Romans 13:11–14

¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Commentary

Vs. 11 Having commanded that we are to be walking in love towards each other as a way of life, and thus as a true expression of Christ's life within us (1 John 4:8). The Apostle Paul now places this most critical command into the context of the Lord's Return. Something which should quicken us to keeping Christ's commandment. Thus we are not to be in state of slumber nor lethargy as we wait on Jesus' return (Mark 13:35-37; Heb 9:28). Instead we are all to have a sense of diligence and alertness about us as we anticipate and wait on Christ's return and our final salvation. Not letting our faith or person drift, and thus become complacent towards, or worse overrun by this worlds degenerating morals and values (Rev 16:15). Instead our waking out of sleep, is our awaking to righteousness (1 Cor 15:34), and thus our turning away from the godless morals, values, and pursuits of this world (1 Thess 5:6-8). For if ever there was a generation in which the Lord's return seemed so imminent it is ours. 

Vs. 12 ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 

That the night is far spent is referring (in one sense) to our past lives and deeds (Eph 5:8-14). In a more encompassing sense it is all the sinful works and ways of unregenerate mankind that in light of Christ's return and His setting up His everlasting Kingdom are quickly running out of time. Therefore in light of such things let us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (see Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Thess. 5:1-10; Rev. 22:12-13). 

Vs. 13-14 ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Let us walk properly, as in the day, that is as people living in the day, that is the day of salvation that has already dawned in our hearts, and anticipation of the Day, that is Christ's return. And thus let us live as God's people of light, and not live in the works of darkness. Which the Apostle Paul gives a brief summary here as: revelry and drunkenness, lewdness and lust, strife and envy. Now revelry is partaking in wild drinking parties often involving sexual orgies, while drunkenness is more descriptive of personal intoxication, often proceeding the former. Same with lewdness and lust. lewdness encompasses all forms of sexual immoral acts, while the word translated lust is descriptive of animal like behavior, where no restraint is implied. Strife and envy are the last pair. Strife is often born out of envy or jealousy and though describing rivalry and discord, the word translated strife also is descriptive of one who out of envy or jealousy always says bad things about another (LN 39.22). None of which is fitting for us to partake in as God's children and Christ's redeemed people. Therefore we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, meaning the fruits of the Spirit of God which stand juxtaposed to the lusts (i.e. sinful desires, "works") of the flesh (see Gal 5:16-23).


Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted 

Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 491). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 494). New York: United Bible Societies.

Note: Draft Version