Introduction

Ephesians 1:15–23 builds upon the foundation of blessings outlined earlier in the chapter, emphasizing how God’s authority and power are made available to believers through His Spirit. Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians to know and experience God’s blessings more deeply, focusing on the hope, inheritance, and power that come from their relationship with Him.

Key Points

• Main Point: God has included us in His full authority and power.
• Purpose: Know God’s authority and experience with hope His blessings by the Holy Spirit’s power.

Ephesians 1:15–16

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers…

Paul, having outlined six blessings from the Triune God, prays for Christians to continually experience these blessings. He is encouraged by reports of their faith in Jesus and their love for fellow believers. This highlights the importance of nurturing both personal faith and love for others, which can inspire and strengthen those around us, especially spiritual leaders who care for and pray for us.

Ephesians 1:17

…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him…

Paul begins his prayer by asking God the Father to grant believers the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to deepen their knowledge of Jesus. This reflects God’s earlier blessing of revealing the mystery of His will to unite all things in Christ. Just as God has provided this insight, we too can pray for ongoing wisdom and revelation through the Spirit, drawing us closer to Christ and His purpose.

Ephesians 1:18a

…having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…

Paul expands his prayer to include a request for the eyes of believers’ hearts to be enlightened, transforming God’s promises from mere words into profound and impactful truths. This enlightenment, driven by the Spirit of wisdom, helps embed God’s promises deeply into our hearts. By seeking the Holy Spirit daily, we can align our decisions and perspectives with God’s Word rather than worldly wisdom.

Ephesians 1:18b

…that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…

In knowing Jesus and the profound truths He reveals, the Holy Spirit strengthens believers with a confident hope in God’s calling. This hope is not uncertain but a guaranteed future inheritance, assured by God and empowered by the Spirit. As we grow in our knowledge of Jesus, our confidence in His steadfast love and promises deepens.

Ephesians 1:18c

…what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…

The inheritance Paul mentions could refer to either (A) God as our inheritance or (B) believers as God’s inheritance. Either way, this inheritance is described as glorious and rich with God’s abundance. This reflects the generosity of our God, who delights in giving lavishly to His people.

Ephesians 1:19–21

…and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

God grants us the power of His Spirit to deepen our knowledge and trust in Jesus daily. This power is threefold: (A) raising Jesus from the dead, (B) seating Him above all authorities, and (C) establishing His eternal divine authority. This same power is available to believers each day to know God more and make Him known. By seeking a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit daily, we can experience His presence and power in transformative ways.

Ephesians 1:22–23

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

God the Father has placed everything under Jesus’ authority and made Him the head of the church for our benefit. The church, as the body of Christ, is filled with His Spirit and is essential to our Christian lives. No matter its imperfections, we cannot live out our faith without being connected to the church. To grow spiritually, we need to root ourselves in a biblical church and stay connected to God’s people.

Conclusion

Ephesians 1:15–23 highlights the authority and power of God, made available to believers through His Spirit. Paul prays that Christians may know Jesus more deeply, experience the riches of His blessings, and live with confident hope in His promises. Through the church and the Holy Spirit’s power, we are equipped to walk in God’s fullness and reflect His glory.

Summary

• Paul gives thanks for the Ephesian Christians’ faith and love, encouraging us to cultivate both (1:15–16).
• We can pray for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Jesus more deeply (1:17).
• The Spirit enlightens our hearts to see God’s promises as transformative truths (1:18a).
• Knowing Jesus fills us with a confident and assured hope in God’s promises (1:18b).
• Our inheritance with God is both glorious and rich in His blessings (1:18c).
• God’s power toward believers is the same power that raised and exalted Christ (1:19–21).
• Jesus’ authority benefits the church, His body, and connects believers to Him (1:22–23).