Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

What should we learn from this chapter?

• The difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God.
• The Kingdom of God is everything under God’s sovereignty and authority within a timeless womb of creation where He who is LIFE creates and carries life.
  
• The Kingdom of Heaven is the Jewish kingdom which grows inside the Kingdom of God when Jesus returns to earth and sets up His Kingdom in Jerusalem. It is the sample prayer Jesus teaches His disciples:
  
  • Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
    
  • Matthew 8:11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

• The Kingdom of Heaven begins at the end of the seven year tribulation and lasts for one thousand years called “The Millennium”.
  

Ephesians 3

The Mystery Revealed

Ephesians 3:¹ For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

Ephesians 3:² if indeed you have heard of the (stewardship) dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

• At the last supper the way that man was to serve God changed. It is called a new covenant (promise/oath/treaty). It is referred to as a change in dispensation stewardship between God and man.

Ephesians 3:³ how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

• The revelation that Gentiles were welcomed into the Kingdom of God by faith. The faithful is called “The Bride of Christ” which includes both Gentiles and Jews alike. However; since the Jews are blinded in part it is referred to as a Gentile Bride with Jewish Exceptions such as “Messianic Jews”.

Ephesians 3:⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

• To reiterate, the mystery of Christ is the Bride of Christ unbridled by the law. She is espoused to the Jewish bridegroom, Jesus, in whom the law has been fulfilled by His blood, death, and resurrection. This good news (gospel) is for the Jews first, then the Gentiles.

Ephesians 3:⁵ which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

Ephesians 3:⁶ that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

• Note: Jesus, with the saints, will reign over all the nations of the earth. Those things which Jesus inherits, His bride also inherits; Jesus being the head of the body. A man and his bride are “One”. (Galatians 3:26, 28b-29)

• Galatians 3:26 Sons and Heirs – For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

• Ephesians 1:10-14 ¹⁰ that in the dispensation (stewardship) of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ (The Kingdom of God), both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. ¹¹ In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ¹² that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

• Ephesians 1:²¹ far above (The Kingdom of God) all principality (rule) and power (authority) and might (power) and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

• Colossians 1:¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

• Hebrews 1:2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

• Hebrews 2:8 You (The Father) have put all things in subjection under His (Jesus’) feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.

• I Peter 2:⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Ephesians 3:⁷ of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

• Note: Ephesians 3:8 is a key verse to understand Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28. Read below:

Ephesians 3:⁸ To me, who am less than THE LEAST OF ALL THE SAINTS, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

• Matt 11:11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist (in the Kingdom of Heaven); BUT he (Paul the Apostle) who is least in the kingdom of heaven (Kingdom of Heaven) (Paul) is greater than he (John the Baptist)
  
  John the Baptist is the greatest in the Jewish Kingdom of heaven when Jesus rules on earth during the Millennium (Zechariah 2:5). Paul is the least in the Kingdom of heaven because He was sent to the Gentile church called the Bride of Christ which is not the Jewish Kingdom of heaven. The Bride of Christ is part of the Kingdom of God as is The Kingdom of Heaven also part of the Kingdom of God. Paul the Apostle is greater than John the Baptist although both are part of the Kingdom of God.
  
• Luke 7:28 “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist (Jewish Kingdom of Heaven); but he who is least in the Kingdom of God (Paul the Apostle) is greater than he (John the Baptist).”
  

• Paul calls himself “The least among the saints”, and is therefore “least in the Jewish Kingdom of Heaven on earth (the Millennium)”.
  
• One of the four gospels will refer to the Kingdom of Heaven while another gospel calls the same event the Kingdom of God: both are accurate.

• The “larger” bubble is where the Throne of God is. It is called the “Highest” of the Heavens.
  

Ephesians 3:⁹ and to make all see what is the fellowship (stewardship/dispensation) of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

• See Topic: Jesus as the Creator
• The Dispensations (stewardship, economy, management) of God to man.
  

Ephesians 3:¹⁰ to the intent that now the manifold (many-sided) wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities (rulers) and powers in the heavenly places,

• The principalities and powers in the heavenly places includes the angels.
  • 1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
• Even the angels learn from the church the desires, purposes, and grace of God.

Ephesians 3:¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Ephesians 3:¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Ephesians 3:¹³ Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Appreciation of the Mystery

Ephesians 3:¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 3:¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

• The whole family in heaven and earth are currently called “Saints”.

Ephesians 3:¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

Ephesians 3:¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Ephesians 3:¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

• Width, length, depth and height: four dimensions.

Ephesians 3:¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

• What does knowledge have to do with love?
  • In order to love someone you have to have a heart to meet their needs … the process of love in marriage is getting to understand who your partner is and what his/her needs are.
  • To meet someone’s neediness requires a sacrifice of giving (time, resources, service, etc.)
  • There can be no love without sacrifices.
    • Mark 9:35 “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
    • Paul is the greatest in the Kingdom of God. John the Baptist is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
• In all the eternity of eternities no one will ever achieve a complete understanding of the entirety and fullness of the Godhead.

Ephesians 3:²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all (beyond) that we ask or think, according to the power that works (with)-in us,

• Personal Application:
  • How big is your imagination?
  • What are your needs?
  • Whatever we ask or think or imagine is minuscule compared to what God will do!
  • What is that power that works within us?
    • God’s grace
    • God’s plan for our life
    • The Holy Spirit
  • You can ask, think or imagine what you believe your needs are, but God knows far beyond man’s understanding looking deeper to the unfathomable desires of each soul and providing the resources to meet those needs over time.

Ephesians 3:²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.