SO THEN LET US NOT SLEEP AS OTHERS DO: ara oun me katheudomen (1PPAS) os oi loipoi: (Proverbs 19:15; Isaiah 56:10; Jonah 1:6; Matthew 13:25; 25:5; Mark 14:37; Luke 22:46; Romans 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:34; Ephesians 5:14)

So then - That is, because of the marked difference in the basic nature of day people and night people, Paul presents a description of one's expected conduct. One's true nature is inseparable from one's conduct. Conduct always reflects and reveals one's true nature, either a child of God or a child of the Devil.

Sleep (2518) (katheudo from katá = an intensifies meaning + heúdo = to sleep) to sleep, fall asleep, be fast asleep. To sleep the sleep of death. To be spiritually asleep, secure and unconcerned in sin, indolent and careless in the performance of duty

Others (loiipoy) the rest. Paul makes a sharp distinction between Christians and all others.

BUT LET US BE ALERT AND SOBER: alla gregoromen (1PPAS) kai nephomen. (3PPAI): (Matthew 24:42; 25:13; 26:38,40,41; Mark 13:34,35,37; 14:38; Luke 12:37,39; Luke 21:36; 22:46; Acts 20:31; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 4:7; Revelation 3:2; 16:15) (8; Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 2:9,15; 3:2,11; Titus 2:6,12; 1 Peter 1:13; 5:8)

Alert (1127) (gregoreuo from egeiro = to arise, arouse, rouse from sleep, waken) means to be watchful or to refrain from physical sleep. Later gregoreuo came to used in the moral and religious sphere and was used to call for one to be on the alert (quick to perceive and act) in a constant state of readiness (being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity) and vigilant (alertly watchful especially to avoid danger this word suggesting intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness; keenly alert to or heedful of trouble or danger as others are sleeping or unsuspicious).

Gregoreuo conveys the idea of a sleeping man rousing himself, so that he is mentally alert and in a state of mind opposite to that which characterizes one's mind while in sleep.

The present tense calls for the saints to be in a continual state of alertness in light of the imminent return of our Lord.  They are to continually take heed lest through remissness and indolence destructive calamity should suddenly overtake them. Don't misunderstand. Paul states that they are not destined for wrath which would include the Day of the Lord, but his point is that they should now live like that.

Secular Greek used gregoreuo  to describe people carefully crossing a river while stepping on slippery stones. If they did not pay strict attention to their steps, they would end up in the water. So the idea of vigilance is to stay alert and cautious.

Most of the NT uses are in reference to the Christians’ being spiritually awake and alert, as opposed to being spiritually indifferent and listless or asleep.

Most of the NT uses of gregoreuo are in the latter part of Gospels in the context of Jesus' imminent crucifixion and departure and the exhortation to His disciples to be on the alert for His imminent future return.

Thus our Lord declared...

Therefore be on the alert (gregoreuo - present imperative), for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert (gregoreuo) and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. (Mt 24:42-43)

Jesus concluded the parable of the 10 virgins with the warning

Be on the alert (gregoreuo - present imperative) then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. (Mt 25:13)

Jesus used gregoreuo in His exhortation to the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane in His hour of greatest attack by the Devil gives good advice for saints of all ages...

My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch (gregoreuo) with Me." (Mt 26:38)...And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch (gregoreuo) with Me for one hour?" (Mt 26:40) and finally warning them to "Keep watching (gregoreuo - present imperative = continuously = make this your lifestyle) and praying (present imperative), that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mt 26:41)

Gregoreuo is used three times in Mark 13 (this should get our attention!) which closes with an exhortation to watchfulness and prayer in view of the Lord’s Return. Jesus' addressing His disciples, Peter and James and John and Andrew, on the Mount of Olives tells them a parable of the doorkeeper, declaring that

It is like a man, away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert (gregoreuo). Therefore, be on the alert (gregoreuo - present imperative)-- for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrowing, or in the morning-- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert (gregoreuo - present imperative)!' (Mk 13:34-37)  (Comment: Marvin Vincent comments on the significance of Jesus' using the illustration of an awake, alert doorkeeper in this parable writing that "In the temple, during the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard (doorkeeper) found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire. Compare Revelation 16:15: "Blessed is he that watched and keepeth his garments." The preparations for the morning service required all to be early astir. The superintending priest might knock at the door at any moment. The Rabbis use almost the very words in which Scripture describes the unexpected coming of the Master. "Sometimes he came at the cockcrowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked and they opened to him" -- Edersheim, The Temple.")

