Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 1:18

"having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," — Ephesians 1:18 (ASV)

Paul now employs an unusual and figurative expression (“the eyes of your heart”) to denote an inner awareness, provided by the Holy Spirit, that realizes everything that God has made available to them. The “heart” (GK 2840) is the seat of thought and moral judgment as well as of feeling. Three items are selected for particular attention.

(1) Calling (“called”; GK 3104) is regarded here as a pledge of “hope.” This call has already taken place (2 Timothy 1:9) and yet represents an ongoing calling (1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:24); it looks to the future, since it is attached to the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) of eternal glory.

(2) Paul wants his readers to appreciate that they will inherit all the “riches” of God himself (cf. vv.11, 14). Old Israel was promised an inheritance on earth; new Israel is given an inheritance in heaven. The everlasting Canaan-rest of glory is assured all the saints, and God’s faithfulness will be vindicated.

(3) Paul wants his readers to recognize the “incomparably great power” of God. The word “incomparably” (GK 5650) suggests an unimaginable divine potency that is directed toward all who believe. Paul then proceeds to collect all the synonyms he can lay hands on as he describes how the “power” (GK 1539) of God functions according to the “working” (GK 1918; cf. 3:7; 4:16) of the “strength” (GK 3197; cf. 6:10) of his might (GK 2709; cf. 6:10; a word used of bodily strength and muscular force).