17 That G2443 the God G2316 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 the Father G3962 of glory, G1391 may give G1325 unto you G5213 the spirit G4151 of wisdom G4678 and G2532 revelation G602 in G1722 the knowledge G1922 of him: G846
And the spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 shall rest H5117 upon him, the spirit H7307 of wisdom H2451 and understanding, H998 the spirit H7307 of counsel H6098 and might, H1369 the spirit H7307 of knowledge H1847 and of the fear H3374 of the LORD; H3068
Then shalt thou understand H995 the fear H3374 of the LORD, H3068 and find H4672 the knowledge H1847 of God. H430
But G1161 the wisdom G4678 that is from above G509 is G2076 first G4412 pure, G3303 G53 then G1899 peaceable, G1516 gentle, G1933 and easy to be intreated, G2138 full G3324 of mercy G1656 and G2532 good G18 fruits, G2590 without partiality, G87 and G2532 without hypocrisy. G505 And G1161 the fruit G2590 of righteousness G1343 is sown G4687 in G1722 peace G1515 of them that make G4160 peace. G1515
For G1223 this cause G5124 we G2249 also, G2532 since G575 the G3739 day G2250 we heard G191 it, do G3973 not G3756 cease G3973 to pray G4336 for G5228 you, G5216 and G2532 to desire G154 that G2443 ye might be filled G4137 with the knowledge G1922 of his G846 will G2307 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom G4678 and G2532 spiritual G4152 understanding; G4907 That ye G5209 might walk G4043 worthy G516 of the Lord G2962 unto G1519 all G3956 pleasing, G699 being fruitful G2592 in G1722 every G3956 good G18 work, G2041 and G2532 increasing G837 in G1519 the knowledge G1922 of God; G2316
Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto her, G846 Touch G680 me G3450 not; G3361 for G1063 I am G305 not yet G3768 ascended G305 to G4314 my G3450 Father: G3962 but G1161 go G4198 to G4314 my G3450 brethren, G80 and G2532 say G2036 unto them, G846 I ascend G305 unto G4314 my G3450 Father, G3962 and G2532 your G5216 Father; G3962 and G2532 to my G3450 God, G2316 and G2532 your G5216 God. G2316
G2532 O righteous G1342 Father, G3962 the world G2889 hath G1097 not G3756 known G1097 thee: G4571 but G1161 I G1473 have known G1097 thee, G4571 and G2532 these G3778 have known G1097 that G3754 thou G4771 hast sent G649 me. G3165 And G2532 I have declared G1107 unto them G846 thy G4675 name, G3686 and G2532 will declare G1107 it: that G2443 the love G26 wherewith G3739 thou hast loved G25 me G3165 may be G5600 in G1722 them, G846 and I G2504 in G1722 them. G846
Who is this King H4428 of glory? H3519 The LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 he is the King H4428 of glory. H3519 Selah. H5542
But let him that glorieth H1984 glory H1984 in this, that he understandeth H7919 and knoweth H3045 me, that I am the LORD H3068 which exercise H6213 lovingkindness, H2617 judgment, H4941 and righteousness, H6666 in the earth: H776 for in these things I delight, H2654 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
But H1297 there is H383 a God H426 in heaven H8065 that revealeth H1541 secrets, H7328 and maketh known H3046 to the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 what H4101 shall be H1934 in the latter H320 days. H3118 Thy dream, H2493 and the visions H2376 of thy head H7217 upon H5922 thy bed, H4903 are these; H1836 As for thee, H607 O king, H4430 thy thoughts H7476 came H5559 into thy mind upon H5922 thy bed, H4903 what H4101 should come to pass H1934 hereafter: H311 H1836 and he that revealeth H1541 secrets H7328 maketh known H3046 to thee what H4101 shall come to pass. H1934 But as for me, H576 this H1836 secret H7328 is not H3809 revealed H1541 to me for any wisdom H2452 that I have H383 more than H4481 any H3606 living, H2417 but H3861 for their sakes H1701 that H5922 shall make known H3046 the interpretation H6591 to the king, H4430 and that thou mightest know H3046 the thoughts H7476 of thy heart. H3825
There is H383 a man H1400 in thy kingdom, H4437 in whom is the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods; H426 and in the days H3118 of thy father H2 light H5094 and understanding H7924 and wisdom, H2452 like the wisdom H2452 of the gods, H426 was found H7912 in him; whom the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 thy father, H2 the king, H4430 I say, thy father, H2 made H6966 master H7229 of the magicians, H2749 astrologers, H826 Chaldeans, H3779 and soothsayers; H1505
