Ephesians 3:17
Verse
Context
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,18will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith - In this as well as in many other passages, and particularly that in Eph 2:21 (note), the apostle compares the body or Church of true believers to a temple, which, like that of Solomon, is built up to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. Here, as Solomon did at the dedication of the temple at Jerusalem, Ch2 6:1, etc., Paul, having considered the Church at Ephesus completely formed, as to every external thing, prays that God may come down and dwell in it. And as there could be no indwelling of God but by Christ, and no indwelling of Christ but by faith, he prays that they may have such faith in Christ, as shall keep them in constant possession of his love and presence. God, at the beginning, formed man to be his temple, and while in a state of purity he inhabited this temple; when the temple became defiled, God left it. In the order of his eternal mercy, Christ, the repairer of the breach, comes to purify the temple, that it may again become a fit habitation for the blessed God. This is what the apostle points out to the believing Ephesians, in praying that Christ κατοικησαι, might intensely and constantly dwell in their hearts by faith: for the man's heart, which is not God's house, must be a hold of every foul and unclean spirit; as Satan and his angels will endeavor to fill what God does not. That ye, being rooted and grounded in love - Here is a double metaphor; one taken from agriculture, the other, from architecture. As trees, they are to be rooted in love - this is the soil in which their souls are to grow; into the infinite love of God their souls by faith are to strike their roots, and from this love derive all that nourishment which is essential for their full growth, till they have the mind in them that was in Jesus, or, as it is afterwards said, till they are filled with all the fullness of God. As a building, their foundation is to be laid in this love. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, etc. Here is the ground on which alone the soul, and all its hopes and expectations, can be safely founded. This is a foundation that cannot be shaken; and it is from this alone that the doctrine of redemption flows to man, and from this alone has the soul its form and comeliness. In this, as its proper soil, it grows. On this, as its only foundation, it rests.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
That--So that. dwell--abidingly make His abode (Joh 14:23). Where the Spirit is there Christ is (Joh 14:16, Joh 14:18). by faith--Greek, "through faith," which opens the door of the heart to Jesus (Joh 3:20). It is not enough that He be on the tongue, or flit through the brain: the heart is His proper seat [CALVIN]. "You being rooted and grounded in love" (compare Eph 3:19), is in the Greek connected with this clause, not with the clause, "that ye may be able to comprehend." "Rooted" is an image from a tree; "grounded" (Greek, "founder," "having your foundations resting on"), from a building (compare Notes,, see on Eph 2:20-21; Col 1:23; Col 2:7). Contrast Mat 13:6, Mat 13:21. "Love," the first-fruit of the Spirit, flowing from Christ's love realized in the soul, was to be the basis on which should rest their further comprehension of all the vastness of Christ's love.
John Gill Bible Commentary
May be able to comprehend with all saints,.... This is the end of their being rooted and grounded in love, that they, together with the rest of the saints interested in it, might have a larger and more comprehensive view of what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; not of God himself, who is incomprehensible by finite minds, and is not to be found out to perfection; see Job 11:7 but either of the great mystery of salvation, particularly the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles mentioned in the beginning of the chapter; or of the spiritual building, the church, the dimensions of which are given, Rev 21:15 or rather of the love of God, which in its length reaches from one eternity to another; in its breadth to all the elect, in all ages, places, and nations; and in its depth to saints in the lowest state of life; and in its height to bring them to an exalted state in glory.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:17 Having Christ . . . make his home in your hearts is the source of spiritual power for life and ministry (see John 14:16-17, 23; 15:4-5; Gal 2:20).
Ephesians 3:17
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,18will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Be Diligent to Get Alone With God
By Hans R. Waldvogel5.7K24:01Alone With God2CO 8:9EPH 3:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the incredible love and goodness of God towards His people. He encourages the audience to believe in and trust God wholeheartedly, as His wisdom and knowledge surpass any worldly education. The preacher highlights the message of the New Testament, which reveals that Jesus, who was rich, became poor for the sake of humanity, so that through His poverty, believers might become rich. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being rooted and grounded in love, which requires letting go of judgment, snobbery, and personal opinions. The preacher also emphasizes the need for sincere and perfect hearts towards God, and the transformative power of prayer and seeking God's will.
The Last Call
By Alan Bartley1.8K45:10DEU 30:19PSA 32:5JHN 1:12JHN 8:12ROM 10:132CO 6:2EPH 3:17HEB 3:151JN 5:12REV 3:20This sermon focuses on Revelation 3:20, emphasizing the urgency of responding to Jesus' call to open the door of our hearts to Him. It highlights the consequences of delaying or rejecting this call, the need to let go of sin, and the certainty of salvation when we invite Jesus into our lives.
