Ephesians 1:11-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:16

Cease not to give thanks for you. This clause expresses the continuation of a former action—the giving thanks for them had begun before the hearing of their faith and love—from the days, in short, of his personal intercourse. We notice as a remarkable feature of Paul's personal religion, as well as his pastoral care, the frequency of his thanksgiving, indicating the prevalence in him of a bright, joyous state of mind, and tending to increase and perpetuate the same. Constantly to recognize... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:17

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. The invocations of Paul—the terms by which he calls on God—are always significant, involving a plea for the blessings sought. God, as "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ," gave to him the Holy Spirit without measure, and might well, therefore, be asked and expected to give the gifts of the same Spirit to those who were "in him"—one with him as members of his body. Being also the "Father of glory," and having glorified Jesus, even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:17

Prayer for the Holy Spirit. The Ephesian saints had already received the Spirit, for they had been sealed by him; but the apostle wishes the Spirit to become a spirit of wisdom and revelation, for further enlargement in a spiritual sense can only be realized in the direction of new knowledge. Some persons say it is wrong to pray for the Holy Spirit, as it seems to imply that he has not already come. The apostle here expressly prays for the Spirit. Our prayers always acknowledge the Spirit... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:17

Prayer for the knowledge of God. The apostle prays that the spirit of wisdom and revelation may be given, so that the Ephesian saints may have a fuller knowledge of God. Knowledge is an essential factor for promoting growth in grace. He does not pray for holiness, but for knowledge, because he knows it is only through the fuller knowledge of God, imparted by the Divine Spirit, that holiness can be promoted. Thus he prays for the Colossians that they may be "filled with the knowledge of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:17-19

Spiritual knowledge. After thankfully recognizing the faith and love of the Christians he is addressing, St. Paul describes his prayers for their further endowment with Divine graces, and shows that he is especially anxious that they should receive a Spirit of wisdom. Possibly the Christians of Ephesus and its neighborhood were backward on the intellectual side of the spiritual life; but more probably wisdom was desirable for them just because they were exceptionally capable of high... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:18

That having the eyes of your heart enlightened. "The eyes of your heart" is an unusual expression, but it denotes that to see things clearly there is needed, not merely lumen siccum , but lumen madidum (to borrow terms of Lord Bacon), not merely intellectual clearness, but moral susceptibility and warmth—a movement of the heart as well as the head (compare the opposite state, "blindness of the heart," Ephesians 4:18 ). Ye may know what is the hope of his calling ; the hope which he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:18

The connection between the heart and the intellect. "The eyes of your heart being enlightened." I. THIS IS A SINGULAR EXPRESSION . Yet it is true in philosophy and true in life, as well as consistent with Biblical language. Scripture speaks of applying our hearts unto wisdom ( Psalms 90:12 ), and of "the understanding of the heart" ( Luke 1:51 ). II. THE HEART POWERFULLY INFLUENCES THE UNDERSTANDING . Larochefoucauld says, after his own cynical manner, "The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:18

The knowledge of God and its outlets. The effect of the Divine illumination is to enlarge our knowledge in three different directions—pointing at once to the hope that is lodged in the heart of our Divine calling, to the glory of our future inheritance, and to the greatness of the change involved in our regeneration by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Peter reproduces exactly the same order of thought when he blessed God read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:18

The hope of God's calling. It is impossible to appreciate the hope till we understand the true nature of the calling to which it is so beautifully attached. I. THE CALLING IS THE EFFECTUAL CALL OF GOD BY THE SPIRIT . 1. It is posited securely between predestination on one side and justification on the other; for "whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified" ( Romans 8:30 ). 2. It is a call to peace: "Let the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:18

The riches of the glory of God's inheritance. How little we know of this inheritance! We desire to know more. There are five points included in our fuller study of this inheritance. I. OUR TITLE TO IT . It is "a purchased possession" ( Ephesians 1:14 ), the price being the blood of Christ. The death of the Testator was necessary that "they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" ( Hebrews 9:15 ). II. IT IS A RICH INHERITANCE . God is... read more

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