Discernment And Understanding

Understanding is basic to intellectual strength. To have understanding means that you can, in a simple and basic way, take action to improve or remove, analyze, and intellectually determine. In spiritual matters, understanding is a powerful key to spiritual strength, and the spiritually mature person knows that this understanding is more than intellect alone.  

Two Greek words, phronesis and sunesis, both meaning “to understand,” explain two levels of understanding—one basic and intellectual, the other spiritually discerning and perceptive. 
 

• Phronesis (fron’-ay-sis) is basic understanding that is practical and analytical. This understanding is basic intellectual or moral insight. It includes prudence or wisdom, results in action taken, and is a basic to taking correct action. “We do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). “Brethren, do not be children in understanding… in understanding be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20)

• Sunesis (soon’-es-is) is discernment and judgment with a greater depth of understanding in addition to the basic phronesis. Jesus’s understanding was unusual for a boy only twelve years of age. He comfortably discussed spiritual matters with top leaders and teachers, impressing them with his depth of understanding. This term signals the ability to put together for clarity, to clearly discern and quickly comprehend, to discern and critically assess: “All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (Luke 2:47).

As followers of Jesus we have sunesis, the same understanding that He possessed. We gain this understanding from His Word and presence—Emanuel, God with us.The spiritual person judges all things and is prompted by Godly understanding, so their decisions are not limited to surface pretense. For them, decisions are more accurate because they have supernatural insight. I believe that much of what we call prophetic insight today is this kind of developed, disciplined, and mature understanding that enables believers to discern the true nature of things.

Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 | Matthew 1:23 | Deuteronomy 6:5-7 | Psalm 119:11 | Verses@Once