No Root, No Fruit
By Bill McLeod1.8K50:45FruitfulnessEXO 23:1PSA 1:1PSA 103:2PRO 26:20LUK 13:6EPH 3:17COL 2:71TI 6:6In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Luke chapter 13 and discusses a parable told by Jesus about a fruitless tree in a vineyard. The speaker interprets this parable as a representation of the nation of Israel. The tree symbolizes Israel, which had not produced fruit for three years. The owner of the vineyard decides to give it one more year to bear fruit, and if it doesn't, it will be cut down. The speaker connects this parable to the history of Israel, highlighting the eventual destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the scattering of the Jewish people.
Getting Back to Basics: The Love We Had at First
By Robert Wurtz II1.2K44:42EPH 1:15EPH 2:4EPH 3:17EPH 3:19EPH 4:2EPH 4:16EPH 5:1EPH 5:25EPH 6:23In this sermon, the speaker continues their study on getting back to basics. They discuss the importance of becoming fishers of men and evangelizing to win souls for God. The speaker then introduces a new subject titled "the love that we had at first." They highlight the story of the church at Ephesus, who had once had a great love for Christ but gradually lost it. The speaker emphasizes the need for Christians to retrace their steps and rediscover their first love for God, as it is a travesty to give that love to someone or something else.
The Inner Man
By Hans R. Waldvogel1.2K27:54Inner ManPSA 119:176ISA 40:31MAT 7:172CO 12:9EPH 3:17HEB 10:39JUD 1:12In this sermon, the preacher shares his experience at a convention in Germany where he witnessed a crowded and lively gathering of preachers and attendees. However, he noticed that many of the preachers were not truly preaching the indwelling life of Christ, which he believes is what people's hearts truly hunger for. He references the biblical passage in Jude about clouds without water and trees that are dead, emphasizing the need for genuine spiritual nourishment. The preacher also highlights the importance of allowing God to work in our lives, even when it may be uncomfortable or challenging, in order to be strengthened with the might of Christ dwelling in our hearts.
Prep Time Is Never Wasted Time
By Michael Catt1.0K49:43PreparationJOS 3:2JOS 3:14PSA 139:23MAT 6:33EPH 3:17EPH 3:20In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of preparation in the Christian journey. He highlights the idea that how we practice is how we perform, and that a message is only as good as its preparation. The speaker also emphasizes the need for obedience and sacrifice in order to fulfill God's calling. The sermon references Joshua chapter 3, where the people are commanded to prepare provisions and follow the ark of the covenant as they prepare to possess the land God has given them.
Be Dilligent to Get Alone With God - Hans Waldvogel
By From the Pulpit & Classic Sermons87224:40RadioPRO 8:17ECC 12:1MAT 6:332CO 8:9EPH 3:17PHP 3:8COL 2:3In this sermon, Hans Wadwogel emphasizes the importance of seeking the Lord and spending time alone with God. He shares a personal anecdote about trying to find a place to pray and ends up taking care of chickens, which ultimately die. Wadwogel highlights the need for a heart transformation and the dangers of having callous and distracted hearts. He encourages listeners to prioritize their inner man and seek God's strength through prayer and faith. The sermon concludes with a call to action, urging believers to actively pursue God's will and live a life of love.
Freedom of Spirit - Part 7
By Norman Grubb75809:30EZK 36:27JHN 14:23ROM 8:91CO 6:192CO 4:7GAL 2:20EPH 3:17COL 1:271JN 4:12This sermon emphasizes the concept of God dwelling within us through love, highlighting the idea that our loving actions are a reflection of God's love. It delves into the understanding of humanity as a vessel to contain deity, with the importance of recognizing the spirit within us as the knower. The sermon discusses the transformation that occurs when we come to know Jesus as our Savior, leading to a new understanding of our identity and purpose. It concludes with the idea of walking in God's ways as a joyful and fulfilling experience, guided by the presence of God within us.
Jesus Christ Is Lord - Lord of the Heart
By J. Glyn Owen69054:50LordPRO 4:23MAT 22:37ROM 10:9EPH 3:17COL 3:151PE 1:31PE 3:15In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the importance of having hope in one's heart through Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that when Jesus is set apart as the solitary Lord in one's heart, hope will naturally follow. The preacher encourages listeners to make time to read and ponder God's word, as it is through the mind that God speaks to us. He also highlights the need for Jesus to be Lord in the entirety of one's inner life, specifically in the heart. The sermon is based on 1 Peter 3:15, which urges believers to set apart Christ as Lord in their hearts.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 58
By Don Courville34630:33Radio ShowPSA 139:23EPH 3:17EPH 3:20COL 3:8In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for revival in the church and in our lives. He discusses how Christ is all we need and questions if He is truly all we want. The speaker then goes on to talk about the sins that the Spirit of God cleanses us from, specifically focusing on anger and lying. He encourages the listeners to put off these sins and put on the new man in Christ. The sermon also includes a story about a missionary group praying for revival and experiencing a miraculous healing, which led to a cleansing of the churches.
