Ephesians 6:19 - Meaning and Application

Here Paul asks for their prayers for himself, Ephesians 6:19. After telling them to pray for all the saints, he includes himself in that number. We should pray for all believers, and especially for faithful ministers of God. “Brothers and sisters, pray for us,” he says, “that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be honored.”

Notice what Paul wants them to pray for. He asks that he may be given the right words, that he may be freed from his present restrictions and have liberty to spread the faith of Christ, and that he may speak in a fitting way. He also wants boldness, so that he can make known the whole counsel of God without fear, shame, or favoritism. He says this is to make known the mystery of the gospel. Some take this to mean especially the part of the gospel about the calling of the Gentiles, which had been hidden like a mystery until then. But in a broader sense, the whole gospel was a mystery until God revealed it, and it is Christ’s ministers who must publish it.

Paul had a strong command of language. People even called him Mercury, because he was the chief speaker (Acts 14:12). Yet he still asked his friends to pray that God would give him the right words. He was also a man of courage and often showed it, yet he asked them to pray that God would make him bold. He knew what to say as well as any man, yet he wanted their prayers that he might speak as he ought. This shows that even the best ministers need prayer, both for clear speech and for courage.

He strengthens this request by saying that he was an ambassador in chains for the gospel, Ephesians 6:20. He was being persecuted and imprisoned for preaching Christ, yet he still carried out the mission Christ gave him. It is no new thing for Christ’s ministers to be in chains. It is also hard for them to speak boldly in that condition. The best and most gifted ministers still need the prayers of good Christians, and they should earnestly ask for them.

Then Paul recommends Tychicus to them, Ephesians 6:21-22. He sent Tychicus with this letter so they could hear what other churches had already learned about Paul, namely, how he was doing and what he was doing. They would learn how the Romans were treating him in prison and how he was conducting himself in those circumstances. It is good for Christian friends to know one another’s condition, and for ministers to know the condition of their friends. In that way they can better help one another by prayer.

Paul also says that Tychicus would comfort their hearts. By telling them about Paul’s sufferings, the reason for them, and the spirit in which he bore them, Tychicus could keep them from losing heart over Paul’s troubles. His report would even give them reason for joy and thanksgiving. Paul calls Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. He was a true Christian, so he was Paul’s brother in Christ. He was also faithful in Christ’s work, and very dear to Paul. That makes Paul’s care for the Ephesians stand out even more, because he was willing to part with such a good friend for their sake. Yet faithful servants of Jesus Christ usually put the public good ahead of their own comfort and interests.

Paul closes with good wishes and prayers for them, and not for them only, but for all believers, Ephesians 6:23-24. His usual blessing was, “Grace and peace.” Here he says, “Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith.” By peace he means every kind of peace, peace with God, peace in the conscience, peace among themselves, and even outward well-being. It is as if he were saying, “May all happiness continue and increase among you.” “Love with faith” helps explain what he means by grace in the next verse. He does not mean only grace as the fountain, that is, God’s love and favor, but also grace as the stream, the work of the Spirit flowing from that divine love. Faith and love include the rest. Paul desires that these gifts, already begun in them, may continue and grow.

He adds, “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” All grace and blessing come to the saints from God, through the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord. This closing blessing is broader than the earlier one, because here he prays for all true believers at Ephesus and everywhere else. It is the clear mark of all the saints that they love our Lord Jesus Christ. Our love to Christ is not acceptable unless it is sincere. In fact, there is no true love to Christ where there is no sincerity, whatever people may claim.

The words can also be read this way: “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption,” meaning those who keep steady in their love for him and are not turned away from it by temptations or false attractions, and whose love is not spoiled by any sinful desire or by love for anything that displeases him. Grace, that is, God’s favor and all good things that flow from it, both spiritual and temporal, will be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in this way. And it is, or should be, the desire and prayer of every lover of Christ that this may be true for all his fellow believers. Amen, so be it.