Ephesians 3:18 says, “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth.” This verse comes in the context of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, that they would be strengthened by the Spirit to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. The “breadth and length and height and depth” refers to the vast, multidimensional nature of Christ’s love. Let’s explore what each of these dimensions means:
Breadth
The breadth of Christ’s love refers to its vast scope and inclusiveness. Jesus’ love extends to all people, regardless of race, gender, social status, or sinful history (John 3:16). His love crosses all boundaries and offers grace to all who believe. The breadth of his love is immeasurable, spanning across all humanity and inviting all into relationship with him.
Length
The length of Christ’s love points to its eternal duration. His love is not fleeting but continues on into eternity. As Psalm 103:17 says, “But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.” Though circumstances change, his love perseveres. From before the creation of the world and on into eternity future, the length of Jesus’ love endures forever.
Height
The height of Jesus’ love relates to its lofty and exalted nature. His love surpasses any earthly love and comes from the heavenly realm. As Ephesians 1:4 says, “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” His love originates in the heights of heaven, far above any human love. The source of his love is the divine love between the Father, Son, and Spirit from all eternity (John 17:24).
Depth
Finally, the depth of Christ’s love points to its profound degree and intensity. Though his love is wide enough to encompass all, it is also intimate enough to meet each person in their unique needs. As Psalm 139:1-3 says, Christ’s love knows us completely, seeing even our innermost being. His love is deep enough to reach even the most broken places in our lives and redeem every dimension of who we are. As Ephesians 3:19 concludes, this multi-dimensional love “surpasses knowledge.” Its fullness is beyond human comprehension, yet we can experience it in relationship with Christ.
In summary, Christ’s love is:
- Broad enough to include all people
- Long enough to last for eternity
- High enough to come from the heavenly realm
- Deep enough to intimately know each person
As Paul prays, comprehending these vast dimensions happens by the Spirit’s strength at work in us. God wants us to be “rooted and grounded” in Christ’s love (Eph. 3:17). As we yield to the Spirit’s work, we gain greater understanding of the breadth, length, height, and depth of his love for us and all people. Our finite minds cannot fully grasp the fullness of his infinite love. But the more we know Him, the more we comprehend and experience the wonder of his multi-dimensional love. By His Spirit at work within us, may we increasingly gain strength to comprehend the vastness of Christ’s love.
1. The Breadth of Christ’s Love
When Paul prays that the Ephesians would comprehend the “breadth” of Christ’s love, he is referring to the expansive scope and inclusiveness of that love. Christ’s love reaches out across all boundaries to encompass people of every nation, language, race, social status, age, gender, and history (Galatians 3:28). As John 3:16 famously declares, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” His love extends universally to the entire world.
This universal breadth comes from the very nature of God himself. As 1 John 4:8 states, “God is love.” It is intrinsic to his character to give his love lavishly to all people. Though humanity rejected God through sin, he did not reject them but continued reaching out in love (Romans 5:8).
Jesus’ ministry on earth vividly displayed this inclusive breadth of love. He intentionally reached out to those marginalized in his society – women, children, tax collectors, lepers, Samaritans. He welcomed them, dignified them, and called them to be part of his Kingdom. Though religious leaders criticized him, Jesus refused to limit the scope of his love and welcome (Luke 15:2).
Christ’s love also reaches across centuries to encompass both Jews and Gentiles. Ephesians 2:14-16 describes how Jesus broke down the dividing wall between these groups through his sacrificial death on the cross. All those who believe are now fellow citizens in God’s kingdom, regardless of ethnicity, cultural identity or any other difference.
As recipients of this all-encompassing love, Christ then calls his followers to emulate the same breadth of love: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). The church is meant to be the embodiment of this boundary-crossing love that welcomes people from every nation into one unified family.
In summary, the “breadth” of Christ’s love refers to its unlimited scope to save, dignify and welcome people from every conceivable barrier or boundary of human division. His love extends freely across all of humanity. As we comprehend this inclusive breadth, we gain a greater awe of the wideness of his mercy and grace for all.
