Efeziërs 2:4

4 Maar God, Die rijk is in barmhartigheid door Zijn grote liefde, waarmede Hij ons liefgehad heeft,

Efeziërs 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 2:4

But God, who is rich in mercy
Mercy is a perfection of the divine nature, and is essential to God; and may be considered with respect to the objects of it, either as general, extending to all men in a providential way; or as special, reaching only to some in a way of grace; for though mercy is his nature, yet the display and exertion of it towards any object, is the act of his will; and special mercy, with all the blessings and benefits of it, is only exhibited in Christ Jesus: and God is said to be "rich" in it, because he is free and liberal in dispensing it, and the effects of it; and that to a large number of persons, in great abundance and variety, by various ways, and in divers instances; as in the covenant of grace, in the mission of Christ, in redemption by him, in regeneration, in pardon of sin, and in eternal salvation; and yet it is inexhaustible and perpetual; and this sets forth the excellency and glory of it:

for his great love wherewith he loved us;
the love of God to his chosen people is very great, if it be considered who it is that has loved them, God and not man; who is an infinite, unchangeable, and sovereign Being; and his love is like himself, for God is love; it has heights and depths, and lengths and breadths immeasurable; it admits of no variation nor alteration; and is altogether free, arising from himself, and not from any motives and conditions in men: and if the persons themselves are considered, who are the objects of it, men, sinful men, unworthy of the divine notice and regard; and that these are loved personally, particularly, and distinctly, and not others; nakedly, and not theirs, or for any thing in them, or done by them, and that notwithstanding their manifold sins and transgressions: to which may be added, that this love is represented as a past act; and indeed it is from everlasting, and is antecedent to their being quickened, and was when they were dead in trespasses and sins; and is the source and spring of the blessing next mentioned: so the divine love is often called in the Cabalistic writings of the Jews ^F20, (hbr hbha) , "great love".

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Zohar in Gen. fol. 8. 4. & in Exod. fol. 102. 3. Lex. Cabal. p. 44. 45.

Efeziërs 2:4 In-Context

2 In welke gij eertijds gewandeld hebt, naar de eeuw dezer wereld, naar den overste van de macht der lucht, van den geest, die nu werkt in de kinderen der ongehoorzaamheid;

3 Onder dewelke ook wij allen eertijds verkeerd hebben in de begeerlijkheden onzes vleses, doende den wil des vleses en der gedachten; en wij waren van nature kinderen des toorns, gelijk ook de anderen;

4 Maar God, Die rijk is in barmhartigheid door Zijn grote liefde, waarmede Hij ons liefgehad heeft,

5 Ook toen wij dood waren door de misdaden, heeft ons levend gemaakt met Christus; (uit genade zijt gij zalig geworden)

6 En heeft ons mede opgewekt, en heeft ons mede gezet in den hemel in Christus Jezus;