1 Thessalonians 5:6

Let us not sleep. Or, “let us not go on sleeping.” The children of light will have no advantage if they fall asleep. “Sleep” here implies indifference to the nearness of Christ’s coming, a lethargy that keeps the Christian from being prepared for final events (cf. Matt. 25:5). Paul exhorts his friends not to be ensnared by such spiritual sloth, but to be wide awake (cf. Mark 13:35-37; Luke 21:34-36; Eph. 5:14-16).

Others. That is, the children of darkness, who are unaware of the terrible and glorious events that herald the Lord’s return.

Watch. Gr. gregored, “to become fully awake” (cf. on v. 10), “to watch,” used frequently in the Gospels for spiritual alertness (cf. Matt. 24:42; Mark 13:33, 34; Luke 12:37).

Sober. Gr. nepho, “to drink no wine,” “to be sober.” It is unlikely that Paul is referring to actual drunkenness among the Thessalonians (cf. 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8). He is rather admonishing the Christian to be steady, temperate, calm in spirit, in view of the great “day” that is coming.