Ephesians 3:16-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:16

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory. The standard or measure of the Divine giving is brought into view. "Riches of his glory" is a more emphatic expression than "glorious riches," though substantially the same in meaning. God's standard of giving is liberal, bountiful, overflowing. An image of the riches of his glory is seen in the starry heavens, which proclaim at once the vast riches and surpassing glory of God. Or in the beautiful appearance of an autumn sunset,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:16

A prayer for spiritual strength. This beautiful supplication suggests several interesting points. I. IT IS A PRAYER FOR THE SAINTS . It is not for their conversion, but that they might have life still more abundantly. The apostle's desire was to make men eminent Christians, to quicken them in the heavenly race, to promote in them a growth in grace and knowledge which would contribute to their spiritual robustness. II. THE BLESSING SOUGHT IS REGARDED AS A ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Reversing the usual order, the prayer begins ( Ephesians 3:16 ) by asking the blessing of the Third Person of the Godhead; now we have a cluster of petitions connected with the Second Person. The first of these is for the indwelling of Christ in their hearts, as opposed to mere occasional visits or influences from Christ; the instrument by which this blessing is attained being their faith. Christ exercising a constant power within them, both... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:17

The indwelling of Christ in believers. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Whether we regard this clause of the prayer as representing the result, or the purpose, or the source of the spiritual strength spoken of in the previous clause, it is in very close relationship with it. Its own meaning is perfectly clear. I. THE INDWELLER — CHRIST . There is a threefold idea suggested by the term. 1. The believer is regarded as a temple or house to be divinely inhabited ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:17

The real presence. No great delusion could attain wide influence unless it were the counterfeit or perversion of a valuable truth, and unless it promised to satisfy some deep, natural desire. The doctrine of the real presence is a pathetic witness to the yearning of the soul for personal fellowship with Christ, and to the truth that he does come into the lives of his pestle. I. CHRIST 'S PRESENCE IS REAL . It is not enough that he should be with us only as "the choir invisible"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:18

May be made strong to comprehend with all the saints. The subject to be comprehended is not only beyond man's natural capacity, but beyond the ordinary force of his spiritual capacity. The tiring to be grasped needs a special strength of heart and soul; the heart needs to be enlarged, the mental "hands of the arms" need to be made strong ( Genesis 49:24 ). But the attainment is not impossible—it is the experience of "all the saints;" all God's children are enabled to grasp something of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:18

Love, the root and foundation of spiritual knowledge. "That ye, being rooted and grounded in love," may comprehend and know the love of Christ. The effect of Christ's indwelling in believers is to root them and found them deeply in love—love being the root of the tree of life in the one case, and the foundation of the temple or house in the other; for the soul, ever contemplating Christ within it, is changed into his very likeness. The apostle means that the Ephesian saints would grow in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:18-19

The comprehension of the love of Christ. The true science for saints is "Christ's love." I. CONSIDER THIS LOVE AS REPRESENTED IN THE PASSAGE as to length, breadth, height, and depth. 1. These dimensions seem to imply infinity . It has been suggested that the apostle speaks as if standing in a center, himself the object of this love, enveloped by an atmosphere of love which stretches away illimitably above, beneath, around. He prays that all saints may stand, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:19

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The love here is evidently the love of Christ to us, and this may well be specified as a special matter of prayer. Knowledge of Christ's love, in the sense of an inward personal experience of it—its freeness, its tenderness, its depth, its patience—is the great dynamic of the gospel. This love is transmuted into spiritual force. As the breeze fills the sails and bears forward the ship, so the love of Christ fills the soul and moves it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:16

According to the riches of his glory - According to the glorious abundance of his mercy; see Philippians 4:19. Out of those stores of rich grace which can never be exhausted. The word “riches,” so often used by Paul, denotes “abundance,” and the idea here is, that his grace was inexhaustible and ample for all their needs.To be strengthened with might - To be powerfully strengthened. That is, to give you abundant strength to bear trials; to perform your duties; to glorify his name.In the inner... read more

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