Ephesians 1:18
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I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
understanding--The oldest manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read "heart." Compare the contrary state of unbelieving, the heart being in fault (Eph 4:18; Mat 13:15). Translate, "Having the eyes of your heart enlightened" (Eph 5:14; Mat 4:16). The first effect of the Spirit moving in the new creation, as in the original physical creation (Gen 1:3; Co2 4:6). So THEOPHILUS to AUTOLYCUS (1.3), "the ears of the heart." Where spiritual light is, there is life (Joh 1:4). The heart is "the core of life" [HARLESS], and the fountain of the thoughts; whence "the heart" in Scripture includes the mind, as well as the inclination. Its "eye," or inward vision, both receives and contemplates the light (Mat 6:22-23). The eye is the symbol of intelligence (Eze 1:18). the hope of his calling--the hope appertaining to His having called you; or, to the calling wherewith He has called you. and--omitted in the oldest manuscripts and versions. riches of the glory-- (Col 1:27). his inheritance in the saints--The inheritance which he has in store in the case of the saints. I prefer explaining, "The inheritance which He has in his saints." (See on Eph 1:11; Deu 32:9).
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. The introduction to the whole epistle, which is much the same as in others (Eph 1:1, Eph 1:2). II. The apostle's thanksgivings and praises to God for his inestimable blessings bestowed on the believing Ephesians (Eph 1:3-14). III. His earnest prayers to God in their behalf (Eph 1:15-23). This great apostle was wont to abound in prayers and in thanksgivings to almighty God, which he generally so disposes and orders that at the same time they carry with them and convey the great and important doctrines of the Christian religion, and the most weighty instructions to all those who seriously peruse them.
Open source ↗1:18 Confident hope for believers is the anticipation of Christ’s return and his future blessings that they will share. Joined with Christ, believers become joint heirs with him of all God’s promised blessings.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,
so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.