Glory G1391 to God G2316 in G1722 the highest, G5310 and G2532 on G1909 earth G1093 peace, G1515 good will G2107 toward G1722 men. G444
G1161 Now, G3570 brethren, G80 if G1437 I come G2064 unto G4314 you G5209 speaking G2980 with tongues, G1100 what G5101 shall I profit G5623 you, G5209 except G3362 I shall speak G2980 to you G5213 either G2228 by G1722 revelation, G602 or G2228 by G1722 knowledge, G1108 or G2228 by G1722 prophesying, G4394 or G2228 by G1722 doctrine? G1322
Blessed G2128 be the God G2316 and G2532 Father G3962 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 who G3588 hath blessed G2127 us G2248 with G1722 all G3956 spiritual G4152 blessings G2129 in G1722 heavenly G2032 places in G1722 Christ: G5547
Which G3739 in G1722 other G2087 ages G1074 was G1107 not G3756 made known G1107 unto the sons G5207 of men, G444 as G5613 it is G601 now G3568 revealed G601 unto his G846 holy G40 apostles G652 and G2532 prophets G4396 by G1722 the Spirit; G4151
May be able G1840 to comprehend G2638 with G4862 all G3956 saints G40 what G5101 is the breadth, G4114 and G2532 length, G3372 and G2532 depth, G899 and G2532 height; G5311 And G5037 to know G1097 the love G26 of Christ, G5547 which passeth G5235 knowledge, G1108 that G2443 ye might be filled G4137 with G1519 all G3956 the fulness G4138 of God. G2316
In G1722 meekness G4236 instructing G3811 those that oppose themselves; G475 if G3379 God G2316 peradventure G3379 will give G1325 them G846 repentance G3341 to G1519 the acknowledging G1922 of the truth; G225
And G1161 he said, G5346 Men, G435 brethren, G80 and G2532 fathers, G3962 hearken; G191 The God G2316 of glory G1391 appeared G3700 unto our G2257 father G3962 Abraham, G11 when he was G5607 in G1722 Mesopotamia, G3318 before G4250 G2228 he G846 dwelt G2730 in G1722 Charran, G5488
Saying, G3004 Amen: G281 Blessing, G2129 and G2532 glory, G1391 and G2532 wisdom, G4678 and G2532 thanksgiving, G2169 and G2532 honour, G5092 and G2532 power, G1411 and G2532 might, G2479 be unto our G2257 God G2316 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 Amen. G281
And G2532 hereby G1722 G5129 we do know G1097 that G3754 we know G1097 him, G846 if G1437 we keep G5083 his G846 commandments. G1785 He that saith, G3004 I know G1097 him, G846 and G2532 keepeth G5083 not G3361 his G846 commandments, G1785 is G2076 a liar, G5583 and G2532 the truth G225 is G2076 not G3756 in G1722 him. G5129
For G1063 to one G3739 G3303 is given G1325 by G1223 the Spirit G4151 the word G3056 of wisdom; G4678 G1161 to another G243 the word G3056 of knowledge G1108 by G2596 the same G846 Spirit; G4151
All things G3956 are delivered G3860 unto me G3427 of G5259 my G3450 Father: G3962 and G2532 no man G3762 knoweth G1921 the Son, G5207 but G1508 the Father; G3962 neither G3761 knoweth G1921 any man G5100 the Father, G3962 save G1508 the Son, G5207 and he G2532 to G3739 whomsoever G1437 the Son G5207 will G1014 reveal G601 him.
And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Can we find H4672 such a one as this H2088 is, a man H376 in whom H834 the Spirit H7307 of God H430 is? And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 Forasmuch H310 as God H430 hath shewed H3045 thee all this, there is none so discreet H995 and wise H2450 as thou art:
Thine, O LORD, H3068 is the greatness, H1420 and the power, H1369 and the glory, H8597 and the victory, H5331 and the majesty: H1935 for all that is in the heaven H8064 and in the earth H776 is thine; thine is the kingdom, H4467 O LORD, H3068 and thou art exalted H4984 as head H7218 above all.
Lift up H5375 your heads, H7218 O ye gates; H8179 and be ye lift up, H5375 ye everlasting H5769 doors; H6607 and the King H4428 of glory H3519 shall come in. H935
And I will give H5414 them an heart H3820 to know H3045 me, that I am the LORD: H3068 and they shall be my people, H5971 and I will be their God: H430 for they shall return H7725 unto me with their whole heart. H3820
And they shall teach H3925 no more every man H376 his neighbour, H7453 and every man H376 his brother, H251 saying, H559 Know H3045 the LORD: H3068 for they shall all know H3045 me, from the least H6996 of them unto the greatest H1419 of them, saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 for I will forgive H5545 their iniquity, H5771 and I will remember H2142 their sin H2403 no more.