Developing Your Full Potential in Christ - the Plan of Grace
By Paris Reidhead12841:33Grace Of GodMAT 6:33ROM 8:102CO 13:5GAL 2:20EPH 3:17EPH 3:20COL 1:27In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ and being crucified with Him in order to have victory over oneself. He encourages listeners to look to Christ for release from the power of temptation and to be buried with Him in order to have victory over the seductive allure of the world. The speaker also shares a personal experience of hearing a preacher who had a deep understanding of the Word and challenged listeners to look at the cross from the inside. He concludes by mentioning the convenience of using cassette recorders to listen to God's truth while driving. Overall, the sermon focuses on developing one's full potential in Christ through a deep and intimate relationship with Him.
Draw Near to Hear - Part 2
By Phil Beach Jr.2833:24God's LoveCommunity and FamilySeeking GodEPH 3:17HEB 10:22JAS 4:81JN 4:16Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the importance of drawing near to God to truly understand His love and heart for us. He highlights that our perception of love is often distorted by worldly influences and that we must seek a deeper relationship with God to experience His unconditional love. The sermon also discusses the significance of family as a reflection of God's love and the dangers of a dysfunctional family structure, which can hinder our understanding of divine love. Beach encourages the congregation to overcome their fears of intimacy with God and each other, reminding them that true joy and healing come from this closeness. Ultimately, he calls for a community that embodies the love of Christ, fostering genuine relationships that reflect God's heart.
The Supremacy of God's Love
By Mike Bickle2743:16Experiencing God's LoveThe Supremacy of LoveDEU 6:5JHN 17:261CO 13:13EPH 3:17Mike Bickle emphasizes the supremacy of God's love in his sermon, urging the congregation to prioritize love for God, love for one another, and love for the lost. He reflects on the waning focus on love within the community and calls for a return to the first commandment, which is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Bickle highlights that love is not just an attribute of God but the very essence of His being, and it should be the foundation of all theology and ministry. He encourages believers to engage in a personal relationship with God, expressing love through simple prayers and heartfelt devotion. Ultimately, Bickle's message is a call to experience and share the transformative power of God's love in every aspect of life.
Encountering the Father Heart of God: A Vision to Go Deep in God
By Mike Bickle2448:54The Father Heart of GodIntimacy With GodPSA 27:4MAT 22:37MRK 12:30JHN 15:9ROM 8:15EPH 3:171JN 4:193JN 1:2REV 15:2REV 21:3Mike Bickle emphasizes the importance of encountering the Father heart of God, inviting believers to experience intimacy with God as their loving Father. He highlights that this relationship is not just a duty but a joyful exchange of love, where understanding God's love for us empowers us to love Him back wholeheartedly. Bickle encourages believers to shift their focus from seeking material blessings to nurturing a deep, affectionate relationship with God, which will ultimately lead to a more fruitful and joyful Christian life. He stresses that true obedience flows from love, not obligation, and that every believer has access to this profound experience of God's love through the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 3:17-20
By Major Ian Thomas111:13:23Appropriation of Christ's LifeSurrenderEPH 3:17Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the profound truth found in Ephesians 3:17-20, urging believers to allow Christ to dwell in their hearts through faith, becoming rooted and grounded in love. He highlights the necessity of experiencing the love of Christ beyond mere knowledge, leading to a fullness of God in our lives. Thomas draws parallels with Moses' journey, illustrating how true Christian living involves surrendering our own plans and allowing God to work through us, thus appropriating His victory in our lives. He challenges the congregation to drop their personal ambitions and possessions, trusting God to give back what is truly His, free from the 'snakes' of self-sufficiency and idolatry. Ultimately, he calls for a life of dependence on Christ, where believers can experience the fullness of His resurrection life.
Breadth, Length, Depth, Height
By Martyn-Lloyd Jones1Spiritual GrowthThe Love of ChristEPH 3:17Martyn-Lloyd Jones emphasizes the vastness of Christ's love for humanity, urging the Ephesians to comprehend its breadth, length, depth, and height. He explains that this love is not only immeasurable but also eternal, beginning before time and continuing into eternity. The preacher highlights that understanding this love transforms our perspective and encourages us to meditate on it, as it is the source of joy and strength in the Christian life. He reminds us that Christ's love is inclusive, unchanging, and deeply sacrificial, culminating in our ultimate glorification with Him. The sermon calls believers to recognize and rejoice in the profound dimensions of Christ's love, which surpasses all knowledge.
