Ephesians 1:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

Prayer for the Ephesians. I. FOUNDED ON INFORMATION . 1. Regarding their faith . "For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you." He had already more than once referred to their Christian faith; he refers to it now as ground for his prayer on their behalf. We are to pray for "all men," even for unbelievers; but whoever through faith are admitted into the same Christian circle, claim a special interest in our prayers. 2. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

Apostolic philanthropy. "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 1:18

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened - The construction here in the Greek is, probably, “that he may give you (δώη dōē, Ephesians 1:17) the Spirit of wisdom, etc. - eyes of the understanding enlightened,” etc. Or the phrase, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened,” may be in the accusative absolute, which Koppe and Bloomfield prefer. The phrase, “the eyes of the understanding,” is a figure that is common in all languages. Thus, Philo says, “What the eye is to the body,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 1:18-21

Ephesians 1:18-21. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened That is, I pray that God would do this for you by the discoveries of his gospel, and the operation of his grace. Observe, reader, it is by the eyes of the understanding alone that we discern the things of God; and in order hereto these eyes must first be opened, and then enlightened, by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, spoken of in the former verse. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling That ye may know,... read more

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