Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 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.
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 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, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

• Ephesians 3:1-21

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Ephesians 3:1 ‘For this reason’: “This refers back to the truths about the unity of believers that Paul has just discussed and introduces the motive for his prayer which begins in verse 14. the prisoner of Christ Jesus. Although Paul had been a prisoner for about two years in Caesarea and two years in Rome, he did not consider himself to be a prisoner of any government or person. Rather, he knew he was under Christ’s control, and every aspect of his life was in the Lord’s hands. He suffered imprisonment for preaching to Gentiles. See 2 Corinthians 4:8-15.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

Ephesians 3:4 ‘the mystery of Christ’: “See … 1:10-12; 2:11, 12; Matthew 13:11; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Colossians 1:26, 27. There were many truths hidden and later revealed in the NT that are called mysteries. Here is one: Jew and Gentile brought together in one body in the Messiah. For others, see … 1 Corinthians 15:51; Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 3:16. Paul not only wrote of the mystery that, in Christ, Jew and Gentile become one in God’s sight and in His kingdom and family, but also explained and clarified that truth. He realized that spiritual knowledge must precede practical application. What is not properly understood cannot properly be applied.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

Ephesians 3:8-10 ‘A Sacred Secret’: ”Ephesians 3 introduces the third metaphor, where we learn that the church is a mystery, a sacred secret.
“There are wonderful intimations here that God has had a secret plan at work through the centuries-a plan He has never unfolded to anyone. And the instrument by which He is carrying out this plan is the church. Paul is saying that, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God-all the many levels of God’s knowledge and all the depths of His limitless wisdom-will now be made known to all principalities and powers that inhabit the heavenly realms.
“The purpose of the mystery of the church is to enlighten and inform the universe – to make known the wisdom of God to the spiritual rulers of those invisible realms.“

• Ray C. Stedman, Adventuring Through the Bible

Ephesians 3:8 ‘the Model of Humility’: “Many, who now shine in the highest places of self-estimation, will one day be glad enough to sit at the feet of the poorest of the saints, un- less I am greatly mistaken; for everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled. For my part, I had sooner hear Paul say that he was less than the least of all the saints than I would hear the holiest brother out of heaven say that he had been living without sin. Paul was as holy as the holiest now upon earth, but among the humble he was the most humble. May the Lord make us each so.“

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes

Ephesians 3:10 ‘God being revealed’: “In redemption, Christ was crucified: ‘Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory’ (1 Corinthians 1:24; 2:7). In salvation, God requires us to repent and believe. This is done by the wise counsel of God: ‘For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe’ (1:21). And in the consummation, we also see God’s wisdom: ’To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God’ (Ephesians 3:10). So in all of this, the all-wise wisdom of God is being revealed.
“The crux of your life lies right there. It doesn’t matter whether you know this little wisp of systematic theology or not; that isn’t the point. The point is that it’s either got to be God’s wisdom or yours. It’s either God’s way or yours. All that you and I have lived for, hoped for and dreamed over in our heart of hearts- life, safety, happiness, heaven, immortality, the presence of God-hinges on whether you’re going to accept the ultimate wisdom of the Triune God, as revealed in the Scriptures and in His providential working in mankind. Or are you going to go your own way?”

• A. W. Tozer, The Price of Neglect

Ephesians 3:14 ‘For this reason’: “Paul repeated what he wrote in verse 1 (see note there) as he began his prayer. Because of their new identity in Christ, stated in chapter 2, believers are spiritually alive (v. 5), they are unified into God’s household (v. 19), and, as the church, they are the dwelling place of God, built on the. words and work of the apostles and prophets (vv. 20-22). I bow my knees. This is not instructing a physical posture during prayer, but suggesting an attitude of submission, reverence, and intense passion (cf. Ezra 9:5, 6; Ps. 95:1-6; Dan. 6:10; Acts 20:36).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

Ephesians 3:15 ‘whole family in heaven and earth is named’: “Paul was not teaching the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man (cf. John 8:39-42; 1 John 3:10), but was simply referring to believers from every era of history, those who are dead (in heaven) and those who are alive (on earth).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

Ephesians 3:17 ‘knowing Jesus’: “Jesus resides in our hearts, which is the center of our love, and then we know his love. He teaches us to love him, and as we learn the sweet lesson, we begin to know how Jesus loves us. We come to know him by personal acquaintance, by having Christ dwelling in us so that we see him, hear him, feel his touch, and enjoy his blessed company. This kind of knowledge is the most precious of all knowledge, whatever the subject may be.“

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes

Ephesians 3:19 ‘knowing Jesus deeply’: “He intended another kind of knowledge. I know many people that is to say, I have seen them in the streets and they tip their hats to me, and I do the same to them. And thus I know them. This is a slender form of knowledge, yet I fear it is the kind of knowledge most people have of Christ. Even such a knowledge as comes by trembling faith is a knowledge that saves. But I will tell you the people I know best. They live with me in my own house. I see them every day. I am on the most familiar terms with them, and this is the knowledge here intended.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes

Ephesians 3:20-21 ‘Adoration’: “In our text we have adoration, not prayer. Adoration not even so much the act of praise as the full sense that praise is due and far more of it than we can render. Adoration is not seeking the divine presence but conscious of it to an unutterable degree and therefore full of awe and peace. Adoration is the fullness, the height and depth, the length and breadth of praise. Adoration is to prostrate yourself in the dust in humility and yet to soar aloft in sublime thought-to sink into nothing and yet to be so enlarged as to be filled with all the fullness of God.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes

Ephesians 3:21 ‘to Him be glory’: “Only when His children meet this level of faithfulness will Christ be fully glorified with the honor He deserves from His church.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

My Thoughts

Paul speaks of a mystery that God was there for the Gentiles, and they could share in the inheritance.  He was their teacher by the gift of God’s Grace.  For Paul was the least of God’s servants.

But God was letting this mystery known to the heavenly authorities, the angels, both good and bad.

They should not be discouraged for Paul’s suffering.  He was enduring that suffering gladly for them.

But in his prayer for the Ephesians, he focused on two things: strength from God to the people so that they could show God’s love.  He spent much of the prayer in praising God, glorifying the Lord.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

Ephesians 3:1-13 Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles 1. Paul’s intense desire was to make Christ known. How does this relate to what drives you in life?
“2. What kinds of people would feel awkward in your church? What can you do to break down those barriers? Why is it important to do so?
“3. Where does the unifying gospel (v.6) challenge you: e.g., issues of racism? Sexism? Missions? Concern tor the poor and elderly?
Ephesians 3:14-21 A Prayer for the Ephesians 1. How do you expect to change as you become more confident of Christ’s love?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Ephesians 3 has two sets of questions.

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

If you like these Thursday morning Bible studies, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Thursday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.