Free Bible Commentary
“Ephesians 4:7-13”
Categories: Ephesians“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, ‘WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.’ (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
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Christ “descended into the lower parts of the earth” (verse 9) in order to consort with and teach the Gospel to sinners and malefactors, and suffer and die for their sins. After He died for the sins of the whole world, He arose from the grave and “ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things” (verse 10). He arose back to the highest height so that He might provide all the gifts and blessings that we could ever need as head of His church.
While it is true that “He gave gifts to men,” the gifts were not given only for the benefit of the individual men who possessed them. These human gifts were predetermined and planned by the Lord from before the beginning of time, and provided to the church, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (verses 12-13)
Jesus gave the church certain “functionaries” for its “equipping” and its “building up” and its “unity” and “maturity”. He gave “apostles, and…prophets” to the church. And even though there are none of these “inspired spokespersons” alive among us today, nor have there been for the past 1900 years or so, they still bless and guide and teach us the truth today. They do that through the written word that the Holy Spirit inspired through them and that God compiled into the collection of books that we call the Bible.
Jesus also gave the church “evangelists” (preachers), “pastors” (elders or bishops) and “teachers” that still actively and personally serve the Lord’s collective on earth, and they always will as long as there are people and local churches of Christ to serve. All of these five “gifts” are given for the purpose of teaching and upholding and leading by the inspired revelation of the mind of God. And nothing, but nothing, is more important to the soundness of a congregation and the spiritual health and eternal salvation of each individual child of God.
Let's be grateful to our God for the greatest gifts that have been showered upon us by our Lord and Savior in heaven. And let’s appreciate the men who serve in the position of elders and preachers, and the men and women who serve as teachers of the truth.
Please read Ephesians 4:14-17 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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