Exposition on Psalm 142
By St. Augustine1EPH 3:17St. Augustine preaches on the importance of crying out to the Lord with sincerity and from the heart, emphasizing that true prayer is not just with words but with genuine affection. He delves into the significance of pouring out prayers before God in secret, highlighting the need to shut the door of our hearts to the tempter and open it to Christ. St. Augustine also reflects on enduring tribulations and persecution, encouraging believers to persevere in the paths of righteousness and trust in God's deliverance. He explores the concept of considering the right hand, symbolizing seeking God's promises, and the need to rely on God as our hope and deliverer in times of trouble and humility.
Gathering Power of the Church Foreshadowed
By William Edwin Boardman0MAT 28:19JHN 14:6ACT 1:8EPH 3:17COL 2:6William Edwin Boardman preaches about the universal movement of popularization by God, spreading knowledge and power among the people, including the knowledge of Jesus and the power of God through faith. He emphasizes the importance of the church transitioning into a new phase of life and power, with individuals feeling for and experiencing the deeper knowledge of Jesus. Boardman highlights the potential of the church to rise in conquest and victory when every member experiences the fullness of salvation and abiding union with Christ, leading to a global revival and the Lord's works being manifested continuously.
Church in Laodicea
By J.B. Stoney0ROM 8:92CO 5:17GAL 2:20GAL 5:16EPH 3:17PHP 2:13REV 3:17REV 3:20J.B. Stoney preaches about the church of Laodicea, emphasizing their lack of true understanding of the gospel despite their boastful claims of wealth and possessions. He highlights the importance of being transformed by the gospel, with Christ formed within believers, leading to a new creation and a life lived in the Spirit. Stoney points out the danger of assuming a position in the church without a genuine relationship with Christ, illustrating the need for true vitality and righteousness found through surrender and conflict. The sermon concludes with the gracious remedy offered by the Lord for Laodicea to open the door to Him, allowing for a complete transformation and intimate fellowship with Christ.
Today in Paradise
By Ernest O'Neill0JHN 15:5ROM 8:10GAL 2:20EPH 3:17COL 3:3Ernest O'Neill preaches about the reality of Christ living inside us, desiring to work through us each day to fulfill His plans and bring delight to the Father. He explains that our true life is found in Christ, and the life we live independently is a temporary shadow of what could have been without God. O'Neill emphasizes the importance of realizing this truth, as it leads to a paradigm shift from a self-centered existence to a life filled with the thoughts, feelings, and actions of Christ, resulting in a new plane of existence where eternity's brightness and power transform our character and behavior.
Preface to God's Hymnal
By Warren Wiersbe0PSA 1:1JER 17:7MAT 5:6EPH 3:17COL 2:7Warren Wiersbe preaches on the importance of delighting in the Word of God, emphasizing that what we delight in directs our lives. He compares the blessed person to a tree with deep roots, contrasting them with the ungodly who are like chaff blown away by the wind. Wiersbe highlights the significance of meditating on God's Word to strengthen our spiritual root system, which is essential for nourishment, stability, and strength during life's storms.
Confidence in the Midst of Distress
By Charles Stanley01CH 29:11PSA 46:10JER 29:11MAT 11:28GAL 5:22EPH 3:17HEB 13:6Charles Stanley preaches about the common human instinct to want to escape stressful situations by walking away, but God's truth teaches us to find rest and peace in Him instead of fighting against our circumstances. By being still and knowing God, absorbing His truths, and growing in trust of His sovereignty, goodness, and love, we can navigate through challenges with inner quietness and confidence as His children.
Paul a Pattern of Prayer
By J. Wilbur Chapman0MRK 11:24JHN 14:14EPH 1:15EPH 3:17PHP 1:9COL 1:91TH 5:232TH 3:16HEB 11:6HEB 13:20JAS 5:161JN 1:9J. Wilbur Chapman preaches on the power of prayer, emphasizing Jesus' assurance that anything asked in His name will be done. Chapman highlights the importance of belief in Christ, faith in His promises, confession and forsaking of sins, and the exercise of faith in prayer. He draws inspiration from Paul's prayers for spiritual blessings such as Pentecost, perception, purity, power, perseverance, perfectness, and peace, guiding believers on how to pray effectively and align their will with God's.
Loving Jesus (Know Jesus, and Make the Exchange: Himself for Your self.)