In the third H7969 year H8141 of Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia H6539 a thing H1697 was revealed H1540 unto Daniel, H1840 whose name H8034 was called H7121 Belteshazzar; H1095 and the thing H1697 was true, H571 but the time appointed H6635 was long: H1419 and he understood H995 the thing, H1697 and had understanding H998 of the vision. H4758
At G1722 that G1565 time G2540 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said, G2036 I thank G1843 thee, G4671 O Father, G3962 Lord G2962 of heaven G3772 and G2532 earth, G1093 because G3754 thou hast hid G613 these things G5023 from G575 the wise G4680 and G2532 prudent, G4908 and G2532 hast revealed G601 them G846 unto babes. G3516
And G2532 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto him, G846 Blessed G3107 art thou, G1488 Simon G4613 Barjona: G920 for G3754 flesh G4561 and G2532 blood G129 hath G601 not G3756 revealed G601 it unto thee, G4671 but G235 my G3450 Father G3962 which G3588 is in G1722 heaven. G3772
Jesus G2424 answered, G611 If G1437 I G1473 honour G1392 myself, G1683 my G3450 honour G1391 is G2076 nothing: G3762 it is G2076 my G3450 Father G3962 that honoureth G1392 me; G3165 of whom G3739 ye G5210 say, G3004 that G3754 he is G2076 your G5216 God: G2316 Yet G2532 ye have G1097 not G3756 known G1097 him; G846 but G1161 I G1473 know G1492 him: G846 and G2532 if G1437 I should say, G2036 G3754 I know G1492 him G846 not, G3756 I shall be G2071 a liar G5583 like G3664 unto you: G5216 but G235 I know G1492 him, G846 and G2532 keep G5083 his G846 saying. G3056
Even the Spirit G4151 of truth; G225 whom G3739 the world G2889 cannot G3756 G1410 receive, G2983 because G3754 it seeth G2334 him G846 not, G3756 neither G3761 knoweth G1097 him: G846 but G1161 ye G5210 know G1097 him; G846 for G3754 he dwelleth G3306 with G3844 you, G5213 and G2532 shall be G2071 in G1722 you. G5213
But G1161 the Comforter, G3875 which is the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 whom G3739 the Father G3962 will send G3992 in G1722 my G3450 name, G3686 he G1565 shall teach G1321 you G5209 all things, G3956 and G2532 bring G5279 all things G3956 to G5279 your G5209 remembrance, G5279 whatsoever G3739 I have said G2036 unto you. G5213
And G1161 this G3778 is G2076 life G2222 eternal, G166 that G2443 they might know G1097 thee G4571 the only G3441 true G228 God, G2316 and G2532 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 whom G3739 thou hast sent. G649
For G1063 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 shall teach G1321 you G5209 in G1722 the same G846 hour G5610 what G3739 ye ought G1163 to say. G2036
And G2532 lead G1533 us G2248 not G3361 into G1519 temptation, G3986 but G235 deliver G4506 us G2248 from G575 evil: G4190 For G3754 thine G4675 is G2076 the kingdom, G932 and G2532 the power, G1411 and G2532 the glory, G1391 for G1519 ever. G165 Amen. G281
That G2443 their G846 hearts G2588 might be comforted, G3870 being knit together G4822 in G1722 love, G26 and G2532 unto G1519 all G3956 riches G4149 of the full assurance G4136 of understanding, G4907 to G1519 the acknowledgement G1922 of the mystery G3466 of God, G2316 and G2532 of the Father, G3962 and G2532 of Christ; G5547 In G1722 whom G3739 are G1526 hid G614 all G3956 the treasures G2344 of wisdom G4678 and G2532 knowledge. G1108
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ephesians 1
Commentary on Ephesians 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 1
In this chapter we have,
This great apostle was wont to abound in prayers and in thanksgivings to almighty God, which he generally so disposes and orders that at the same time they carry with them and convey the great and important doctrines of the Christian religion, and the most weighty instructions to all those who seriously peruse them.
Eph 1:1-2
Here is,
After this short introduction he comes to the matter and body of the epistle; and, though it may seem somewhat peculiar in a letter, yet the Spirit of God saw fit that his discourse of divine things in this chapter should be cast into prayers and praises, which, as they are solemn addresses to God, so they convey weighty instructions to others. Prayer may preach; and praise may do so too.
