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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Ephesians 3:13-21

Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles

September 20, 2026

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt van Rijn
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1668Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
One of Rembrandt's last paintings. The father's two hands are different, one broad and one slender, and the son's shoes are worn through. The elder brother stands to the right, not moving.It is the parable, and Rembrandt painted the part nobody asks about: the brother who stays standing.Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt (1606-1669) painted scripture as if it had happened in a room he had been in, and returned to the same stories across forty years, changing his mind about them in public.Hermitage Museum, Saint PetersburgCatherine the Great's collection grown into one of the largest museums on earth, filling the Winter Palace and the buildings beside it.Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 7:11-17Lk 7:11-17
EpistleEph. 3:13-21Eph 3:13-21
Old Testament1 Kings 17:17-241 Kgs 17:17-24
PsalterPs. 30Ps 30

Overview & Insights

“That you may have power to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” (Ephesians 3:18–19)

When the apostle completed his section on the spiritual blessings in Christ (1:3–14), he proceeded to offer a prayer of thanksgiving and petition (1:15–23). After this theological discussion in 2:1–22, it appears that he is once again ready to turn to prayer because the statement, “For this reason” (3:1), refers to what he has just said; furthermore, the actual prayer in 3:14ff. appears to relate to this section and would be a fitting climax to the thoughts that he has developed. But instead of a prayer, the apostle’s thought is diverted to another topic of discussion—one that is related to Paul’s call and mission as a proclaimer of God’s secret. After a rather lengthy presentation of this subject (3:2–13), he returns to his initial intention to pray and subsequently offers one of the most beautiful and comprehensive prayers in the NT.

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Commentary

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Ephesians Chapter 3Enduring Word Bible Commentary Eph Chapter 3 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on Paul's prayer to be strengthened within and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.

Ephesians 3:13 CommentariesEph 3:13 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators from the first verse of the reading on not losing heart over Paul's sufferings.

Ephesians 3 ResourcesEph 3 Resources Precept Austin

A large gathering of verse studies and sermons on Ephesians 3.

Ephesians 3:14-21 CommentaryEph 3:14-21 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on the prayer for power to grasp Christ's boundless love.

Background & Word Study

Overview: EphesiansOverview: Eph BibleProject

An animated overview of Ephesians and its vision of unity in Christ.

Ephesians 3:13 InterlinearEph 3:13 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word for the reading, useful for the fullness (pleroma) of God in verse 19.

The Church Fathers

Commentary on Ephesians 3 from the Church FathersCommentary on Eph 3 from the Church Fathers Catena

Patristic comment on Paul's intercession and closing doxology.

Questions preachers ask

What is Paul’s prayer?

Paul prays that the church, rooted and grounded in love, may grasp the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love and be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:13–21).

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