Luke records a similar admonition from Jesus Who declared...

Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert (gregoreuo - present tense) when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 "You too, be (present imperative) ready (prepared); for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."  (Luke 12:37-40)

In Paul's last meeting with the Ephesian elders he warned them of the inherent and certain dangers...

Therefore be on the alert (gregoreuo - present imperative), remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. (Acts 20:31)

In his final exhortation in the first letter to the Corinthians Paul commanded them to...

Be on the alert (gregoreuo), stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13 ) (Note: all 4 verbs call for a continual action on the believer's part - present imperative) 1 Co 16:13

In the final NT use of gregoreuo Jesus gives one final encouraging admonition declaring...

Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake (gregoreuo) and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame. (See note Revelation 16:15) (Comment: Stay alert beloved so that you might not be ashamed when He comes.)

Do most saints really believe what Jesus so clearly declared, not just while on earth but after His resurrection? Saints are not to be looking for the Day of the Lord (for the Antichrist) but for the Lord of the Day (for Christ), and His sudden swooping down to sweep us (as His Bride) off of our feet, literally and figuratively, taking us home to enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! Hallelujah! Oh, beloved, in light of such a blessed, sure, glorious hope, should we not all live as if every day were our last!

As Augustine wisely stated

The last day is a secret, that every day may be watched (Comment: That we may be looking for Him every day and live accordingly).

Wiersbe writes that believers are to...

Live expectantly. This does not mean putting on a white sheet and sitting atop a mountain. That is the very attitude God condemned (Acts 1:10–11). But it does mean living in the light of His return, realizing that our works will be judged and that our opportunities for service on earth will end. It means to live “with eternity’s values in view.” Believers who live in the expectation of the Lord’s return will certainly enjoy a better life than Christians who compromise with the world. At the end of each chapter in this letter, Paul pointed out the practical results of living expectantly. Take time now to review those verses and to examine your heart. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos)

Thus believers are to be like soldiers "in active service" (see note 2 Timothy 2:4), like shepherds watching over their "spiritual" flock (Acts 20:28, 31) constantly vigilant and watchful (Mt 24:42). How does one stay "watchful"? (see note Colossians 4:2). Why do we need to "keep awake"? (see note 1 Peter 5:8; Acts 20:31 [see Acts 20:30], Mt 25:13 26:41) What's the "reward" for maintaining vigilance until He returns? (Lu 12:37,39)

Staying alert involves the duty of vigilance catalyzed by frequent fellowship and communion (abiding) with the Father in His Word, being taught of His Spirit Who even stimulates us to prayer mindful of the day or hour when the Son of man shall arrive

Sober (3525)(nepho cp nephaleos = "wineless," "unmixed with wine") in the physical sense literally was used to refer to either complete abstinence or in a relative sense to refer to temperance (drinking but not to the point of intoxication).

The present tense calls for this to be the saint's continual state.

Nepho is the antithesis of mental "fuzziness". The Greek culture highly valued sober judgment in both individual and public life.

Our English counterpart is to be levelheaded, well-balanced, and in control of one’s faculties. By extension it includes the ideas of being stable, unwavering, steadfast.

To be sober-minded means to live with your eyes open and with a calm, steady state of mind that evaluates things correctly, so that it is not thrown off  balance.

Soberness is an attitude of self-discipline that avoids the extremes of the 'reckless irresponsibility of self indulgence on the one hand, and of religious ecstasy on the other.'

Nepho conveys the idea of freedom from excitability (a contrast to the excitement of drunkenness) and thus means to be calm and collected in spirit, temperate (marked by moderation, keeping within limits, not extreme or excessive), not given to excessive indulgence in drink or any other activity, dispassionate (not influenced by strong feeling; especially not affected by personal or emotional involvement), circumspect (careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences,  prudently watchful and discreet in the face of danger or risk), with equanimity (evenness of mind especially under stress and suggests a habit of mind that is only rarely disturbed under great strain), cool (marked by steady dispassionate calmness and self-control) and unimpassioned.

