Ephesians 4:7-11 - Homiletics

Christ's gifts to his Church.

The grand object of the apostle in this section of his Epistle is to show the ample provision made by Christ for the welfare of his Church. The Church may sing as well as the individual, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." The particular object is to indicate that the gifts conferred by him on the members individually ( Ephesians 4:7-10 ), and especially the appointment of the several classes of office-bearers ( Ephesians 4:10 ), show the Lord's earnest desire to raise his Church to the highest possible condition of grace and honor; to make her complete and glorious, as the one body of which he is the Head, the one vessel into which he is to pour all his fullness, the bride on whom he is to exhaust every ornament. The marks of Christ's care for his Church are innumerable; they recede back through all eternity and forward for evermore ( Ephesians 3:18 , Ephesians 3:19 ). His death marked the climax of his self-sacrifice; but even that did not end Christ's service for his Church. For her he not only descended from heaven to earth, but for her too he reascended from earth to heaven; 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 loaves and two fishes; ever saying with reference to his people, "Give ye 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 ruling and feeding his flock, for filling the empty soul, speaking a word in season to the weary, 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 everlasting joy upon their heads. The subject divides into two—the gift-giving ( Ephesians 4:7-11 ), and the end or purpose for which the gifts are given ( Ephesians 4:12-16 ). In the first part we find:

1. The source of the gifts and the principle of distribution ( Ephesians 4:7 ).

2. Confirmation of this from the sixty-eighth psalm ( Ephesians 4:8 ).

3. Commentary and inferences therefrom ( Ephesians 4:9 , Ephesians 4:10 ).

4. The special gift of suitable officers.

I.

1. 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 measure 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 distribution 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 modem astronomy teaches on the extent of the heavens. It is a marvelous testimony to the glory of the risen Lord. Still higher is the testimony to his glory in the purpose for which he has gone on high—"that he might fill all things." The sun, in the center of the solar system, fills that system, spreading light and heat and manifold influences to its extremest limits. All the colors 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, radiate from the sun. So Christ is Sun and Center of the infinite universe, and the universe is filled by him with heavenly influences. There are many suns, but only one Savior; 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 thins, he can fill us; our hearts are not easily filled; but what can be wanting to us out of such fullness?

IV. But from the stars we come back to the Church, and consider Christ as exalted to fill his 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 were special and temporary; while evangelists, pastors, and teachers are ordinary and permanent (see Exposition). Observe that such men are to be received (and when needed to be asked too) as gifts of Christ to his Church. It is the Lord of the harvest who equips and furnishes laborers for his harvest. We should not seek ministers of the gospel, as some do, for our own pleasure or credit, rejecting them if they do not quite answer our idea; but as gifts of Christ, in which their great object will be to build up his Church and promote the beauty of his bride.