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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E P H E S I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter consists of two parts.
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I. Of the account which Paul gives the Ephesians concerning himself, as
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he was appointed by God to be the apostle of the Gentiles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:1-13">ver. 1-13</A>.
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II. Of his devout and affectionate prayer to God for the Ephesians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:14-21">ver. 14-21</A>.
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We may observe it to have been very much the practice of this apostle
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to intermix, with his instructions and counsels, intercessions and
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prayers to God for those to whom he wrote, as knowing that all his
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instructions and teachings would be useless and vain, except God did
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co-operate with them, and render them effectual. This is an example
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that all the ministers of Christ should copy after, praying earnestly
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that the efficacious operations of the divine Spirit may attend their
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ministrations, and crown them with success.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Eph3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eph3_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostle's Sufferings; Paul's Appointment as an Apostle; Paul's Labours as an Apostle.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 61.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you
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Gentiles,
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2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God
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which is given me to you-ward:
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3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as
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I wrote afore in few words,
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4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the
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mystery of Christ)
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5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men,
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as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
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Spirit;
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6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same
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body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
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7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
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grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
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8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this
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grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
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unsearchable riches of Christ;
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9 And to make all <I>men</I> see what <I>is</I> the fellowship of the
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mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in
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God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
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10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in
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heavenly <I>places</I> might be known by the church the manifold
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wisdom of God,
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11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ
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Jesus our Lord:
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12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the
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faith of him.
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13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for
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you, which is your glory.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have the account which Paul gives the Ephesians concerning
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himself, as he was appointed by God the apostle of the Gentiles.</P>
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<P>
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I. We may observe that he acquaints them with the tribulations and
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sufferings which he endured in the discharge of that office,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The first clause refers to the preceding chapter, and may be understood
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either of these two ways:--
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1. "<I>For this cause,</I>--for having preached the doctrine contained
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in the foregoing chapter, and for asserting that the great privileges
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of the gospel belong not only to the Jews, but to believing Gentiles
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also, though they are not circumcised,--for this I am now a prisoner,
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but a <I>prisoner of Jesus Christ,</I> as I suffer in his cause and for
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his sake, and continue his faithful servant and the object of his
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special protection and care, while I am thus suffering for him."
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Observe, Christ's servants, if they come to be prisoners, are his
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prisoners; and he despises not his prisoners. He thinks never the worse
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of them for the bad character which the world gives them or the evil
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treatment that they met with in it. Paul adhered to Christ, and Christ
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owned him, when he was in prison.--<I>For you, Gentiles;</I> the Jews
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persecuted and imprisoned him because he was the apostle of the
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Gentiles, and preached the gospel to them. We may learn hence that the
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faithful ministers of Christ are to dispense his sacred truths, however
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disagreeable they may be to some, and whatever they themselves may
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suffer for doing so. Or,
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2. The words may be thus understood:--"<I>For this cause,</I>--since
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<I>you are no more strangers and foreigners</I> (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:19"><I>ch.</I> ii. 19</A>),
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but are united to Christ, and admitted into communion with his
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church,--<I>I Paul,</I> who am <I>the prisoner of Jesus Christ,</I>
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pray that you may be enabled to act as becomes persons thus favoured by
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God, and made partakers of such privileges." To this purport you find
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him expressing himself in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>,
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where, after the digression contained in the several verses
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intervening, he proceeds with what he began in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:1">first verse</A>.
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Observe, Those who have received grace and signal favours from God
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stand in need of prayer, that they may improve and advance, and
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continue to act as becomes them. And, seeing Paul while he was a
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prisoner employed himself in such prayers to God in behalf of the
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Ephesians, we should learn that no particular sufferings of our own
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should make us so solicitous about ourselves as to neglect the cases of
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others in our supplications and addresses to God. He speaks again of
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his sufferings: <I>Wherefore I desire that you faint not at my
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tribulation for you, which is your glory,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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While he was in prison, he suffered much there; and, though it was upon
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their account that he suffered, yet he would not have them discouraged
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nor dismayed at this, seeing God had done such great things for them by
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his ministry. What a tender concern was here for these Ephesians! The
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apostle seems to have been more solicitous lest they should be
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discouraged and faint upon his tribulations than about what he himself
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endured; and, to prevent this, he tells them that his sufferings were
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their glory, and would be so far from being a real discouragement, if
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they duly considered the matter, that they ministered cause to them for
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glorying and for rejoicing, as this discovered the great esteem and
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regard which God bore to them, in that he not only sent his apostles to
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preach the gospel to them, but even to suffer for them, and to confirm
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the truths they delivered by the persecutions they underwent. Observe,
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Not only the faithful ministers of Christ themselves, but their people
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too, have some special cause for joy and glorying, when they suffer for
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the sake of dispensing the gospel.</P>
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<P>
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II. The apostle informs them of God's appointing him to the office, and
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eminently fitting and qualifying him for it, by a special revelation
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that he made unto him.
