Chapter 4, verses 5 to 12 (cont’d.)
We may well linger over verse 7: “But to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Christ.”
It is nothing but unmerited favor that any of us are enabled, even in the smallest measure, to serve the Lord. The source is in Him, and the “measure” is in Him, too. Nothing is left to man’s ordering, nor to the choice of the individual saint. All is of Christ, and His giving.
The next verse is quoted from Psalm 68, verse 18. There it is Israel’s blessing that is in view, while here it is the heavenly saints that are looked at as receiving from the ascended Lord. He has led captivity captive; the power of man and of Satan, though apparently victorious at the cross of Christ, actually met with complete and final defeat there, though the evidence of it has been revealed only to the heavenly saints as yet.
“By weakness and defeat
He won the mead and crown;
Trod all our foes beneath his feet
By being trodden down.
“Bless, bless the Conqueror slain,
Slain in His victory,
Who lived, Who died, Who lives again
For Thee, His church, for thee.”
And as ascended, He has given gifts to men—the gifts which are the subject of this portion of chapter 4. “But that He ascended,” (the Holy Spirit adds what had no place in the Psalm) “what is it but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same who has also ascended up above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.”
Our blessing is founded upon His having died; the descent spoken of was not only from heavenly scenes to earth, when He took His place as a man among men, but further, and necessarily, the sacrifice of Himself, brought Him into death, here expressed as His going into the “lower parts of the earth.”
“Lord, e’en to death Thy love could go,
A death of shame and loss,
To vanquish for us every foe,
And break the strong man’s force.”
So the believer sings in a well-known hymn. In Philippians 2 we have those precious words that speak of the blessed Lord’s descent from heavenly glory (verses 5 to 8), followed at once by, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him. . .” The one who stooped so low, has ascended up above all the heavens, as our chapter here declares, “that He might fill all things.”
And from the height of glory He has given gifts to men. The passage in Psalm 68 refers directly to the blessing of restored Israel in the Millennium, but in Ephesians 4 the reference is to the heavenly body yet here on earth, and its present blessing. To it the Lord has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds, and teachers.
The difference between verse 11, and 1 Corinthians 12:2828And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28) engages our interest. The earlier and longer list is of gifts made to the assembly at its beginnings, as we may readily see by turning to Acts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14 and later chapters. The shorter list in Ephesians 4 gives what were to remain when miracles were no longer needed in the work of the Lord. It would be difficult to believe that today, when the gospel has had free course for centuries, there would be souls brought out of darkness into light that now gives no heed to the story of a Saviour’s love.
Apostles were provided at the church’s foundation, and shortly afterward, and we have their inspired ministry forming a large portion of the New Testament.
Prophets were raised up from time to time as they were needed, particularly in the days of the beginning, when much of the New Testament was not yet in written form. See them referred to in Acts 11:27-28; 13:1; 21:1027And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Acts 11:27‑28)
1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1)
10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. (Acts 21:10), and 1 Corinthians 14. Prophets were not limited by God in Old Testament or New to the foretelling of future events; we see them telling the mind of God as occasion arose.
Evangelists, gifted by the Lord for the telling out of the way of salvation, are mentioned in Acts 21:88And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. (Acts 21:8) and 2 Timothy 4:55But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5). In the second passage Timothy was told, though not an evangelist, to do the work of one. This many of the children of God do, on occasion. Charles Stanley, whose “C. S. Tracts” are still on sale, was greatly used of God in the gospel in England during the later years of the nineteenth century.
Shepherds and Teachers are closely related; surely it is not without purpose that shepherds are named first. Read John 21:1515So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15) and following, in regard to Peter’s work. For convenient reference the passage is quoted from J. N. Darby’s excellent translation;
“When therefore they had dined, Jesus says to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He says to Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I am attached to Thee. He says to him, Feed My lambs. He says to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He says to Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I am attached to Thee. He says to him, Shepherd My sheep. He says to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, art thou attached to me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, Art thou attached to Me? and said to Him, Lord Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I am attached to Thee. Jesus says to Him, Feed My sheep.”
Caring for Christ’s “lambs” and “sheep,” was then to be Peter’s work. See 1 Peter 5:1-41The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:1‑4), and for that matter the whole of both epistles, wherein Peter showed that he had not forgotten his instructions about shepherding the flock of God.
Of “teachers” we read in Acts 11:26; 13:126And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1) and 18:23,28, and many other passages, but the epistles are full of teaching without which believers would be left in much ignorance of God’s truth.
Well, all this that we have been looking into is what the ascended Lord has provided for His people with three distinct purposes in view (verse 12):
“For the perfecting of the saints.” “Perfect” in the Scriptures means full grown. See Hebrews 5:13-1413For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13‑14) where the same word in the original is translated “of full age.” This looks at us individually: the Lord would have us each growing through knowledge of His Word into likeness to Himself which we shall attain, as we are expressly told in verse 13.
“With a view to the work of the ministry.” Divine wisdom has provided all the “machinery,” shall we say, that the body of Christ needs in its operation. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers, each performing the portion of the care of the body that falls to him, leave no room or need for the cumbersome, humanly devised systems of what is called church government. Let the Lord have His way, which has been proved to be sufficient for every need by those who are willing to give up man’s provisions.
“The work of the ministry” left to Him, assures the needed workers to carry on for the blessing of His people, beside giving Him the honor and glory that are rightly His.
“With a view to the edifying of the body of Christ.” The building up of the body, including all of the members. What tender solicitude is here, on the part of the risen and ascended Lord, for His much-loved people! May our hearts be more and more exercised, seeking His approval in all things.