Useful Bible Studies > Ephesians Commentary > chapter 3

Paul’s reason for his prayer, and his attitude during prayer

Ephesians 3:14

Paul will now tell us what he was praying for the Christians in Ephesus (verses 14 to 19). First, however, he says that he prays this prayer ‘for this reason’. In other words, there is a particular reason why he is praying these things. We would like to know what that reason is.

We can see that, in the previous part of the book, Paul has often begun his sentences with a similar phrase (see Ephesians 1:15; 2:11; 3:1 and 3:14). So, it seems to us that Paul is referring back to a statement near to the beginning of his book. In that passage, Ephesians 1:13 gives a clear reason why Paul would pray these things. That verse says that the Christians in Ephesus heard and believed the gospel, the message about Christ. So, God placed his Holy Spirit in their lives as evidence that they really are God’s people, the children of God.

Paul mentions here that he knelt to pray. Of course, we can pray with our bodies in any position (for example see: Exodus 34:8; Mark 11:25; 1 Timothy 2:8). The attitude of our hearts matters; the position of our bodies does not. Probably Paul chose to pray in a humble position in order to remind himself that he should have a humble attitude. We should always have an attitude of respect towards God, and especially in our prayers. We must not try to give God orders in our prayers. We should always remember that he is our master; we are his servants (Luke 17:7-10). However, God gives us the great honour to speak to him as his children whom he loves (Romans 8:14-16). He even promises to hear and to answer our prayers (1 John 5:14). However, we must be careful to pray for those things that he desires.

Next part: The family of God (Ephesians 3:15)

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