“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might”. – Ephesians 1:18-10 (NASB)
The Apostle Paul continues to pray for the Ephesian believers and asks God to “enlighten the eyes of their heart”. The phrase “the eyes of your heart” in the Vulgate refers to the rational abilities of the soul, as well as the will or desire, with no significant difference between them. But someone might ask, If we already have the Spirit of revelation, why do we need it? The truth is, it’s like we can see everything, but actually our vision is still limited. This is true for everyone, because right “now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that we know now is partial and incomplete, but then we will know everything completely, just as God now knows us completely” (1 Cor. 13:12). Paul writes this so that we don’t think that God must reveal things to us as if we can’t see anything at all. The truth is, we have some understanding, but we are still spiritually blind because of sin. Therefore, God needs to enlighten the eyes of our heart. Paul’s underscores the power of the Gospel to open our spiritual eyes and illuminate the path towards reconciliation with God. In essence, the Gospel serves as an illuminating force that dispels ignorance and reveals the ineffable love and mercy of God towards fallen humanity. The Gospel brings understanding to fallen humanity (cf. Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:4-6). This has always been God’s will.
There are three things we need to know why we should be enlightened. The first is, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, The phrase “the hope of His calling” means being confident and sure of being chosen by God through Christ to be saved. This isn’t just a general invitation, it’s a specific and deliberate calling for people to restore their relationship with God. It’s a summons to reject sin and accept the forgiveness offered through Christ’s sacrifice. The second reason is, for us to learn of “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”. The phrase “the riches of the glory” is used to underscore the immeasurable value and significance of the Gospel truths. It depicts the boundless wealth of blessings and spiritual treasures that are made available to believers through their union with Christ. It conveys the idea of abundant, glorious, and awe-inspiring blessings that are intrinsic to the Gospel message. If we remember what Paul says in verse 7, he emphasizes how rich God’s grace is, describing it as a treasure that cannot be measured. It includes forgiveness of sins and the resulting spiritual freedom. This shows how valuable the grace available to believers is. It reminds us of how generous God is with His mercy and love for humanity, and emphasizes the incomprehensible depth of His kindness and generosity. The third reason is for us to understand the “surpassing greatness of His power”. And what is the surpassing greatness of God’s power? The term “surpassing greatness,” ‘huperballō’ in Greek, is only used by Paul in the New Testament. It shows Paul’s deep awe at the redemptive work of God in Christ for rebellious humanity (see 2 Cor. 3:10; 9:14; Eph. 1:19; 2:7; 3:19). This term captures the intense emotion Paul felt when thinking about the enormity of God’s actions in redemption. By contrast, Paul commends to believers a direct access to the power of God and assures us that the one true God is unmatched in power, contrasting with claims of local deities (in Ephesus) possessing extraordinary powers. The phrase “toward us who believe” shows that the doctrine of “universalism,” which says everyone will be saved, is wrong. It highlights that God lets people take part in their spiritual salvation through a conditional covenant. This emphasizes the important role of faith and repentance for Christians (see Mark 1:15; Acts 3:16, 19; 20:21). The inclusiveness of the gospel (see John 1:12; 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9) contrasts with the exclusivity taught by false teachers. The gospel’s universal invitation (see 1 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9) is for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (see Rom. 10:9-13), showing its open and comprehensive nature. The phrase “the working of the strength of His might” seems to allude to Isa. 11:2. It signifies the immense power of God. Another term for power (dunamis) is used in the same verse, highlighting that salvation relies on the powerful deeds of God through Christ, rather than human efforts or intellectual ideas.
Lack of knowledge stops us from gaining more knowledge; just as we need light to see, we need knowledge to acquire more knowledge. The Apostle emphasizes not learning or science, but speaks out against ignorance and narrow-mindedness. We must keep our hearts and minds open to knowledge. True wisdom starts with fearing God and recognizing our weaknesses and limitations. People often think too highly of themselves and waste the gifts given to them. Therefore, we should seek wisdom and knowledge from God, or we will find ourselves with unsatisfactory contentment. The most important things we need to grasp are responding to God’s call when we need help, holding God’s legacy in our hearts, and finding God’s strength in our goals and dreams. Just as we need new knowledge in the world, we also need personal guidance to know what to do and how to endure. Our hope is in God through Christ. What the Father did for Him, both in Him and through Him, when He raised Him from the dead to His right hand, will also happen for us, but only as much as we have faith in our Savior. We should be, become, and remain part of the Church, which is His Body. Those who reject the Lord to save themselves are truly losing their lives, unlike those who, in holy martyrdom, lost their lives to be with their Leader.
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