Ephesians 4:8 Why he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. I. Christ gave special gifts, in order that through an endless diversity of lives and works and thoughts, we may be all united to one another in one Body, pervaded and animated by one Spirit. The first grand object in our Lord's mind was and is union among men, union with God. As a rule we value ourselves on our diversities. And that without ever asking ourselves, "Why am I different?" God makes nothing in vain. If He has made me different from my friend in some point of character, it is surely that I may supply something in him; that he and I together may effect something for each other and for others which separately could not be accomplished. II. The gifts of Christ to us are directed to producing in us steadiness of character through reality. We are to measure ourselves and our opportunities truly, and to get rid of self-deceptions. 1. How common it is for earnest persons to fancy that a wide gulf exists between their capacities for doing God's service and the opportunities which He affords them! Is not this in reality a very specious form of murmuring against God? We need to use earnest prayer for nothing more than a true faculty of vision. 2. Another and very lowering habit of mind and life which interferes still more with that "steadiness through reality" of which we are in quest, is what I may venture to call "frivolity in the very discharge of earnest duty." There are many most noble occupations which ought to have an inspiring power, that are not glorified at all by those who use them, and that seem to haw no elevating effect on them. Now, one cause of this is to be found in secret impurities of the thought and imagination of the heart. Nothing so protects a man — awful thought! from the influence of God's Spirit; nothing so certain to prevent his acquiring that steadiness which truth of knowledge and truth of thought and of will bring with them. But second only to this in its miserable blighting effect, is to approach earnest duties in a frivolous, light, unprayerful spirit. III. The third object of Christ in giving us gifts from heaven is, that we may grow in spiritual strength by living lives of spiritual activity. (Archbishop Benson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.WEB: Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." |
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