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1. God appointed him to the office: <I>If you have heard of the
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dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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They could not have heard of this, and therefore he does not design to
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speak doubtfully of this matter. <B><I>Eige</I></B> is sometimes an
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affirmative particle, and we may read it, <I>Since you have heard,</I>
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&c. He styles the gospel <I>the grace of God</I> here (as in other
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places) because it is the gift of divine grace to sinful men; and all
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the gracious overtures that it makes, and the joyful tidings that it
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contains, proceed from the rich grace of God; and it is also the great
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instrument in the hands of the Spirit by which God works grace in the
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souls of men. He speaks of the dispensation of this grace given to him;
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he means as he was authorized and commissioned by God to dispense the
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doctrine of the gospel, which commission and authority were given to
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him chiefly for he service of the Gentiles: <I>to you-ward.</I> And
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again, speaking of the gospel, he says, <I>Whereof I was made a
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minister,</I> &c.,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Here he again asserts his authority. He <I>was</I>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>MADE</FONT> <I>a minister</I>--he did not make himself
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such; he took not to himself that honour--and he was made such
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<I>according to the gift of the grace of God unto</I> him. God supplied
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and furnished him for his work; and in the performance of it suitably
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assisted him with all needful gifts and graces, both ordinary and
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extraordinary, and that <I>by the effectual working of his power,</I>
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in himself more especially, and also in great numbers of those to whom
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he preached, by which means his labours among them were successful.
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Observe, What God calls men to he fits them for, and does it with an
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almighty power. An effectual working of divine power attends the gifts
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of divine grace.
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2. As God appointed him to the office, so he eminently qualified him
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for it, by a special revelation that he made unto him. He makes mention
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both of the mystery that was revealed and of the revelation of it.
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(1.) The mystery revealed is <I>that the Gentiles should be
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fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in
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Christ, by the gospel</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>);
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that is, that they should be joint-heirs with the believing Jews of the
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heavenly inheritance; and that they should be members of the same
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mystical body, be received into the church of Christ, and be interested
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in the gospel-promises, as well as the Jews, and particularly in that
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great promise of the Spirit. And this <I>in Christ,</I> being united to
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Christ, <I>in whom all the promises are yea and amen; and by the
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gospel,</I> that is, in the times of the gospel, as some understand it;
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or, <I>by the gospel</I> preached to them, which is the great
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instrument and means by which God works faith in Christ, as others.
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This was the great truth revealed to the apostles, namely, that God
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would call the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ, and that
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without the works of the law.
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(2.) Of the revelation of this truth he speaks,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:3-5"><I>v.</I> 3-5</A>.
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Here we may observe that the coalition of Jews and Gentiles in the
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gospel church was a mystery, a great mystery, what was designed in the
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counsel of God before all worlds, but what could not be fully
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understood for many ages, till the accomplishment expounded the
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prophecies of it. It is called a mystery because the several
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circumstances and peculiarities of it (such as the time and manner and
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means by which it should be effected) were concealed and kept secret in
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God's own breast, till be an immediate <I>revelation he made them
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known</I> to his servant. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+26:16-18">Acts xxvi. 16-18</A>.
