Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse and explication 13
Vers. 14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15. Of whom the whole familie in heaven and earth is named.
THe Apostle doth now follow forth the second part of the Chapter, which was begun, ver. 1. and interrupted by a digression untill this verse, for such reason, as was given, ver. 2. And in this part of the Chapter (while he giveth a sum of his fervent prayers to God for them, that they might persevere and grow in the faith and experimentall knowledge of the Doctrine of Salvation delivered by them) he doth not only give an evident testimony of his sincere affection and endeavour after their salvation; but also laboureth hereby to beget the like ardency of affection in them, and so doth (indirectly at least, though most pithily) by the example of his prayers, excite them to persevere and make progresse in the experimentall knowledge of, and communion with Jesus Christ.
In this prayer there is, first, a preface in those verses wherein he doth, 1. repeat the occasion of his prayer, which was mentioned, ver. 1-. and doth relate, as I there shew, unto the close of chap. 2. even because they were already builded by faith upon Christ. 2. He denominateth his prayer from the outward gesture he used therein, bowing of the knee, thereby expressing the humble, reverent frame of his heart in prayer. And, 3. he sheweth unto whom he did pray, to wit, God the Father, described, first, from His relation to Jesus Christ, as chap. 1. ver. 17- This is the sum of verse 14. Secondly, from his relation to His Church, as being the Father by Adoption of the whole Church of the truly regenerate, whether triumphant in heaven, or militant upon earth, whether Jew or Gentile, which is here called a family, and said to have its name from God, as being His Familie, Children, Domesticks of His houshold, and that both in name and thing, the one whereof, is not to be separated from the other, seing God bestoweth not empty names and titles upon any. Now, God is thus described with relation to the purpose in hand; for, hereby the Apostle breaketh down the arrogance of the Jews, who would have had the whole Church denominated from, and contained within the Jewish Nation, excluding the Gentiles, whom therefore Paul doth upon all occasions make equal sharers of an interest in God through Christ with the Jews; and thereby sheweth his warrand to pray for perseverance and growth in grace from God, even to them.
From Vers. 14. Learn, 1. It is the duty of Christs Ministers, as to teach and admonish the People of God committed to their charge, 2 Tim. 4. 2. So also to pray to God for them: And that not only in publick with them, as being the mouth of the People unto God, Joel 2. 17. but also in private to the Lord for them, seing their own pains cannot profit without the Lord's blessing, 1 Cor. 3. 6. which Ministers ought fervently to seek from God by prayer, else they have not ground to expect it, Ezek. 36. 37. for, Paul, as he taught these Ephesians; so he prayed for them, and that not only in publick, but also in private, as he here sheweth; For this cause I bow my knees. 2. It is of no small advantage unto the Lords People to have such a Minister as is able to pray, and accordingly doth pray pertinently, spiritually, and fervently with them and for them, By whom, as by their mouth, they may have their severall cases made known unto God more distinctly than can be expressed by many of themselves, Joel 2. 17. and they themselves are edified and instructed how to pray with the like affection and fervency, 1 Cor. 14. 19. By whose affectionate prayers unto God for them, a blessing is drawn down from heaven to make the Word preached effectual in them, Iam. 5. -16. and they themselves incited and rouzed up to seek after those good things prayed for unto them: hereby also they are comforted and encouraged, as knowing their Minister is speaking to God for them, when he is absent from them, and cannot speak unto them, Philip. 1. 4. and when they through some one distemper or other cannot deal with God for themselves, at least in any measure satisfactory to themselves, Iam. 5. 14, 15. for, as Paul's exhortation and doctrine was advantagious unto these Ephesians; So also were his fervent prayers in order to their being kept from fainting, and to their up-stirring to endeavour after those good things, which he sought from God unto them, and therefore doth he mention his praying for them in this place; For this cause I bow my knees. 3. From the Apostle's scope in making known unto them, what, and how he prayed for them, See a further note, chap. 1. ver. 17. doct. 1. I bow my knees. 4. Our prayers unto God for others, especially the prayers of a Minister for his Flock, should take their rise, not only from their wants, afflictions and sinfull infirmities, Iam. 5. 