137 Homily XIX. Ephesians v. 15, 16, 17 “Look then carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” He is still cleansing away the root of bitterness, still cutting off the very groundwork of anger.392 For what is he saying? “Look carefully how ye walk.” “They are sheep in the midst of wolves,” and he charges them to be also “as doves.” For “ye shall be harmless,” saith he, “as doves.” (Matt. x. 16.) Forasmuch then as they were both amongst wolves, and were besides commanded not to defend themselves, but to suffer evil, they needed this admonition.393 Not indeed but that the former was sufficient to render them stronger;394 but now that there is besides the addition of the two, reflect how exceedingly it is heightened. Observe then here also, how carefully he secures them, by saying, “Look how ye walk.” Whole cities were at war with them; yea, this war made its way also into houses. They were divided, father against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother. What then? Whence these divisions? They heard Christ say, “He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.” (Matt. x. 37.) Lest therefore they should think that he was without reason introducing wars and fightings, (since there was likely to be much anger produced, if they on their part were to retaliate,) to prevent this, he says, “See carefully how ye walk.” That is to say, “Except the Gospel message,395 give no other handle on any score whatever, for the hatred which you will incur.” Let this be the only ground of hatred. Let no one have any other charge to make against you; but show all deference and obedience, whenever it does no harm to the message, whenever it does not stand in the way of godliness. For it is said, “Render to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom.” (Rom. xiii. 7.) For when amongst the rest of the world they shall see us forbearing, they will be put to shame. “Not as unwise, but as wise,396 redeeming the time.” It is not from any wish that you should be artful, and versatile, that he gives this advice. But what he means is this. The time is not yours. At present ye are strangers, and sojourners, 392 [The οὖν rather resumes the general directions as to how they are to walk (comp. v. 9.) after the digression in ver. 11–14.—G.A.] 393 [The text of Field omits the clause, “they ended this admonition,” leaving the sense obscure and difficult. This clause is attested by five codices, and we have inserted it with Savile.—G.A.] 394 [And with four of these codices we prefer the reading εὐσθενεστέρους, “stronger,” to Field’s reading ἀσθενεστέρους (which is “weaker”).—G.A.] 395 κήρυγμα. 396 [“This is epexegetical of the preceding words, viewed negatively and positively: ‘presenting yourselves in your walk, not as unwise, but as wise.’”—Meyer.—G.A.] Ephesians 5:15,16,17 254 Ephesians 5:15,16,17