BLESSED BE THE LORD (EPHESIANS 1)
If you have seen Fiddler on the Roof, you may remember that the rabbi of the tiny Jewish community in Russia was asked by a student concerning a blessing for the Tzar of Russia. With the song “Tradition” playing in the background, the student came up to the beloved rabbi, the town’s most important person, and asked him how to Pray for the powerful Tzar: “Rabbi ( Rabbi), may I ask you a question?” “Of course, Leibesh” the rabbi replied. “Is there a proper blessing for the Tzar?” Everybody can’t help but roared in laughter when the Rabbi said, “A blessing for the Tzar? Of course. May God bless and keep the Tzar…far away from us!”
The ancient Jewish greeting “Shalom, aleichem” or “Shalom, peace to you” is one of the most ancient of blessings.
Paul founded the church in Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21) and spent three years there (Acts 20:31), but his correspondence was from the jail:
“I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles” (Eph 3:1)
“As a prisoner for the Lord” (Eph 4:1)
“I am an ambassador in chains” (Eph 6:20)
My good friend and colleague preached an excellent message on Ephesians 2 two months ago (Nov 12, 2023) that made me envious, so I asked him, Why didn’t you preach chapter 1?” He said, “because it’s too hard!
Chapter 1 in the Greek text, are two long sentences (1:3-14, 15-23), of which the first is considered by some scholars to be the most cumbersome sentence in the Greek language and probably the longest sentence in the Bible. The other six lengthy sentences in Ephesians in chapters 2, 3, 4 and 6 (2:1-7; 3:1-13, 14-19; 4:1-7, 11-16; 6:14-20).
How are we bless to the Lord, how does the Lord bless us and how are we to bless others?
Praise in Testimony
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.
The 2023 Commercial Radio Ultimate Song Chart Awards took place on the first day of the 2024 New Year. The prestigious Ultimate Song Chart Awards were bestowed upon the most celebrated stars of the Hong Kong music scene. The surprised winner of the coveted Favourite Male Singer of the year chosen by fans was not the MIRROR trio of Keung To, Ian Lo or and Ian, but Hins Cheung, as the in the coveted “Ultimate Song Chart” category.
Hins Cheung came from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and toiled for 23 years. When he won the Hong Kong favourite male singer for 2023, he said, “So I’m going to give the trophy (jiang bei) and all glory and praise to my Heavenly Father!”
Have you been grateful for what has been done for you?
Paul began with the adjective “blessed”(v 3, eu-logetos or “well-speaking”), the verb “bless” (eu-logeo) and the noun “blessing” (eu-logia). Our blessedness comes from His work in the past – “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (vv 4-6) What is blessed? Blessed means acclamation, admiration and appreciation for who He is and what He has done. The past refers to “before the creation of the world” (v 4). God has chosen us before there was heaven and earth. The purpose was to be holy and blameless. The duo purpose to be “holy and blameless” occurs twice in the book (1:4, 5:27). Holy is to be clean before God, blameless is to have character before others.
Holiness is the foremost attribute of God, so we as His children must conform to Him. Without blame is also translated as without blemish (Eph 5:27), without rebuke (Phil 2:15), unblameable (Col 1:22), without spot (Heb 9:14) and faultless (Jude 24). Holy is within but blameless is with others. Blameless is under scrutiny. Holy is the attribute and blameless is in the action. Holy is in the being, blameless is in the behavior. Curiously, Paul added “in love” to “holy and blameless,” which is mystifying and miffing. Why so? Because love balances holy and blameless. Holy and blameless when short, is legalistic, when done for it’s sake. How is love linked? Because we are now sons and daughters of God. The contrast with holy and blameless is love and grace (v 6). Grace is double dose in verse 6 as “given” is grace in the verb form. The outcome is to the praise of His glorious grace.
Verse 7 is the present tense. In Him (Christ) we HAVE redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. How is salvation and redemption different? Salvation is general, redemption is in the language of the marketplace, merchandize and material goods. Redemption comes at a cost, and the cost is the blood of Christ. Redemption is the penalty, price and payment for sins. Redemption is cutting loose - freeing the person forgiving and forsaking the debt. The root word is “loose.” Forgiveness of sins is the outcome. Sins (paraptoma) is not the usual theological sin, but the practical “failings” in Greek.
The phrase “His glory” (vv 6, 12, 14) occurs more in this chapter than any chapter in the Bible, including the Old Testament. Three times record the result is “to the praise of His glory.”