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And it is called the mystery of Christ because it was revealed by him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+1:12">Gal. i. 12</A>),
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and because it relates so very much to him. Of this the apostle has
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given some hints <I>afore,</I> or a little before; that is, in the
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preceding chapters. <I>Whereby, when you read;</I> or, as those words
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may be read, <I>unto which attending</I> (and it is not enough for us
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barely to read the scriptures, unless we attend to them, and seriously
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consider and lay to heart what we read), <I>you may understand my
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knowledge in the mystery of Christ;</I> so as to perceive how God had
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fitted and qualified him to be an apostle to the Gentiles, which might
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be to them an evident token of his divine authority. <I>This
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mystery,</I> he says, <I>in other ages was not made known unto the sons
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of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by
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the Spirit</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>);
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that is, "It was not so fully and clearly discovered in the ages before
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Christ as it is now revealed unto the prophets of this age, the
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prophets of the New Testament, who are immediately inspired and taught
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by the Spirit." Let us observe, that the conversion of the Gentile
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world to the faith of Christ was an adorable mystery, and we ought to
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bless God for it. Who would have imagined that those who had been so
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long in the dark, and at so great a distance, would be enlightened with
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the marvellous light, and be made nigh? Let us learn hence not to
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despair of the worst, of the worst of persons, and the worst of
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nations. Nothing is too hard for divine grace to do: none so unworthy
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but God may please to confer great grace upon them. And how much are we
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ourselves interested in this affair; not only as we live in a time in
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which the mystery is revealed, but particularly as we are a part of the
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nations which in times past were foreigners and strangers, and lived in
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gross idolatry; but are now enlightened with the everlasting gospel,
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and partake of its promises!</P>
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<P>
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III. The apostle informs them how he was employed in this office, and
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that with respect to the Gentiles, and to all men.</P>
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<P>
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1. With respect to the Gentiles, he <I>preached</I> to them <I>the
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unsearchable riches of Christ,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Observe, in this verse, how humbly he speaks of himself, and how highly
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he speaks of Jesus Christ.
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(1.) How humbly he speaks of himself: <I>I am less than the least of
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all saints.</I> St. Paul, who was the chief of the apostles, calls
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himself <I>less than the least of all saints:</I> he means on account
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of his having been formerly a persecutor of the followers of Christ. He
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was, in his own esteem, as little as could be. What can be less than
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the least? To speak himself as little as could be, he speaks himself
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less than could be. Observe, Those whom God advances to honourable
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employments he humbles and makes low in their own eyes; and, where God
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gives grace to be humble, there he gives all other grace. You may also
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observe in what a different manner the apostle speaks of himself and of
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his office. While he magnifies his office, he debases himself. Observe,
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A faithful minister of Christ may be very humble, and think very meanly
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of himself, even when he thinks and speaks very highly and honourably
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of his sacred function.
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(2.) How highly he speaks of Jesus Christ: <I>The unsearchable riches
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of Christ.</I> There is a mighty treasury of mercy, grace, and love,
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laid up in Christ Jesus, and that both for Jews and Gentiles. Or, the
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riches of the gospel are here spoken of as the riches of Christ: the
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riches which Christ purchased for, and bestows upon, all believers. And
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they are unsearchable riches, which we cannot find the bottom of, which
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human sagacity could never have discovered, and men could no otherwise
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attain to the knowledge of them but by revelation. Now it was the
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apostle's business and employment to <I>preach</I> these
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<I>unsearchable riches of Christ among the Gentiles:</I> and it was a
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favour he greatly valued, and looked upon it as an unspeakable honour
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to him: "<I>Unto me is this grace given;</I> this special favour God
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has granted to such an unworthy creature as I am." And it is an
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unspeakable favour to the Gentile world that to them <I>the
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unsearchable riches of Christ</I> are preached. Though many remain
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poor, and are not enriched with these riches, yet it is a favour to
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have them preached among us, to have an offer of them made to us; and,
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if we are not enriched with them, it is our own fault.</P>
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<P>
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2. With respect to all men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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His business and employment were <I>to make all men see</I> (to publish
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and make known to the whole world) <I>what is the fellowship of the
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mystery</I> (that the Gentiles who have hitherto been strangers to the
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church, shall be admitted into communion with it) <I>which from the
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beginning of the world hath been hid in God</I> (kept secret in his
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purpose), <I>who created all things by Jesus Christ:</I> as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:3">John i. 3</A>,
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<I>All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made
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that was made;</I> and therefore no wonder that he saves the Gentiles
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as well as the Jews; for he is the common Creator of them both: and we
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may conclude that he is able to perform the work of their redemption,
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seeing he was able to accomplish the great work of creation. It is true
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that both the first creation, when God made all things out of nothing,
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and the new creation, whereby sinners are made new creatures by
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converting grace, are of God by Jesus Christ. The apostle adds, <I>To
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the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
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places might be known, by the church, the manifold wisdom of God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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This was one things, among others, which God had in his eye in
|
|
revealing this mystery, that the good angels, who have a pre-eminence
|
|
in governing the kingdoms and principalities of the world, and who are
|
|
endued with great power to execute the will of God on this earth
|
|
(though their ordinary residence is in heaven) may be informed, from
|
|
what passes in the church and is done in and by it, <I>of the manifold
|
|
wisdom of God;</I> that is, of the great variety with which God wisely
|
|
dispenses things, or of his wisdom manifested in the many ways and
|
|
methods he takes in ordering his church in the several ages of it, and
|
|
especially in receiving the Gentiles into it. The holy angels, who look
|
|
into the mystery of our redemption by Christ, could not but take notice
|
|
of this branch of that mystery, that among the Gentiles is preached the
|
|
unsearchable riches of Christ. And this is <I>according to the eternal
|
|
purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some translate the words <B><I>kata prothesin ton aionon</I></B> thus
|
|
<I>According to the fore-disposing of the ages which he made,</I> &c.
