Ephesians 4:7-10

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)—Ephesians 4:7-10

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, we learned about the riches of God and how he has lavished us with His love and grace through Jesus. Last week, we began chapter four and learned it is a turning point in the text, pivoting from the wealth we have as believers to Paul’s admonishment toward a lifestyle conducive to our new life in Christ. We saw the need to make our outward lives as rich as the inner renewal we experienced in our new birth.

This week, as Paul prepares (next week) to discuss the variety of gifts we have as the body of Christ, he sets the stage with a parade. In these four verses (Ephesians 4:7-10), we are given an image of the victorious accomplishment of Jesus Christ.

Before Paul gives his list of gifts Jesus has given to his church, he quotes Psalm 68:18. This would have reminded first-century Jews of Moses going up Mount Sinai and coming down with the stone tablets of the law after he had rescued Israel from captivity in Egypt. Paul sees a parallel in Jesus. After “the new Exodus” had been achieved in Christ’s death and resurrection, setting humanity free from bondage to sin and death, Jesus “went up” to the heavenly realm where he now reigns. Instead of coming down again with the law, as Moses had done, Jesus “returned” in the person of the Spirit, through whom different gifts are now showered on the church.

As background, read 1 Corinthians 2:14 and Psalm 24:7-8. Now read all of Psalm 68. With these scriptures in mind and considering our text in Ephesians, discuss the following as a group.