The future is called “fullness” of times to “put into effect” (v 10, ana-kephalaiomai) all things together in Christ. The translations of the main verb (ana-kephalaiomai) include “gather together” (KJV), “the summing up” (NASU, “to unite” (ESV), “to bring everything together” (Holman) and “brought together and summed up in him” (The Message). Technically speaking, the verb “put into effect” (ana-kephalaiomai) is derived from the preposition “up” (ana) and the body part of the “head” (kephale), so “put into effect” (v 10) can mean “to head up” all things. It implies His lordship and leadership, sovereignty and supremacy, mastery and might.
Pray in Thanksgiving
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 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.
Here is Snoopy’s new week blessings:
Prayer on Monday.
Peace on Tuesday.
God’s favor on Wednesday.
A thankful heart on Thursday.
Supportive friends on Friday.
Simplicity on Saturday.
Joy and praise in your soul on Sunday.
Like his thanksgiving while imprisoned in Colosse (1:3-4), Paul gave thanks to God for the Ephesians’ faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints (vv 15-16). Paul’s hard times in prison did not obsess him, oppress him or obstruct him from living a life of thanksgiving and prayer. Unlike us, Paul was not desperate, depressed not doubted.
The grand purpose in Paul’s prayer (v 17 hina subjunctive) was for God to give them a spirit of wisdom (sophia) and revelation (apokalupsis) in the knowledge (epignosis) of Him. What is t e difference betweemwisdom, revelation and knowledge (v 17)? DTS professor Harold Hoehner says “wisdom gives insight into the true nature of things, and ‘revelation’ is the unveiling of the object discussed, namely, God Himself.” Wisdom is the discernment while revelation is the disclosure and knowledge is the doctrine. Wisdom is the undertaking, whereas revelation is the unveiling and knowledge is understanding. Wisdom is active, but revelation is passive and knowledge is directive.
Wisdom Revelation Knowledge
Undertaking Unveiling Understanding
Discernment Disclosure Doctrine
Active Passive Directive
This knowledge (v 17) his upon-knowledge (epi-gnosis) not merely knowledge (gnosis). The heretical Gnostics believed that they were privy to a secret knowledge about the divine. The result of his knowledge is to know three things: is to know three things: the hope of calling – our promise, the riches of his inheritance in the saints – our possessions, and the exceeding greatness of his power – our power and importance/immensity (KJV). The first (hope) is assurance and guarantee, the second (riches) is abundance and generosity, and the last is authority and greatness. It makes us more confident, content and complete in Him. There is no lack of knowledge but lack of acknowledgement.
The hope of calling The riches of his inheritance in the saints The exceeding greatness of his power
Promise (pledge) Possessions (provisions) Power (pre-eminence)
Assurance Abundance Authority
Guarantee Generosity Greatness
Proclaim in Triumph
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
“He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.
“While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
"Nineteen (now 20) long centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all of the armies that have ever marched, all of the navies that were ever built, all of the parliaments that ever sat and all of the kings that have ever reigned put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.”
Verses 22-23 has tree body parts: feet, head and body. The verb “placed” (hupo-tasso) and the preposition “under” (hupo) is a repetition of the preposition “hupo” or “under,” so it is insistent, intensive and impassioned. Oher translations for “place…under” (hupo-tasso) are “subject” (Luke 2:51), “to be under obedience” (1 Cor 14:34) and “submit” (Rom 10:3). It is the same for wives who submit herself to her husband (Col 3:18).
The exact phrase “under the feet” occurs in three other instances:
Rom 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” The meaning of crush is bruising, broken and busted.
1 Cor 15:25 “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” This implies toppling, treading and trampling all rule, authority and power in the context (1 Cor 15:24)
Feet and head are contrast, as in one at the bottom and the other on top, one low and the other high, one down and the other up. Feet can be degrading, damaging and defenseless. It is not aromatic, appetizing, attractive, appealing or even acceptable in some cultures.
Head means commanding, charging, commissioning, eg. head a company, a commission or committee. Head can mean peak, primary, and principal. The preposition “over” (huper) as in “head” + “OVER” is the contrast to “under” (hupo). Over means power, preeminence and predominance.
Body refers to His fullness in all. The repetition in verses 22 and 23 are “him,” “his” and “all” + “all.” There are four “all” in two short verses: “all” things, “everything” (v 22), “everything” and “every” way. I call this the full-length repetition. The phrase “in Christ” occurs five times in the chapter (1:1, 3, 10, 12, 20), more than any chapter in the Bible. The term “Christ” occurs 10 times (vv 1 twice, 2, 3, 10, 12, 15, 1,7 20). Christ is our identity, intermediary and importance.
Conclusion: It’s been said, “No matter how stressed you are, remember how blessed you are!” Here are our five blessings in Christ:
Believing Christ
Loving God
Enduring persecution
Serving others
Sharing blessings