|
|
So Dr. Whitby, &c. "In the first of the ages," says this author, "his
|
|
wisdom seeing fit to give the promise of a Saviour to a fallen Adam: in
|
|
the second age to typify and represent him to the Jews in sacred
|
|
persons, rites, and sacrifices: and in the age of the Messiah, or the
|
|
last age, to reveal him to the Jews, and preach him to the Gentiles."
|
|
Others understand it, according to our translation, of the eternal
|
|
purpose which God purposed to execute in and through Jesus Christ, the
|
|
whole of what he has done in the great affair of man's redemption being
|
|
in pursuance of his eternal decree about that matter. The apostle,
|
|
having mentioned our Lord Jesus Christ, subjoins concerning him, <I>In
|
|
whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of
|
|
him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>);
|
|
|
|
that is, "By (or through) whom we have liberty to open our minds freely
|
|
to God, as to a Father, and a well-grounded persuasion of audience and
|
|
of acceptance with him; and this by means of the faith we have in him,
|
|
as our great Mediator and Advocate." We may come with humble boldness
|
|
to hear from God, knowing that the terror of the curse is done away;
|
|
and we may expect to hear from him good words and comfortable. We may
|
|
have access with confidence to speak to God, knowing that we have such
|
|
a Mediator between God and us, and such an Advocate with the
|
|
Father.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eph3_21"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostle's Prayer.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 61.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord
|
|
Jesus Christ,
|
|
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
|
|
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his
|
|
glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner
|
|
man;
|
|
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,
|
|
being rooted and grounded in love,
|
|
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what <I>is</I> the
|
|
breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
|
|
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
|
|
that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
|
|
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above
|
|
all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in
|
|
us,
|
|
21 Unto him <I>be</I> glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout
|
|
all ages, world without end. Amen.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We now come to the second part of this chapter, which contains Paul's
|
|
devout and affectionate prayer to God for his beloved Ephesians.--<I>For
|
|
this cause.</I> This may be referred either to the immediately
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:13">foregoing verse</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>That you faint not,</I> &c., or, rather, the apostle is here
|
|
resuming what he began at the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:1">first verse</A>,
|
|
|
|
from which he digressed in those which are interposed. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. To whom he prays--to God, as <I>the Father of our Lord Jesus
|
|
Christ,</I> of which see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+1:3"><I>ch.</I> i. 3</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. His outward posture in prayer, which was humble and reverent: <I>I
|
|
bow my knees.</I> Note, When we draw nigh to God, we should reverence
|
|
him in our hearts, and express our reverence in the most suitable and
|
|
becoming behaviour and gesture. Here, having mentioned Christ, he
|
|
cannot pass without an honourable encomium of his love,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
The universal church has a dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ: <I>Of
|
|
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.</I> The Jews were
|
|
wont to boast of Abraham as their father, but now Jews and Gentiles are
|
|
both denominated from Christ (so some); while others understand it of
|
|
the saints in heaven, who wear the crown of glory, and of saints on
|
|
earth who are going on in the work of grace here. Both the one and the
|
|
other make but one family, one household; and from him they are
|
|
<I>named</I> C<FONT SIZE=-1>HRISTIANS</FONT>, as they really are such,
|
|
acknowledging their dependence upon, and their relation to, Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. What the apostle asks of God for these his friends--spiritual
|
|
blessings, which are the best blessings, and the most earnestly to be
|
|
sought and prayed for by every one of us, both for ourselves and for
|
|
our friends.