Stay sober even in regard to "Christian things" for it is easy to be carried away and become intoxicated by the newest craze or technique, whether it's casting out demons, preaching pop psychology with a token sprinkling of the Name "Jesus" and/or Scripture (often taken out of context which leaves the Scripture dangerously wide open to misinterpretation and the even more tragic result of misapplication!), subtly drifting toward non-Biblical practices of "new age like" mysticism in prayer (such as visualizing Jesus coming to you, etc), removing the Cross from behind the stage (which often no longer has a pulpit for preaching the Gospel), no longer preaching a Gospel that calls sinners to repent and believe and confess (just close your eyes and hold up your hands and no one will see if you "confess" Christ as Lord and Savior!), no longer encouraging the saints to bring their "big, heavy" Bibles to worship service, removing the hymns (especially those that mention the "blood", the precious blood as of a lamb, the foundational new covenant in His blood!) from the worship service (or singing a token hymn to keep the old folks happy) or singing secular songs in an attempt to "make the Gospel" modern and relevant to the world. Remember  that the Church of Jesus Christ is called to be purifying her garments, coming out from the world, not becoming like the world (see notes Revelation 19:7; 19:8). And when she does seek to be conformed to the image of her Bridegroom (Whom the world hated and still hates) she will be less like the world, and paradoxically will have the most impact on the world! In many modern churches I fear there is a drift toward the world and not toward heaven. Let us be sober. Not judgmental. Not legalistic. But Biblically sound and sober doing all things for the glory of God our Father.

John MacArthur has an interesting comment observing that..

Night people can only be night people. They are not human chameleons who can suddenly become day people. Furthermore night people cannot do the deeds of the day people. But tragically the reverse prescription can exist so that day people can do the deeds of the night! We can reach back to old patterns of behavior, the dirty paths we used to walk on, but when we do we are the most miserable of people because we have not only our innate conscience screaming at us, but even more impacting, we have the still small voice of the Spirit reminding us of our wayward ways. Obviously day people because of Romans 6 (eg, see note Romans 6:4) which teaches that Sin is no longer our master (see notes Romans 6:11;  6:12; 6:13), do not have to carry out night deeds. Certainly to do so is not consistent with our new nature, identity and sphere of life in Christ (see note Colossians 3:3). And to do so as the habit of one's life without ever having experienced freedom brings into question the validity of one's new birth (see notes Ephesians 5:1; 5:2; 5:3; 5:4; 5:5; 5:6). We are day people living in the light, but we can do the deeds of darkness but when we do such deeds, we do them in broad light and with full understanding of God's righteous anger against sin (regardless of who commits it).  Paul is emphasizing that there is no place for night life and the deeds of darkness among believers who are day people. Paul wants the believer's behavior to be consistent with his or her new nature. He wants the believer's behavior to be distinctive so that others know we are of the day. And because we know we are of the day, we do not fear the Day of the Lord, nor do we fear God's wrath, His judgment or the ultimate fate of night people -- eternal separation away from the presence of the Lord.

Watchfulness and sobriety are appropriate duties for the day. To be ever serving our Lord with constancy, and to keep ourselves from the fascinations of the world which make men’s minds drunk — may these two things be our daily care.

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Our Daily Bread: A Daily Devotional has an excellent illustration of the believer living alert and sober...The ancient sport of falconry used trained hawks or falcons in the pursuit of wild game. When the "educated predator" was allowed to fly, however, it often rose too high for human eyes to see it. So a hunter often carried a small caged bird called a shrike. By watching the antics of the little bird, the man could always tell where his hawk was, for the shrike instinctively feared the predator and cocked its head to keep it in view.

The Christian desperately needs the alert perception of the shrike when it comes to detecting his spiritual enemy....We're to be always on the alert. It would be nice if God had giant sirens to warn us of an attack by the devil. But the Lord doesn't operate that way. Instead, we must read the Bible regularly, meditate on its truths, maintain a prayerful attitude throughout the day, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then will we be sensitive to an imminent onslaught of the evil one, and be armed by grace to meet it.