14, 15. but also from the grace and good things of God already received by them, that they may persevere and grow in them, and be preserved from abusing them, seing the graces of the best are but imperfect, 1 Cor. 13. 9. subject to decay, Rev. 3. 2—and may be abused, 2 Cor. 12. 7. for, the Apostle taketh occasion to pray for these Ephesians from the good already received by them, even their being builded already upon Christ, mentioned, chap. 2. ver. 22. unto which the words, for this cause, do relate. 5. Though we be not tied by a divine precept or Scripture-example unto any one gesture in prayer, seing the Saints have used several gestures, according to the present frame of their heart thereby expressed, 1 King. 8. 22. 2 Sam. 12. 16. Luke 18. 13. 2 Sam. 7. 18. and though God be a Spirit who will be worshipped in spirit and in truth, Joh. 4. 24. and careth not for the outward man alone, Matth. 15. 7, 8. yet, seing God craveth service both from the soul and body, as having created and redeemed both, 1 Cor. 6. 20. and seing an outward reverend gesture of the body in prayer, doth not only expresse and natively flow from a reverend frame of spirit within, from which the body is acted in other things, but also serveth to stir up the affections in prayer, as being a man's remembrancer what his heart ought to do, if he would not play the grosse hypocrite with God, therefore it is a thing needfull and convenient (if we be not otherwise restrained, Nehem. 2. 4.) to use some reverend gesture of the body while we are about the duty of prayer: for, Paul did kneel in prayer; I bow my knees, saith he. 6. We ought, especially in prayer, to draw near to God with deep reverence unto, and high esteem of, the majesty of God, being joyned with low and mean thoughts of our selves, because of our basenesse and unworthinesse, seing God honoureth them who honour Him, 1 Sam. 2. 30. and giveth grace unto the humble, Iam. 4. -6. for, Paul did evidence such a frame of heart by bowing his knees when he prayed. 7. Deep reverence of heart towards the sacred majesty of God in prayer, may well consist with faith and confident approaching unto God, as a reconciled father. Both of them ought to be joyned together in prayer: yea, and both, when they are sincere and not counterfeit, do mutually strengthen and intend one another, so that the more we put our trust in Him, the more will our hearts fear and adore Him, Psal. 130. 4. for, the Apostle exercised not only reverence in his prayer, as is already shown, but also confidence, while he taketh up God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the whole family of Believers through Him. 8. See further (concerning this title given to God with relation to Christ) upon chap. 1. ver. 3. in the exposition, and doct. 2. and ver. 17. doct. 3, 5, 6. unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
From Vers. 15. Learn, 1. As there is but one Church universal, comprehending all the Elect in all times and places, whether in heaven or earth; So all within the Church are of one kinred and linage, descending of one common father: for, he designeth the Church to be one whole family in heaven and earth: the word signifieth such a family as is the linage of one man. 2. As this one Church is Gods family and houshold; (See chap. 2. ver. 19. doct. 8.) So all the members of His Church and family are comprehended either in heaven or earth. Scripture knoweth nothing of a purgatory, or third place different from these: for, the Apostle sheweth this whole family is in heaven and earth, and named of God. 3. Those near relations, under which God doth stand towards His Church, are founded upon Jesus Christ: and all the benefits flowing from such relations, are conveyed unto the Church through Him without whom God is a consuming fire to sinners, and in whom He is a reconciled father unto Believers: for, the Apostle looketh upon God, first, as He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and next, as He is the Father of all the Elect; Of whom the whole family is named, to wit, His children, Joh. 1. 12. and domesticks, Eph. 2. 19. 4. The near relation which God hath to His Church, and His Church to Him, is sufficient ground and warrant for faith to rest upon Him, and plead with Him for supply and furniture of all grace, and of every thing needfull: for, shall not He provide for His own children, who hath pronounced those among men to be worse than infidels, who provide not for theirs? 1 Tim. 5. 8. Hence the Apostle maketh this a ground of his confidence to be answered by God in what he sought in behalf of those Ephesians, even Gods fatherly interest in them; Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.