|
|
|
|
1. Spiritual strength for the work and duty to which they were called,
|
|
and in which they were employed: <I>That he would grant you, according
|
|
to the riches of his grace, to be strengthened,</I> &c. <I>The inner
|
|
man</I> is the heart or soul. To be <I>strengthened with might</I> is
|
|
to be mightily strengthened, much more than they were at present; to be
|
|
endued with a high degree of grace, and spiritual abilities for
|
|
discharging duty, resisting temptations, enduring persecutions, &c. And
|
|
the apostle prays that this may be <I>according to the riches of his
|
|
glory,</I> or according to his glorious riches--answerable to that
|
|
great abundance of grace, mercy, and power, which resides in God, and
|
|
is his glory: and this by his Spirit, who is the immediate worker of
|
|
grace in the souls of God's people. Observe from these things, That
|
|
strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man is the best and most
|
|
desirable strength, strength in the soul, the strength of faith and
|
|
other graces, strength to serve God and to do our duty, and to
|
|
persevere in our Christian course with vigour and with cheerfulness.
|
|
And let us further observe that <I>as the work of grace is first begun
|
|
so it is continued and carried on, by the blessed Spirit of God.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. The indwelling of Christ in their hearts,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ is said to dwell in his people, as he is always present with
|
|
them by his gracious influences and operations. Observe, It is a
|
|
desirable thing to have Christ dwell in our hearts; and if the law of
|
|
Christ be written there, and the love of Christ be shed abroad there,
|
|
then Christ dwells there. Christ is an inhabitant in the soul of every
|
|
good Christian. Where his spirit dwells, there he swells; and he dwells
|
|
in the heart by faith, by means of the continual exercise of faith upon
|
|
him. Faith opens the door of the soul, to receive Christ; faith admits
|
|
him, and submits to him. By faith we are united to Christ, and have an
|
|
interest in him.
|
|
|
|
3. The fixing of pious and devout affections in the soul: <I>That you
|
|
being rooted and grounded in love,</I> stedfastly fixed in your love to
|
|
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to all the saints, the
|
|
beloved of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many have some love to God and to his
|
|
servants, but it is a flash, like the crackling of thorns under a pot,
|
|
it makes a great noise, but is gone presently. We should earnestly
|
|
desire that good affections may be fixed in us, that we may be
|
|
<I>rooted and grounded in love.</I> Some understand it of their being
|
|
settled and established in the sense of God's love to them, which would
|
|
inspire them with greater ardours of holy love to him, and to one
|
|
another. And how very desirable is it to have a settled fixed sense of
|
|
the love of God and Christ to our souls, so as to be able to say with
|
|
the apostle at all times, <I>He has loved me!</I> Now the best way to
|
|
attain this is to be careful that we maintain a constant love to God in
|
|
our souls; this will be the evidence of the love of God to us. <I>We
|
|
love him, because he first loved us.</I> In order to this he prays,
|
|
|
|
4. For their experimental acquaintance with the love of Jesus Christ.
|
|
The more intimate acquaintance we have with Christ's love to us, the
|
|
more our love will be drawn out to him, and to those who are his, for
|
|
his sake: <I>That you may be able to comprehend with all saints,</I>
|
|
&c.
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>);
|
|
|
|
that is, more clearly to understand, and firmly to believe, the
|
|
wonderful love of Christ to his, which the saints do understand and
|
|
believe in some measure, and shall understand more hereafter.
