PAUL’S BENEDICTION TO THE EPHESIAN BELIEVERS
Ephesians 6:18-24
Introduction: The letter to the church at Ephesus comes to a close with the verses under consideration. It is easy to forget that Paul is in prison, evidently in Rome (Eph. 6:20). This oversight is understandable, given that he only mentions his living quarters (“in bonds,” i.e., prison) and does not mention the difficulties he encountered there. Paul spent a large part of his ministry in prison after his third missionary journey. The only time we are given any information about Paul in prison is the account by Luke, the physician (Col. 4:14), where he describes the treatment Paul and Silas suffered when arrested in Philippi and they were cast into prison (Acts 16:19ff) because of Paul casting an evil spirit out of a damsel. This caused the city rulers to take Paul and Silas into custody and brought them to the magistrate demanding they be beaten (Acts. 16:16-22) and they “laid many stripes on them” and following, they were cast into prison (Acts 16:23). There Luke stated they “made their feet fast in the stocks” (Acts 16:24). This is the event where Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God being “heard by the prisoners” (Acts 16:25) and suddenly there was a great earthquake and all the prison doors were opened, every man’s “bands were loosed” (Acts 16:26). Only Luke gives any information on how Paul was treated in prison. Paul only mentioned that he was in “bonds” and never spoke of the treatment. It was common knowledge in Paul’s day that a Roman Prison was not a place to be. The treatment of prisoners was barbaric. Yet Paul says nothing about those things. He has two messages at the close of this epistle. One is his boldness to proclaim the gospel (Eph. 6:19) and that he might encourage and comfort the believers in Ephesus (Eph. 6:22-23). This leads us to the passage to be explored, Ephesians 6:18-23.
- Paul, Ambassador in Bonds, Ephesians 6:18, 20a. As mentioned above, Paul never expressed any of the atrocities he experienced in prison. Only Luke, the physician, told of the treatment Paul and Silas experienced in prison at Philippi. His description of them being beaten, “many stripes” (Acts 16:23) and placed their “feet fast in the stocks” (Acts 16:24). Many saints were put in prison. The first person to be placed in prison is Joseph in Genesis. Gideon in Judges, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Peter and John, and of course Paul and Silas. That demonstrates that there was opposition to the things of God by those in authority. The significant thing here, though, is not Paul’s imprisonment, but his desire to be a witness of the gospel. He makes the point that he prays for “all the saints.” It does not appear that he was talking just about the believers in Ephesus, but “all saints.” When a person is in prison, they often have idle time, and Paul was interested in not wasting any time on trivial things, but the two that mattered to him deeply. One, writing to the believers he had witnessed to of eternal life in Jesus Christ, and two, the churches he was instrumental in giving physical life to. Paul wrote thirteen books which are in the New Testament. Seven of those were to churches, the same number written to by Jesus in Revelation. If authorship of Hebrews is attributed to Paul, he would be author of fourteen books of the New Testament (see footnote 2 on page 1). That would be over half of the entire New Testament, since there are twenty-six books in total. Paul was not just an evangelist; he was an intercessor. It was pointed out earlier in Ephesians 6:18 that he not only prayed for all the saints, but all the churches. He told the church in Rome “I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Rom. 1:9). He told the Corinthians “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil. . . ” (1 Cor. 13:7). He told the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 1:16, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. He told the church at Philippi, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all. . .” (Phil. 1:4). The church at Colosse was told “For this cause we also. . .do not cease to pray for you. . .” (Col. 1:9). The church at Thessalonica was told “Wherefore also we pray always for you. . .” (2 Thess. 1:11). Prayer should be a priority for every believer. It is considered a part of the “spiritual weapons” found in vss. 11-17. Most do not consider this aspect of prayer. Jesus had some things to say about prayer. He said in Luke 18:1 (KJV) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Paul spoke in other places about prayer. He said in Romans 12:12 (KJV) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. The word “instant” here has the meaning of “something that takes place immediately and without delay.” Paul told the church at Philippi in Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. He told the church at Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing. HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE?
