In Ephesians 3, we see Paul’s deep love and interest for the Ephesians. This is the second great prayer of Paul in this epistle. The first one is Ephesians 1:15-23. In the first prayer, the emphasis is on enlightenment. In this prayer, the emphasis is on enablement.
It is interesting to note what Paul did not ask for when he prayed. He did not pray for anything physical, material or financial. When Paul prayed for the Ephesians, his focus is entirely spiritual:
That they would be strengthened by the Spirit of God. That they might be rooted and grounded in and comprehend the love of Christ. That they might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-21
[16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,being rooted and grounded in love,
[18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
[19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
[20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
[21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
When Paul mentions “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height,” he is not talking about four kinds of love. He is talking about the fullness or the vastness of God’s love.
In looking at the breadth and length, we see the horizontal, in the depth and height we see the vertical, and thus we see the cross. It is at the cross that we see the love of God.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