|
|
Christians should not aim to comprehend above all saints; but be
|
|
content that God deals with them as he uses to do with those who love
|
|
and fear his name: we should desire to comprehend <I>with all
|
|
saints,</I> to have so much knowledge as the saints are allowed to have
|
|
in this world. We should be ambitious of coming up with <I>the first
|
|
three;</I> but not of going beyond what is the measure of the stature
|
|
of other saints. It is observable how magnificently the apostle speaks
|
|
of the love of Christ. The dimensions of redeeming love are admirable:
|
|
<I>The breadth, and length, and depth, and height.</I> By enumerating
|
|
these dimensions, the apostle designs to signify the exceeding
|
|
greatness of the love of Christ, the unsearchable riches of his love,
|
|
which is <I>higher than heaven, deeper than hell, longer than the
|
|
earth, and broader than the sea,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+11:8,9">Job xi. 8, 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some describe the particulars thus: By the breadth of it we may
|
|
understand the extent of it to all ages, nations, and ranks of men; by
|
|
the length of it, its continuance from everlasting to everlasting; by
|
|
the depth of it, its stooping to the lowest condition, with a design to
|
|
relieve and save those who have sunk into the depths of sin and misery;
|
|
by its height, its entitling and raising us up to the heavenly
|
|
happiness and glory. We should desire to comprehend this love: it is
|
|
the character of all the saints that they do so; for they all have a
|
|
complacency and a confidence in the love of Christ: <I>And to know the
|
|
love of Christ which passeth knowledge,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
If it passeth knowledge, how can we know it? We must pray and endeavour
|
|
to know something, and should still covet and strive to know more and
|
|
more of it, though, after the best endeavours, none can fully
|
|
comprehend it: in its full extent it surpasses knowledge. Though the
|
|
love of Christ may be better perceived and known by Christians than it
|
|
generally is, yet it cannot be fully understood on this side heaven.
|
|
|
|
5. He prays that they may <I>be filled with all the fulness of
|
|
God.</I> It is a high expression: we should not dare to use it if we
|
|
did not find it in the scriptures. It is like those other expressions,
|
|
of being <I>partakers of a divine nature,</I> and of being <I>perfect
|
|
as our Father in heaven is perfect.</I> We are not to understand it of
|
|
his fulness as God in himself, but of his fulness as a God in covenant
|
|
with us, as a God to his people: such a fulness as God is ready to
|
|
bestow, who is willing to fill them all to the utmost of their
|
|
capacity, and that with all those gifts and graces which he sees they
|
|
need. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness may be
|
|
said to be <I>filled with the fulness of God,</I> according to their
|
|
capacity, all which is in order to their arriving at the highest degree
|
|
of the knowledge and enjoyment of God, and an entire conformity to
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The apostle closes the chapter with a doxology,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is proper to conclude our prayers with praises. Our blessed Saviour
|
|
has taught us to do so. Take notice how he describes God, and how he
|
|
ascribes glory to him. He describes him as a God that <I>is able to do
|
|
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.</I> There is an
|
|
inexhaustible fulness of grace and mercy in God, which the prayers of
|
|
all the saints can never draw dry. Whatever we may ask, or think to
|
|
ask, still God is still able to do more, abundantly more, exceedingly
|
|
abundantly more. Open thy mouth ever so wide, still he hath wherewithal
|
|
to fill it. Note, In our applications to God we should encourage our
|
|
faith by a consideration of his all-sufficiency and almighty power.
|
|
<I>According to the power which worketh in us.</I> As if he had said,
|
|
We have already had a proof of this power of God, in what he hath
|
|
wrought in us and done for us, having quickened us by his grace, and
|
|
converted us to himself. The power that still worketh for the saints is
|
|
according to that power that hath wrought in them. Wherever God gives
|
|
of his fulness he gives to experience his power. Having thus described
|
|
God, he ascribes glory to him. When we come to ask for grace from God,
|
|
we ought to give glory to God. Unto him be glory in the church by
|
|
Christ Jesus. In ascribing glory to God, we ascribe all excellences and
|
|
perfections to him, glory being the effulgency and result of them all.
|
|
Observe, The seat of God's praises is in the church. That little rent
|
|
of praise which God receives from this world is from the church, a
|
|
sacred society constituted for the glory of God, every particular
|
|
member of which, both Jew and Gentile, concurs in this work of praising
|
|
God. The Mediator of these praises is Jesus Christ. All God's gifts
|
|
come from his to us through the hand of Christ; and all our praises
|
|
pass from us to him through the same hand. And God should and will be
|
|
praised thus <I>throughout all ages, world without end;</I> for he will
|
|
ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute of
|
|
praise from his church. <I>Amen.</I> So be it; and so it will certainly
|
|
be.</P>
|
|
|
|
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