- Paul, Announcer of the Mystery of the Gospel, Ephesians 6:19-20b. Paul had an urgent desire to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as stated in Ephesians 6:19-20. Initially, he called it the “mystery.” Look at Ephesians 3:3-5 (KJV) 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. When you look at (Eph. 6:19) contains a word mentioned in Ephesians 3:3-5 and did not want anyone to consider that he has fabricated this word. It came to him by “revelation” from God. According to Ephesians 3:5 it was not known in time past. Paul told the Romans about this mystery in Romans 16:25-26. This is evidence that this is a “new” dispensation that was given to Paul, and it was substantiated by the books he wrote to the churches. In Ephesians 6 he concludes his prayer in vs. 18, then in vs. 19 he begins with the phrase “And for me. . .” The construction suggests that Paul is requesting prayer for himself. He was not restrained to ask the churches to pray for him (see Col. 4:3; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1). There are some aspects of this passage that prayer is another piece of the armour of God. John Phillips suggests that Satan does not fear “weak and stammering believers.” He states that Satan, “. . .fears the simple fact that a needy child of God is at the mighty throne of God.” Another way to look at this is that Paul is asking, that utterance may be given unto me. . .” (vs. 19). Paul had a huge burden to proclaim the gospel to as many people as he could. Note his addition in vs. 19, “that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.” Our pastor, Daniel Green, has caught the burden of Paul in exhorting all in the congregation of Eastland Baptist Church to have the desire to be bold in our witnessing. We never know when a person will be open to hearing the “good news” of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, which secured eternal life for all who would receive Christ as their personal Saviour (read Prov. 25:25). It is significant that Paul was bold in his witness of what Jesus Christ had done for him. The word “boldly” is attributed to Paul in Acts 9:27, 29; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8. Paul’s burden of getting the gospel to as many as possible cannot be overemphasized. Moving to Ephesians 6:20, it reveals Paul’s idea that he was an “ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” He did not see witnessing as a privilege, although it was that, but he saw it as a responsibility. Maybe we could use a dose of that responsibility. Paul was a Roman prisoner, and there is an interesting statement about his condition when he first came to Rome under a guard and other prisoners. It says in Acts 28:16 (KJV) And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. He had some liberty for two years according to Acts 28:30-31 (KJV) 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. He was given some special freedom for these two years. We are not told anything about what transpired after this. Tradition says that Rome beheaded Paul, yet there is no record of things following this. When Paul was tried in Jerusalem by Festus and Agrippa, he was declared innocent by Agrippa and would have been set free, but was sent to Rome because he appealed to Caesar (Acts 26:25, 32). The fact that tradition indicates Rome executed him is an indication that this occurred because he was a Christian and preaching Christ there in prison. The account in Ephesians 6 suggests he had been preaching Christ in a more confined environment. He was so desirous to see people come to Christ that he preached to anyone who came his way, including Roman guards.
- III.Paul, Advocate of the People, Ephesians 6:21-23. The Apostle Paul was, in a sense, ahead of his time. Paul’s final words to the people demonstrate the burden he had for the churches. In his absence, whether at another location or in prison, he had a desire to see the churches prosper and grow in the things of God. This section begins with the word “But. . .” This little three-letter word is a conjunction that introduces a contrasting idea or indicates an exception or limitation to a previous statement. Here, it is considered a “contrasting idea.” He has been speaking about the burden he has about the gospel and his desire to be bold in his work of evangelism. The contrast is that Paul has something to say to the church. He wants them to know of his love and care for the churches, which motivated him to inform the people of the Ephesian church about his “affairs.” He also sent Tychicus to keep them up to date about Paul’s circumstances and to encourage them in the word of God. This was his intent when he would send some of his helpful men who traveled with him and helped in the work of ministry. They could provide an update on the situation Paul was experiencing and the ministry’s activities. In addition, Tychicus could help the people understand Paul’s condition firsthand. Paul had a burden that the people not worry about him. He told them in Ephesians 3:13 (KJV) Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Tychicus could be the instrument that would keep people from losing heart. The word “faint” has the idea of “passing out” and being unconscious. It can have the meaning of being “spiritless” or “wearied.” Paul had a special relationship with all the churches he started, expressing his care and love for them. Paul was emotionally strong and didn’t let challenging situations get him down. He wanted the people he had led to Christ also to develop strength through his teaching ministry. That would explain why he sent someone to encourage and help them trust God, who was in control. He did not want them to worry about him. He told the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 16:17 (KJV) I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. Paul wrote to the church at Colosse and sent a word of encouragement. He told them in Colossians 4:12 (KJV) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Epaphras was evidently with Paul, but he was from Colosse and had ministered to the people there and was praying for them “fervently.” He speaks of Epaphras further in Colossians 4:13 (KJV) For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. The relationship between the preachers and churches was one of great care, fellowship, comfort, and prayer for them.