1 Thessalonians 5:8

Contextual Overview

⁶ so let's not be asleep, like the rest are; on the contrary, let us stay alert and sober. ⁶ So then do not let us sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober; ⁶ so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁶ Therefore, let us not fall asleep like others do, but let us stay awake and be sober.Matthew 24:42; Romans 13:11-13; 1 Peter 5:8;">[xr] ⁶ Sleep we not, therefore, as the rest; but be wakeful and sober. ⁶ Let us not therefore sleep, like others; but let us be vigilant and considerate. ⁶ so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. ⁶ So then, let us not take our rest as the others do, but let us be self-controlled and awake. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁶ Therefore let vs not sleepe as do other, but let vs watch and be sober.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

who: 1 Thessalonians 5:5, Romans 13:13, Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:9, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:7

the breastplate: Isaiah 59:17, Romans 13:12, 2 Corinthians 6:7, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13-18

the hope: Job 19:23-27, Psalms 42:5, Psalms 42:11, Psalms 43:5, Lamentations 3:26, Romans 5:2-5, Romans 8:24, Romans 8:25, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Galatians 5:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Hebrews 6:19, Hebrews 10:35, Hebrews 10:36, 1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 John 3:1-3

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:4 - a breastplate Leviticus 8:8 - General 1 Samuel 25:36 - merry Job 29:14 - I put Luke 22:38 - It John 12:36 - the children Romans 12:12 - Rejoicing 1 Corinthians 5:11 - or a drunkard 2 Corinthians 10:4 - the weapons Ephesians 1:18 - is Ephesians 6:14 - the breastplate Ephesians 6:17 - the helmet Colossians 1:23 - the hope 1 Thessalonians 5:6 - sober 1 Timothy 1:14 - with 1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight Titus 1:2 - hope Titus 2:2 - sober 2 Peter 2:13 - to riot

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But let us, who are of the day, be sober,.... As in body, so in mind; let us cast off the works of darkness, and have no fellowship with them; since the day of grace has passed upon us, the darkness is gone, and the true light shines, let us walk as children of the light, living soberly, righteously, and godly:

putting on the breastplate of faith and love; this is the coat of mail, 1 Samuel 17:5 which was made of iron or brass; and the Ethiopic version here calls it, "the iron coat." The allusion seems to be to the high priest's breastplate of judgment, in which were put the Thummim and Urim, which signify perfections and lights; faith may answer to the former, and love to the latter: these two graces go together, faith works by love, and love always accompanies faith; as there can be no true faith where there is no love, so there is no true love where faith is wanting: "faith" is a considerable part of the Christian soldier's breastplate, and answers the end of a breastplate, it being that grace which preserves the vitals of religion, and keeps all warm and comfortable within; and secures the peace and joy of the saints, as it has to do with Christ and his righteousness; wherefore this breastplate is called "the breastplate of righteousness", Ephesians 6:14, it fortifies the soul, and preserves it from Satan's temptations, from his fiery darts entering, and doing the mischief they would; it defends the heart against the errors of the wicked, for a man that believes has a witness in himself to the truths of the Gospel, and therefore cannot be easily moved from them; and strengthens a man against the carnal reasonings of the mind, for faith in the promises of God surmounts all the difficulties that reason objects to the fulfilling of them; and secures from the fears of death, the terrors of the law, and dread of the wrath of God: and love is the other part of the breast plate; love to God and Christ is a means of keeping the believer sound both in faith and practice; for a soul that truly loves God and Christ cannot give in to principles that depreciate the grace of God, and derogate from the glory and dignity of the person and office of Christ, or the work of the Spirit; and such love the ordinances and commands of Christ, and hate every false way of worship, or invention of men; and love to the saints is the bond of perfectness, knits them together, preserves unity and peace, and fortifies against the common enemy:

and for an helmet, the hope of salvation; the helmet is that part of armour which covers the head, and was made of brass, 1 Samuel 17:5 and used to be anointed with oil, that it might shine the brighter, last the longer, and more easily repel blows; to which this grace of the Spirit, hope of salvation by Christ, is fitly compared: for by "salvation" is meant salvation by Christ, spiritual salvation, and that as complete in heaven; and hope is a grace wrought in the soul by the spirit of God, which has for its foundation Christ and his righteousness, and for its object the heavenly glory; it covers the head in the day of battle, and preserves from being overcome by sin and Satan, when one that is destitute of it says there is no hope, and we will walk every man after the imagination of his own evil heart; it erects the head in time of difficulty, amidst tribulation and afflictions; it defends it from fears of divine wrath which is revealed from heaven, and sometimes in appearance seems to hang over it; and it preserves from Satan's temptations, and being carried away with the error of the wicked, from the hope of the Gospel: and thus a Christian clothed and armed with these graces, faith, hope, and love, should be so far from indulging himself in sin and sloth, that he ought always to be sober and watchful, and prepared to meet the enemy in the gate; and be ready, always waiting for his Lord's coming.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But let us, who are of the day, be sober - Temperate, as people usually are in the daytime.

Putting on the breast-plate of faith and love - This is a favorite comparison of the apostle Paul; see it explained at length in the notes on Ephesians 6:14.

And for an helmet, the hope of salvation - See the notes at Ephesians 6:17.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. Putting on the breastplate — We are not only called to WORK, but we are called also to fight; and that we may not be surprised, we must watch; and that we may be in a condition to defend ourselves, we must be sober; and that we may be enabled to conquer, we must be armed: and what the breastplate and helmet are to a soldier's heart and head, such are faith, love, and hope to us. Faith enables us to endure, as seeing him who is invisible; love excites us to diligence and activity, and makes us bear our troubles and difficulties pleasantly; hope helps us to anticipate the great end, the glory that shall be revealed, and which we know we shall in due time obtain, if we faint not. For an explanation of the different parts of the Grecian armour, as illustrating that of the Christian, see the notes on Ephesians 6:0, where the subject is largely explained.