Prayer that God enlighten the Ephesians to see his gracious power
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Paul’s prayer is that the Ephesians grow in their understanding so they may know God ever more fully.
For that increase in knowledge to happen, God must intervene. So Paul prays to God “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” Such enlightenment from the Word will help the Ephesians to recognize and appreciate three great blessings from the Father: (1) the hope to which he has called them, (2) the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and (3) his incomparably great power for those who believe.
In speaking of the hope to which God has called the Ephesians, Paul is not using the word as when we say, “I hope to finish this job today” or “I hope it won’t rain.” The hope of which Paul speaks is not a fond wish, but a sure and certain confidence. It can be so because it rests on God’s call. Recall that Paul reminded the Ephesians that from eternity God chose them, in time he redeemed them, and now he has sealed them by giving them his Holy Spirit.
While all this is sure and certain, it is, however, a promise for which full realization lies in the future. Hence Paul’s further petition that the eyes of their hearts might be enlightened to see and comprehend “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” An inheritance is not something earned or deserved. It’s a gift; it’s grace. And that’s how God deals with his saints, that is, with the believers whom he has called, redeemed, and sealed with the Spirit.
But this hope and this inheritance both rest on a promise, and both lie in the future. Where, then, is the assurance that God can and will keep his promise? Paul prays that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened so they might see God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe.” Knowing about God’s power is the basis for trusting that God can and will keep his word.
But where’s the proof of his power? Paul calls the Ephesians’ attention to what God did in and through Christ. The apostle asserts, “That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” For the believer an incomparably great power is at work, which is like the power God demonstrated in connection with the resurrection of his Son. Although Jesus always remained true God, even when he took on human flesh and became true man, he humbled himself and laid aside his divine power. He became obedient to his Father’s will, even to death. There was no life in the corpse that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took down from the cross late on Good Friday afternoon. But God used his incomparably great power to restore his Son to life and give back what had originally been his. In addition to this, God greatly exalted him.
At the Ascension the Father welcomed his Son back to heaven and set the God-man at his right hand, giving him a position of power. In fact, he exalted him “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given.” Paul uses four terms to describe positions of great power. He could no doubt have listed more than four, or he might have settled for fewer. The number of positions is not significant. The point is that absolutely no authority figure can successfully oppose the risen and ascended Christ. He is Lord over them all. And this is true not only for the present but also for the future. Jesus is far above all opposition, “not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”