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{Sermons on Ephesians 5:15
The Doctrine Explained
Precisians Are Proved to Be Not Fools
God Counts Them No Fools}
The first reason Precisians are not fools is that God does not count them to be fools. It is a true judgment that says that they are not fools. The world deems them to be fools, but only those whom God counts to be fools are actually fools. As the apostle says, “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:18 ESV). So one who is condemned by either himself or people for folly or simplicity is not disapproved, but rather he whom God condemns. Beloved, whose judgment will you take? Will you accept the judgment of God in this case? His judgment is plain: “And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:28 ESV). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments” Psalm 111:10 NKJV). The beginning of wisdom denotes one of two things. First, it may denote the entrance of wisdom. People never begin to be wise until they become godly. Look how long you have lived a stranger from God in a carnal, unconverted state. During that time you lived as a fool; you never came near the threshold of true wisdom until you learned the fear of the Lord. When the repenting prodigal son came to his father, he came to himself; his understanding returned to him. He was beside himself before, but then came to himself. Second, the beginning87 may denote the top or height of wisdom; the head of wisdom.88 The word describes a godly person, for true wisdom is the head, and not the tail; excellent wisdom is found in him. In these and multitudes of other Scriptures, you have the judgment of God concerning these people. God is infinite in wisdom and knows all things and people for what they are. Also God is true, and thus all things and people are certainly what He says they are. Are you wiser than He? Will you believe your own imaginations and perceptions rather than the Word of the all-wise and true God? Either you must make sinners fools or God a liar.
87Hebrew רֵאשִׁית [raysheeth] of which the first three (consonant) letters are רֹאשׁ [rosh], meaning “head.”
88Examples of this usage include “best” in Exodus 23:19; 34:26; “mainstay” in Jeremiah 49:35; “choice” in Ezekiel 48:14; and “finest” in Amos 6:6 (all from ESV).
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