Ephesians 3:18-21: The Love of Christ that Surpasses Understanding
Introduction
How can we begin to grasp the boundless love of Christ? Ephesians 3:18-21 offers us a glimpse into this divine mystery.
In Ephesians 3:18-21, the Apostle Paul takes us to the heart of the Christian faith—the immeasurable, transformative love of Christ. This love isn’t just a theological concept or a warm sentiment; it’s a divine reality that surpasses human understanding and reshapes our lives. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians—and for us—is that we might “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18, NRSV). This love is vast, infinite, and all-encompassing, yet it’s also deeply personal, reaching into the core of who we are.
As we explore this passage, we’ll uncover the dimensions of Christ’s love, its transformative power, and how it calls us to live lives filled with the fullness of God. We’ll also connect this prayer to other key scriptures, such as Philippians, 1 John, and Luke, to deepen our understanding of what it means to experience and live out this divine love.
Ephesians 3:18-21 Commentary: The Immeasurable Love of Christ
The Dimensions of Christ’s Love (Ephesians 3:18)
Paul begins by praying that the Ephesians might “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”(Ephesians 3:18). These dimensions—breadth, length, height, and depth—paint a picture of a love that is boundless and infinite. It’s a love that stretches beyond the limits of human comprehension, reaching into every corner of our lives and the universe.
Clinton E. Arnold, in his Ephesians commentary, notes that these dimensions are not just poetic language; they reflect the all-encompassing nature of Christ’s love. This love is wide enough to embrace all people, long enough to endure through all time, high enough to reach the heavens, and deep enough to heal the darkest parts of our hearts. It’s a love that defies measurement and invites us into a lifelong journey of discovery.
This idea of Christ’s surpassing love is echoed in Philippians 3:8, where Paul declares, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” For Paul, the love of Christ is not just one aspect of his faith; it’s the central reality that transforms everything. It’s a love that redefines our priorities, our relationships, and our purpose.
Knowing the Love That Surpasses Knowledge (Ephesians 3:19)
Paul’s prayer takes a profound turn as he asks that the Ephesians might “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). At first glance, this seems paradoxical—how can we know something that surpasses knowledge? But Paul isn’t talking about intellectual understanding; he’s pointing to an experiential, heart-deep knowledge of Christ’s love.
Andrew T. Lincoln, in the Word Biblical Commentary, explains that this kind of knowing is relational. It’s not about mastering a concept but about encountering a Person. To know Christ’s love is to experience it in the depths of our being, to feel its transformative power, and to allow it to shape our lives. This love isn’t something we can fully grasp with our minds, but it’s something we can experience and live out every day.
This experiential knowing is also highlighted in 1 John 4:16, where John writes, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.” John isn’t talking about abstract belief; he’s describing a lived reality. As we walk in relationship with Christ, we come to know his love not just as a doctrine but as a living, breathing force that changes us from the inside out.
Filled with the Fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)
Paul’s prayer reaches its climax as he asks that the Ephesians might “be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). This is an extraordinary request—to be filled with the very essence of God. It speaks to the ultimate goal of the Christian life: to be conformed to the image of Christ, to become vessels of God’s love and grace in the world.
Harold W. Hoehner, in his Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary, emphasizes that being filled with the fullness of God is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. It’s about allowing Christ’s love to permeate every area of our lives, transforming our thoughts, actions, and relationships. This fullness overflows into the world, impacting everyone we encounter. Essentially, Paul is praying for their sanctification, the continued work of God in our hearts over the course of our lives.
This idea of being filled with God’s love is echoed in Philippians 1:9-11, where Paul prays that the Philippians’ love “may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” The love of Christ is not meant to be kept to ourselves; it’s meant to overflow, touching the lives of others and bringing glory to God.
What Does Ephesians 3:18-21 Mean for Us Today?
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-21 is a call to all believers to dive deeper into the love of Christ. It’s an invitation to move beyond intellectual understanding and into experiential knowing, allowing Christ’s love to transform us and fill us with the fullness of God.
1. Christ’s Love Is Beyond Measure
The dimensions of Christ’s love remind us that his love is infinite and all-encompassing. No matter what we’re facing—whether joy or sorrow, success or failure—Christ’s love reaches us. It’s a love that never runs out, never gives up, and never lets go.
2. True Knowing Is Experiential
Paul’s prayer challenges us to move beyond head knowledge and into heart knowledge. To truly know Christ’s love is to experience it in our daily lives, allowing it to shape our thoughts, actions, and relationships.
3. We Are Called to Be Filled with God’s Fullness
Being filled with the fullness of God is the ultimate goal of the Christian life. It’s about becoming vessels of God’s love and grace, allowing his love to overflow into the world around us.
Key Takeaways from Ephesians 3:18-21
The Vastness of Christ’s Love: Christ’s love is immeasurable—its breadth, length, height, and depth surpass all understanding.
Experiencing the Love of Christ: True knowledge of Christ’s love is not intellectual but experiential; it transforms our hearts.
Filled with the Fullness of God: As we know and experience Christ’s love, we are filled with the fullness of God, empowering us to live out his will in the world.
Practical Application: Living Out Ephesians 3:18-21
How can we apply this passage to our daily lives? Here are three practical steps:
Meditate on Christ’s Love. Spend time reflecting on the dimensions of Christ’s love. Let its vastness remind you of God’s infinite care for you.
Seek Experiential Knowing. Pray for a deeper, heart-level experience of Christ’s love. Ask God to reveal his love in tangible ways in your life.
Let Love Overflow. As you experience Christ’s love, look for ways to share it with others. Let your life be a reflection of God’s love and grace.
Final Thoughts: A Prayer for Us Today
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-21 is a timeless reminder of the boundless love of Christ. It’s a love that surpasses knowledge, transforms our hearts, and fills us with the fullness of God. As we reflect on this passage, may we be inspired to dive deeper into the love of Christ, allowing it to shape every aspect of our lives.
