COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS CHAPTER THREE
COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS Chapter THREE
THE MYSTERY REVEALED!
“Ephesians 3:6. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 3:1-21
“1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.”
Paul’s primary emphasis now is on the great mystery now revealed by God that the Gentiles and the Jews are one in Christ and that there is no longer any distinction between them.
The Revelation of the Mystery is Discussed in Ephesians 3:1-3.
The Explanation of the Mystery is Discussed in Ephesians 3:4-6.
The Proclamation of the Mystery is Discussed in Ephesians 3:7-9.
The Intention of the Mystery is Discussed in Ephesians 3:10-13.
Five Aspects of the Divine Mystery
The Prisoner of the Mystery
“1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”
Paul begins with the reason for his prayer which refers back to what he wrote in Chapter 2.
All believers are in One Body, Gentiles, once far away are now near when they believe, all believers are equally citizens of God’s kingdom and members of His family and all believers are being built into God’s temple and dwelling.
Paul here emphasizes that he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
He was appointed an apostle by Jesus Christ.
He was a steward (administrator) of God’s grace and so are we.
Paul didn’t just want to declare the mystery, he wanted to make sure he explained it.
“Sunesis” insight, literally means to bring together and metaphorically refers to comprehension and understanding, mentally bringing knowledge together in order to grasp its full meaning and significance. Spiritual insight must always precede practical application, because what is not properly understood cannot be properly applied.
Paul did not get his zeal for the gospel and his passion for souls from high emotional experiences, though he may have had many of them. His love, passion, and energetic zeal to win the lost and to build up the saved came from his great insight into the gospel. The more he comprehended God’s fathomless love and grace, the more he was compelled to share and exemplify that love and that grace.
The Plan of the Mystery
“5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
The Old Testament teachings that relate to this mystery can only be understood clearly in light of New Testament revelation (Hebrews 11:39-40, 1 Peter 1:10-12).
NOTE: In the Greek there is the personal pronoun (“autou,” His) linked with apostles and there is no such pronoun with prophets. This would be an emphasis on both the primacy and chronological priority of the apostles over the prophets who followed them.
“Revealed by the Spirit” communicates to us that the Holy Spirit is divine agency of God’s revelation through these men.
2 Peter 1:20-21 – “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
John 14:26 – “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 15:26 – “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”
This mystery is stated in verse 6, that the Gentiles are heirs TOGETHER with Israel…members TOGETHER of ONE body and SHARERS TOGETHER in the PROMISE in Christ Jesus.
Fellow heirs – Fellow members of one body – fellow shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
The Preaching of the Mystery
“7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.”
The gospel is spread by men whom God calls to proclaim it, and it is the gospel of which Paul was made a minister.
“Diakonos” is a minister or servant, in particular a servant who waits on tables. Later it came to mean a servant who acts on the commands of others, who submits to a higher power.
Paul emphasizes that he was made a minister he did not make himself a minister.
A man called by God is in constant danger of losing his effectiveness by coming to think of himself as more than a servant. To lose dependence is to lose everything, because everything that is of any value in our lives, including power for effective service, comes only from the Lord.
Paul considered himself to be the least of all the saints. He did not claim any second work of grace by which he was perfected in holiness, love or anything else.
1 Timothy 1:15 – “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.”
Paul was to preach the riches of Christ. “Unsearchable riches” or “unfathomable riches” are:
- His kindness and forbearance and patience. (Romans 2:4)
- His wisdom and knowledge. (Romans 11:33)
- His mercy and great love. (Ephesians 2:4)
- His glory. (Ephesians 3:16)
- His supplying us with ‘all things to enjoy.’ (1 Timothy 6:17)
- His assurance. (Colossians 2:2)
- His Word. (Colossians 3:16)
- Our being reproached for His sake. (Hebrews 11:26)
We should seek not just to know about these riches, but experience them through how we live.
Paul was also to make plain and clear the administration “stewardship” of the “mystery.”
Paul is saying that he was not just called in a vertical area to preach the riches of Christ but also in the horizontal area to teach about the administration, the stewardship or dispensation of the mystery of the church age.
The Purpose of the Mystery
“10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The purpose of God revealing the mystery of the church is so that:
The wisdom of God might be made known – through – the church – to the angels.
Angels = “rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16)
Everything God has ever done has had the ultimate purpose of giving Him glory.
The supreme purpose of the church is to glorify God by manifesting God’s wisdom before the angels
The church is not an end it itself but a means to an end, the end is glorifying God.
God is glorified even through demons (evil angels) because he frustrates their plans.
The holy angels are interested in the salvation of men (1 Peter 1:12).
The holy angels watch the face of God to see His reaction to the treatment of His children (Matthew 18:10, 14).
The Privilege of the Mystery
Ephesians 3:12-13, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.”
We have a freedom and confidence that we can approach God because of Christ and our faith in Him. In Judaism only the High Priest had this privilege.
Hebrews 4:15-16 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Paul’s suffering, and ours, are to our honor and benefit, because of how they grow us and glorify God because of our response to them.
