Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 4 · Verse and explication 8
Vers. 8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
THe Apostle, secondly, in this first branch of the second generall argument for union, from the diversity of gifts, doth confirm, from Psal. 68. 18. what he presently said, that Christ is the author and bestower of all graces and gifts with their different measures. In which place of the Psalm, David doth look through the ark, a type and shadow, to Christ the substance, and in a prophetical way, speaking of things to come as already past, to point-out the certainty of their performance, he doth foretell that Christ should, in a triumphant manner, ascend up on high, or unto the heighest heavens (See ver. 10.) and that at, and by vertue of His ascension, He should, first, lead captivity captive, that is, as he had upon the crosse foiled His many enemies, and begun to triumph over them, Col. 2. 15. So in His ascension He should continue the triumph, evidently declaring, that He had given a totall rout to all the spiritual enemies of His Church and Kingdom. The expression used to set forth this purpose, hath in it an allusion to conquerors, who, in their triumphing solemnities, used to drive their captive enemies before their own triumphant chariots. See this expression used in the same sense, Judg. 5. 12. And, secondly, following the same allusion to triumphing conquerors, who used to divide and scatter the spoil, and other magnificent gifts among the applauding Citizens and Souldiers, he sheweth that Christ should at, and by vertue of His ascension, pour-forth and distribute a large measure of gifts and graces upon His Church and severall members thereof: which prophesie, the Apostle, citing the place with some variation of the words, but keeping close to the sense and purpose, doth shew, was now fulfilled by Christ; and consequently, that Christ is the bestower of all graces and gifts with their different measures, as was affirmed, ver. 7. Doct. 1. Ministers ought to hold forth nothing for truth, or presse nothing as duty upon the Lords people but what they may confirm and prove to be such from the authority of God speaking in Scripture: yea, and it is their duty sometimes to bring forward their proof, by making expresse mention of it: for, thus doth Paul confirm what he spake, ver. 7. by a testimony cited from the Psalms; Wherefore he saith, that is, David, or the Spirit of God, speaking by David, saith. 2. As there was much of Christ revealed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, though but darkly, and under a vail of types and ceremonial shadows; So He was revealed and spoken-of in those Scriptures as true God and Jehovah: for, that which is said, Psal. 68. was spoken of God, even Jehovah, as appeareth from ver. 4. and all alongst, which Paul sheweth here was fulfilled in Christ; Wherefore be saith, he hath ascended, &c. 3. Though the very words and phrase of Scripture, are much to be thought of and closely adhered unto so far as is possible; lest by our unnecessary casting of Scripture-purpose in an affected strain of words unknown to Scripture, we lose at length the purpose with the words, 2 Tim. 1. 13. Yet, the sense and meaning of Scripture, is mainly to be sought-after and kept in remembrance, so that though we do not call to mind the very words of such a Scripture, but only the sense, meaning and purpose of it, we may draw comfort, or information from it, or make use of it otherwayes: for, the Apostle here, as oft elsewhere, doth not so much adhere to the precise words, as to the sense of that Scripture which he cites, in so far as where in the Psalm it is said, Thou hast ascended, and received gifts for men, to wit, He received them to be given to men, it is here, When He ascended, and gave gifts unto men. 4. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having finished the work which was given Him to do on earth, Joh. 17. 4. did locally ascend unto heaven, carrying His humane nature up thither, Act. 1. 9. 10. that so He might be exalted in that glory, which He had before the world was, Joh. 17. 5. and take possession of heaven in our name, Eph. 2. 6. and there prepare a place for us, Joh. 14. 2. for, saith he, When He ascended up on high. 5. As Christ did engage in a warfare on our behalf with many strong and potent enemies, to wit, the devil, the world, sin, death and hell; So He hath carried the day of all, and gained an absolute compleat victory over all, in so far, as, though the Godly must have a battel with these, Eph. 6. 12. yet Christ the Head of Believers, is now above the reach of hazard from enemies, and consequently Believers in their Head: yea, and they themselves are above all hazard also, in so far as all their enemies cannot mar their salvation, Rom. 8. 35, &c. Sin and Satan doth not reign in them, Rom. 6. 12, 14. death hath lost its sting towards them, 1 Cor. 15. 55. and become a passage unto life, Philip. 1. 23. for, by this captivity, which Christ led captive, is meaned not those whom He delivered from captivity, but whom He fought against, brought in captivity, and triumphed over, even all His and our spiritual enemies; He led captivity (or, a multitude of captives) captive. 6. The constant opposition, which Satan raiseth against the Church and Kingdom of Christ, doth not so much flow from any principle of hope in him to prevail in that wofull work, as from his inveterate blinded malice against the salvation of sinners, so that he cannot but malign and oppose it, though he know he cannot mar it: for, at Christs ascension he could not but know, that by all his malicious cruel actings against Christ, he had effectuate nothing but his own eternal shame and confusion, seing that Christ did thereby openly declare He had led captivity captive. 7. As those, for whom Christ did purchase any good or advantage by His death, and did manifest His purchasing good for them by His ascension, were men, and not devils; So not only saving graces, which are given to the Elect only, but also common gifts, are a part of His purchase, which are given sometimes to reprobates for the good and edification of His Church, Matth. 7. 22, 23. for, both these are comprehended here under gifts, which being purchased by His death, He did at His ascension in a larger measure than formerly give unto men, and to men indefinitly, even to rebels, Psal. 68. -18.