The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 158

The marks of Christ's care for bis Church are innumerabfo; they recede back through nil et.l'rnity i,.nd fonrnrd for evermore (eh. iii. 18, 19). His death marked the climax of his srlf-s~crifice; but e,·on that did not end Christ's service for his Church. For her he 1wt ,mly descended from heaven to earth, but for her too he reascended from earth (() liearen; like the high priest, he went into the holiest of all with his Name on his breastplate, and he only changed the sphere in which his mediatorial office was exercised. But more ; the good Shepherd is ever renewing the miracle of the five loa"es and two fishes; ever saying with reference to his people, "Give yo them to eat;" and ever appointing and qualifying suitable officers to take care of his Church and break among them the bread of life. He is ever qualifying his ministers for rulinu and feeding his flock, for filling the empty soul, speaking a word in season to the .;eary, guiding the perplexed, reclaiming the erring, strengthening the weak, supporting the feeble-minded, and sending on the ransomed of the Lord to Zion, with songs and ever- hsting joy upon their heads. The subject dhides into two-the gift-giving (vers. 7-11), and the end or purpose for which the gifts are given (vers. 12-16). In the first part w-e find: 1. The source of the gifts and the principle of distribution (ver. 7). 2. Connrmation of this from the sixty-eighth psalm (ver. 8). 3. Commentary and inferenoes therefrom (vers. 9, 10). 4. 'l'he special gift of suitable officers. L L Christ is the great Source of grace, including ordinary and extraordinary gifts (" the gift of Christ"). 2. Christ leaves no one out; to every one of us is given grace. 3. The grace was not given in equal measures to all 4. But according to the measnre of the gift of Christ. II. From the sixty-eighth psalm it appears that this proceeding was symbolized when the ark was placed on Mount Zion, when David's victories were celebrated, and a dis- tribution of gifts took place. III. The word " ascended," applied to the Son of God, implied a previous descent; for when he ascended, he went to his own home and seat ; previous to this he came down, and the apostle dwells especially on his having come down to the lower parts of the earth, such as Gethsemane, Calvary, and the grave. His was no holiday visit to earth, to green :fields, or golden palaces; "He was taken from prison and from judgment." Yet even there he triumphed over all his enemies, and now he is exalted " far above all heavens." This last expression is very remarkable, especially in the view of what modern astronomy teaches on the extent of the heavens. It is a marvellous testimony to the glory of the risen Lord. Still higher is the testimony to his glory in the pnrpose for -which he has gone on high-" that he might fill all things." The sun, in the centre of the solar cyst.em. fills that system, spreading light and heat and manifold influences to its extremest limits. All the colours that beautify earth, sea, and sky; all the heat that fosters life and gladdens living creatures of every kind; all the chemical influences that are so manifold in their effects on the economy of nature, radfate from the sun. So Christ is Sun and Centre of the infinite universe, and the universe is filled by him with heavenly influences. There are many sans, but only one Saviour ; there are many systems of worlds, according to our modern astronomy, and even firmaments of worlds, beyond the ken of our strongest instruments; but all are joined by one glorious bond; for not only have they been all formed by one Creator, but all have been "filled" by the one all-glorious Mediator-Lord. What resources does that expression, "that he might fill all things," ascribe to Christ! If he can fill all things, he can fill us ; our hearts are not easily filled; but what can be wanting to us out of such fnlness '/ IV. But from the stars we come back to the Church, and consider Christ as exalted to fill hiB Church. With this view he has qualified and commissioned certain officers to minister to his Church. Of these it is generally allowed that apostles and prophets wero special and temporary; while evangelists, pastors, and teacher~ are ordinary and per- manent (see Exposition). Observe that such men are t.o be received (and when needed to be culwi too) as gifts of Chri&t to his Church. It is the Lord of tho harvest who equii- and furnishes labonrere for his harvest. We should not seek ministers of the g'lSpcl, as some do, for onr own pleasure or credit, rejecting them if they do not_ quite ar:iswer our idea; but aa gifts of Christ, in which their great object will be to build up L.is Church and promote the beauty of his bride. Vere. 12-16.-<Jhri&t', gift• to hitJ Ohurch: llieir end or pwrpose. L Generally, ea. rv. 1-82.] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 157