18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
18 you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights!
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
19 Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
(Read Ephesians 3:13-19)
The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness, may be said to be filled with the fulness of God. Should not this satisfy man? Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 3:18
Commentary on Ephesians 3:13-19
(Read Ephesians 3:13-19)
The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness, may be said to be filled with the fulness of God. Should not this satisfy man? Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness?