21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
The letter closes with the next four verses. Paul usually adds final notes to people in the churches to whom he is writing, and mentioning the workers with him, lauding them to the recipients. He does not do that here. (See Note 1.)
Paul has made a case for seeing Christians from all over the world, both Jews and Gentiles, to come together into one body - the church - through the work of one person - Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. No one said this would be easy (thank you Bill Schonley, I borrowed your phrase). Jesus told us we would be in a spiritual battle. Paul just finished urging us to buckle up, armor up, get ready to face the enemy. We will overcome through Christ, because He overcame by the power of God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Vs. 21 - “But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. “
“Tychicus...will make everything known to you.” - Paul is sending a faithful co-worker, who seems to be Paul’s letter delivery man. He is mentioned four times in Paul’s letters. Each time he is being sent to a city. He is bringing this letter to Ephesus, plus any other news not included in the letter.
Vs. 22 - “I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. “
“for this very purpose” - Paul trusts Tychicus to give the churches the straight scoop on the goings-on in the ministry, the evangelism to which he has been called. Included will information that will calm their worries about him. The churches know that Paul is in a Roman prison, and are rightly concerned.
Vs. 23 - “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.“
“Peace... love... faith” - Peace with God, and the peace of God (See: Phi 4:7-9). The God of love, who loves us and died for us even though we are sinners. (Rom 5:8) And with faith we believe and are saved. See: “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we preach), because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.” (Rom 10:8-10)
Vs. 24 - “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love”.
“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ” - Grace and mercy are the reasons we have salvation through Jesus.
“Incorruptible love” - We love because Jesus first loved us. Our love for Jesus, for God, is in response to His love. Observing the world around us does not give a clear picture of His love. We have a fairly good idea of His power and grandeur - the majesty of the universe alone is awe inspiring. His love is revealed through Jesus Christ. We understand love because we can love our wives, children, and friends. We can begin to understand the depth and expanse of God’s love for us, because we know how hard it is to love people who do not love us. God demonstrates He loves us, in that even though we are enemies He has sacrificed for us to draw us to Him.
We are not bribed to love Him. He offers. We can choose to respond to Him in love. We are not forced to love Him. How wonderful! How marvelous!
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (Psa 8:3-9)
Note 1: See the closing verses in Paul’s letters: There are about 27 verses in Romans; 14 in 1 Cor; 5 in 2 Cor; 7 in Gal; 4 in Phi; 11 in Col; 2 in 1 Thes; 3 in 2 Thes; 2 in 1 Tim; 12 in 2 Tim; 5 in Tit; and 3 in Philemon.
End of ChapterPublished: 4Nov24
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