THE FULLNESS OF GOD
“14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
It is possible to know a great deal about the Bible, its doctrines, interpretations, moral standards, promises, warnings, and so on, and yet not live by those truths.
Here we see Paul praying his second prayer of Ephesians. His first prayer was for believers to know their power. This second prayer is for them to use it. He is praying that they be enabled to live for Christ
Paul told them who they were in Christ and now he is urging them to live like it.
This is a plea to God, but is also a plea to the believers at Ephesus. Paul is petitioning God to intervene in their lives, but He is also exhorting the believers to respond to their calling in Christ.
He prays for:
- The inner strength of the Spirit for them,
- The indwelling of Christ in their hearts,
- The incomprehensible love of God to permeate their lives,
- That they have God’s own fullness in their lives,
- That God’s glory will be manifested and proclaimed in their lives.
THE SPIRIT’S POWER
“14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”
Paul kneels before God the Father for the reason that was spoken of in chapter 2:5, Christ makes us spiritually alive in Him. We are His workmanship (10). We are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens (19). We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (20). We are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (22). The reason is that our new identity makes us the dwelling place of God.
Paul prays for the Ephesians to use the power that their status in Christ provides and they would employ the fullness of this power through the Spirit.
Paul bows to his knees in prayer, not to communicate how to pray but to show his submission to God and His will, to demonstrate his passion and emotion for prayer.
Paul tells us here that God does not just give us riches, He gives us out of His riches which means an overabundance, beyond what normally someone might give. Almost all of Paul’s prayers were for others and when he prayed for himself, it was so he could serve others better.
Paul’s prayer was BOLD, CONFIDENT and INCLUSIVE!
Jacques Ellul, the contemporary philosopher states that, “Prayer for persons living in the technological age must be combative – and prayer, is not just combat with Satan, corrupted society, and one’s own divided self, but is combat with God.” (Jacob – Genesis 32:24-30, Abraham – Genesis 18:23-32, Moses – Exodus 32:11-13).
In our daily living it is hard for us to appreciate spiritual riches than material ones.
God’s Spiritual blessings
- His choosing us for Himself before the foundation of the world.
- His redemption and forgiveness.
- His making known to us the mystery of His will.
- His giving us an inheritance with His Son Jesus Christ.
Paul is not praying for God to give these riches to believers, but that He would grant believers to be strengthened by God according to the riches they already possess.
Spiritual growth can be defined as the decreasing frequency of sin.
CHRIST’S INDWELLING
17a so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
“so that” is a purpose clause and will introduce the purpose of something already mentioned.
We are to be strengthened with power through the His Spirit in the inner man SO THAT Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.
Dwell “katoikeo” is a compound word which means to “inhabit a house.” It means to not just inhabit a place but to settle down as a family member. Christ cannot be “at home” in our hearts until our inner person submits to the strengthening of His Spirit. Christ needs to be at home in us, not an unsettled visitor. Paul is not talking about the fact of Jesus being in the life of a person, but of the quality of His being there. (My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Munger)
LOVE’S ABUNDANCE
“17b And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”
When we are made strong inwardly by God’s Spirit this leads to Christ being at home in our hearts, which leads to love that is incomprehensible. He can work through us at this point and the love that is expressed from us towards us is godly! 1 John emphasizes this and Galatians 5:22-23 tells us about the fruits of the Spirit that can result. 1 Corinthians 13 also describes in detail this love.
We can only have Christ’s love when He is free to work in our lives.
We can only love as Christ loves when He has free reign in our hearts.
Loving others is an act of obedience and not loving them is an act of disobedience.
The absence of love is the presence of sin. Sin and love are enemies.
Jesus’ love goes in every direction. It is Three-Dimensional! Paul’s description attempts to communicate the vastness and completeness of God’s love.
We can see the breadth of God’s love in His acceptance of Jew and Gentile as equals in Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-18)
We can see the length of His love in choosing us before the foundation of the world and that our salvation that will last for eternity. (Ephesians 1:4-5)
We can see the height of God’s love in how He blesses us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)
We can see the depth of God’s love in how it reaches down to the depths of man’s depravity to redeem those who are dead in their sins. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Knowledge is useless unless love is present. Paul is not saying here that we are to love without knowing how and why to love. He is saying that you can have knowledge of spiritual things, but to know God’s love is greater than knowledge. It is good to have the knowledge of God’s truth contained in His Word, but you must apply the knowledge in how and why you love.
In the Revelation we are shown that the church at Ephesus had lost her first love.
Revelation 2:1-6 – “To the angela of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
GOD’S FULLNESS
“19B that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
The inner strengthening of the Holy Spirit leads to the indwelling of Christ, which leads to abundant love, which leads to God’s fullness in us.
Paul is making an amazing statement here. The goal is to be filled with the fullness of God. How can this be? Only through the power of God and His Spirit through Christ is it possible.
To be filled with Christ is to be emptied of self. God wants us exactly like Him, full of Christ and full of the Spirit.
THE LORD’S GLORY
“20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Paul is giving praise to God who is able to do more than anything we can ask.
God is able to do…
Exceedingly…
Abundantly…
Beyond all we Ask…
Or Think!”