of spiritual darkness, for “they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” 1 Thess. 5:7. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Rom. 13:12-14.
7. Note the guard that is placed on the matter of submitting to one another. It must be “in the fear of Christ,” according to His word. This will always be a guard against compromising with error.
