The Church Year and the Lectionary Commentary – 20th Ordinary (Day 3)
Ephesians 5:15-20 15 So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. 16 Take advantage of every opportunity because these are evil times. 17 Because of this, don’t be ignorant, but understand the Lord’s will. 18 Don’t get drunk on wine, which produces depravity. Instead, be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: 19 speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts; 20 always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Wisdom not foolishness figures large in this text as it did in the story of Solomon’s prayer for wisdom in Monday’s reading. Just as Solomon left the door open to folly by his penchant for improper worship, so Christians leave that door open when we fail to recognize the “evil times” we live in (v.16). That this is a matter of wisdom Paul indicates by warning his readers not to be “ignorant” of this but rather know how we should respond to living in such t...