By Hans R. Waldvogel0Love for JesusKnowing ChristSNG 5:9JHN 17:31CO 6:17EPH 3:17PHP 3:10Hans R. Waldvogel emphasizes the profound love and relationship one can have with Jesus, contrasting it with fleeting human affections. He shares personal anecdotes to illustrate that true love for Christ comes from truly knowing Him, which leads to a transformative exchange of self for His presence. Waldvogel encourages believers to seek a deeper connection with Jesus, as He is the source of joy and fulfillment, and stresses the importance of unity in the body of Christ. The sermon highlights that knowing Jesus is essential for eternal life and that He desires to fill our hearts with His love and power.
"In Christ"
By Zac Poonen0MAT 6:10JHN 6:382CO 1:20EPH 1:4EPH 3:17COL 1:271JN 4:19Zac Poonen emphasizes that our salvation began in God's mind, as He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. The focus is on what God has done for us in Christ, highlighting the importance of being rooted in God's work before considering our actions for Him. Poonen explains the concept of being 'in Christ' as a foundational truth, where believers are united with Christ in His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension, experiencing the benefits of these spiritual realities through faith.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith - In this as well as in many other passages, and particularly that in Eph 2:21 (note), the apostle compares the body or Church of true believers to a temple, which, like that of Solomon, is built up to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. Here, as Solomon did at the dedication of the temple at Jerusalem, Ch2 6:1, etc., Paul, having considered the Church at Ephesus completely formed, as to every external thing, prays that God may come down and dwell in it. And as there could be no indwelling of God but by Christ, and no indwelling of Christ but by faith, he prays that they may have such faith in Christ, as shall keep them in constant possession of his love and presence. God, at the beginning, formed man to be his temple, and while in a state of purity he inhabited this temple; when the temple became defiled, God left it. In the order of his eternal mercy, Christ, the repairer of the breach, comes to purify the temple, that it may again become a fit habitation for the blessed God. This is what the apostle points out to the believing Ephesians, in praying that Christ κατοικησαι, might intensely and constantly dwell in their hearts by faith: for the man's heart, which is not God's house, must be a hold of every foul and unclean spirit; as Satan and his angels will endeavor to fill what God does not. That ye, being rooted and grounded in love - Here is a double metaphor; one taken from agriculture, the other, from architecture. As trees, they are to be rooted in love - this is the soil in which their souls are to grow; into the infinite love of God their souls by faith are to strike their roots, and from this love derive all that nourishment which is essential for their full growth, till they have the mind in them that was in Jesus, or, as it is afterwards said, till they are filled with all the fullness of God. As a building, their foundation is to be laid in this love. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, etc. Here is the ground on which alone the soul, and all its hopes and expectations, can be safely founded. This is a foundation that cannot be shaken; and it is from this alone that the doctrine of redemption flows to man, and from this alone has the soul its form and comeliness. In this, as its proper soil, it grows. On this, as its only foundation, it rests.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
That--So that. dwell--abidingly make His abode (Joh 14:23). Where the Spirit is there Christ is (Joh 14:16, Joh 14:18). by faith--Greek, "through faith," which opens the door of the heart to Jesus (Joh 3:20). It is not enough that He be on the tongue, or flit through the brain: the heart is His proper seat [CALVIN]. "You being rooted and grounded in love" (compare Eph 3:19), is in the Greek connected with this clause, not with the clause, "that ye may be able to comprehend." "Rooted" is an image from a tree; "grounded" (Greek, "founder," "having your foundations resting on"), from a building (compare Notes,, see on Eph 2:20-21; Col 1:23; Col 2:7). Contrast Mat 13:6, Mat 13:21. "Love," the first-fruit of the Spirit, flowing from Christ's love realized in the soul, was to be the basis on which should rest their further comprehension of all the vastness of Christ's love.
John Gill Bible Commentary
May be able to comprehend with all saints,.... This is the end of their being rooted and grounded in love, that they, together with the rest of the saints interested in it, might have a larger and more comprehensive view of what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; not of God himself, who is incomprehensible by finite minds, and is not to be found out to perfection; see Job 11:7 but either of the great mystery of salvation, particularly the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles mentioned in the beginning of the chapter; or of the spiritual building, the church, the dimensions of which are given, Rev 21:15 or rather of the love of God, which in its length reaches from one eternity to another; in its breadth to all the elect, in all ages, places, and nations; and in its depth to saints in the lowest state of life; and in its height to bring them to an exalted state in glory.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:17 Having Christ . . . make his home in your hearts is the source of spiritual power for life and ministry (see John 14:16-17, 23; 15:4-5; Gal 2:20).