Eph 1:3-14
He begins with thanksgivings and praise, and enlarges with a great deal of fluency and copiousness of affection upon the exceedingly great and precious benefits which we enjoy by Jesus Christ. For the great privileges of our religion are very aptly recounted and enlarged upon in our praises to God.
The apostle mentions the great end and design of God in bestowing all these spiritual privileges, that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ-we to whom the gospel was first preached, and who were first converted to the faith of Christ, and to the placing of our hope and trust in him. Note, Seniority in grace is a preferment: Who were in Christ before me, says the apostle (Rom. 16:7); those who have for a longer time experienced the grace of Christ are under more special obligations to glorify God. They should be strong in faith, and more eminently glorify him; but this should be the common end of all. For this we were made, and for this we were redeemed; this is the great design of our Christianity, and of God in all that he has done for us: unto the praise of his glory, v. 14. He intends that his grace and power and other perfection should by this means become conspicuous and illustrious, and that the sons of men should magnify him.
Eph 1:15-23
We have come to the last part of this chapter, which consists of Paul's earnest prayer to God in behalf of these Ephesians. We should pray for the persons for whom we give thanks. Our apostle blesses God for what he had done for them, and then he prays that he would do more for them. He gives thanks for spiritual blessings, and prays for further supplies of them; for God will for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. He has laid up these spiritual blessings for us in the hands of his Son, the Lord Jesus; but then he has appointed us to draw them out, and fetch them in, by prayer. We have no part nor lot in the matter, any further than we claim it by faith and prayer. One inducement to pray for them was the good account he had of them, of their faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints, v. 15. Faith in Christ, and love to the saints, will be attended with all other graces. Love to the saints, as such, and because they are such, must include love to God. Those who love saints, as such, love all saints, how weak in grace, how mean in the world, how fretful and peevish soever, some of them may be. Another inducement to pray for them was because they had received the earnest of the inheritance: this we may observe from the words being connected with the preceding ones by the particle wherefore. "Perhaps you will think that, having received the earnest, it should follow, therefore you are happy enough, and need take no further care: you need not pray for yourselves, nor I for you.' No, quite the contrary. Wherefore-I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, v. 16. While he blesses God for giving them the Spirit, he ceases not to pray that he would give unto them the Spirit (v. 17), that he would give greater measures of the Spirit. Observe, Even the best of Christians need to be prayed for: and, while we hear well of our Christian friends, we should think ourselves obliged to intercede with God for them, that they may abound and increase yet more and more. Now what is it that Paul prays for in behalf of the Ephesians? Not that they might be freed from persecution; nor that they might possess the riches, honours, or pleasures of the world; but the great thing he prays for is the illumination of their understandings, and that their knowledge might increase and abound: he means it of a practical and experimental knowledge. The graces and comforts of the Spirit are communicated to the soul by the enlightening of the understanding. In this way he gains and keeps possession. Satan takes a contrary way: he gets possession by the senses and passions, Christ by the understanding. Observe,
Having said something of Christ and his resurrection, the apostle digresses a little from the subject he is upon to make some further honourable mention of the Lord Jesus and his exaltation. He sits at the Father's right hand in the heavenly places, etc., v. 20, 21. Jesus Christ is advanced above all, and he is set in authority over all, they being made subject to him. All the glory of the upper world, and all the powers of both worlds, are entirely devoted to him. The Father hath put all things under his feet (v. 22), according to the promise, Ps. 110:1. All creatures whatsoever are in subjection to him; they must either yield him sincere obedience or fall under the weight of his sceptre, and receive their doom from him. God GAVE him to be head over all things. It was a gift to Christ, considered as a Mediator, to be advanced to such dominion and headship, and to have such a mystical body prepared for him: and it was a gift to the church, to be provided with a head endued with so much power and authority. God gave him to be the head over all things. He gave him all power both in heaven and in earth. The Father loves the Son, and hath given ALL things into his hands. But that which completes the comfort of this is that he is the head over all things to the church; he is entrusted with all power, that is, that he may dispose of all the affairs of the providential kingdom in subserviency to the designs of his grace concerning his church. With this therefore we may answer the messengers of the nations, that the Lord hath founded Zion. The same power that supports the world support the church; and we are sure he loves his church, for it is his body (v. 23), his mystical body, and he will care for it. It is the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Jesus Christ filleth all in all; he supplies all defects in all his members, filling them with his Spirit, and even with the fulness of God, ch. 3:19. And yet the church is said to be his fulness, because Christ as Mediator would not be complete if he had not a church. How could he be a king if he had not a kingdom? This therefore comes in to the honour of Christ, as Mediator, that the church is his fulness.