2. The Length of Christ’s Love
In addition to its breadth across humanity, Christ’s love also surpasses any limits of time. Scripture describes the “length” of his love – its everlasting duration from eternity past to eternity future. His love for us did not begin halfway through human history. Nor does it expire or fade with time. The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
God’s love for his people stretches back before time itself. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Even before he created the world, God set his love upon those who would be his children through faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5).
This eternal love continues on into the future without end. In Psalm 103:17, the Psalmist exclaims, “from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him.” Both now in the present and onward for eternity to come, we remain enveloped in his unwavering love.
The length of Christ’s love is also displayed in his death and resurrection for us. He endured the cross because of the “joy set before him” – the joy of bringing many sons and daughters into eternal life with him (Hebrews 12:2). His sacrifice purchased our redemption for eternity. As believers, we can now rest in the incredible promise that nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39).
Not only does Christ’s love endure eternally on a cosmic scale, but he loves each individual with an everlasting love. You have been engraved on the palms of his hands forever (Isaiah 49:16). He will never leave or forsake you, offering the security of his unending affection. All the days ordained for you were written in his book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16).
As we comprehend the boundless length of Christ’s love – both on an infinite scale and for each individual – we are filled with eternal hope, security, and purpose. This immeasurable love will endure far beyond our finite human lives. We can find our eternal worth and belonging in his love that spans all time.
3. The Height of Christ’s Love
In addition to the horizontal dimensions of breadth and length, Paul also prays we would comprehend the vertical “height” of Christ’s love. This refers to the exalted heavenly source of his love. His love flows down from the very throne of God because Jesus himself is divine.
Jesus spoke repeatedly of the Father’s love for him before the creation of the world (John 17:24). This perfect union of divine love shared between the members of the Trinity is both the model and source of Christ’s love. His love is of the greatest heights because it is the very love of God.
Christ’s heavenly origin meant he embodied divine love like no other human could. The Gospels continually point to the authority, power, and purity of his love as the very revelation of the living God (John 1:14, 18). His love is uncompromisingly holy, unlike any earthly version of love corrupted by sin.
This supreme height of his love is perhaps most vividly pictured when he stooped to the utmost depths on our behalf at the cross. Though possessing the highest place of divine glory, he took on the lowest place and bore our sins (Philippians 2:6-8). His willingness to humble himself speaks to the surpassing height from which he came.
Now exalted again in heaven, Christ intercedes as our great High Priest, mediating the love of God on our behalf (Hebrews 4:14-16). We can have confidence to approach the Father’s throne because Jesus has opened the way as our forerunner into God’s holy presence (Hebrews 6:19-20). It is only through union with Christ and his heavenly love that we can enter heaven and enjoy eternal life there.
When we comprehend themajestic height of Christ’s love, it infuses a God-centered ambition into our lives. Instead of being dominated by earthly affections, we can set our minds on things above where Christ reigns (Colossians 3:1-2). We find our true worth and security in his unchanging heavenly love.
4. The Depth of Christ’s Love
Christ’s love not only encompasses the horizontal and vertical dimensions, but also profound depth. The depth of his love refers to its intimate, personal nature. He loves each of us with a detailed, individual depth of knowledge and care.
Jesus proclaimed he is the good shepherd who knows his sheep and calls them each by name (John 10:3,14). As Psalm 139 declares, even before we were formed in the womb, every day of our lives was written in his book (Psalm 139:13-16). No detail escapes his comprehensive knowledge and purpose for each life.
This deep love of Christ is perhaps most powerfully demonstrated through his incarnation. He entered into the full human experience, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4). He was tempted as we are, yet without sin so he could sympathize as our great high priest (Hebrews 4:15-16). The incredible mystery of the incarnation displays the depths to which he descended to know and redeem us fully.
Jesus’ intimate knowledge of his people was also displayed in his earthly ministry. He restored women, touched lepers, welcomed children, and forgave sinners. Drawing near to those who were marginalized, he met them in their point of need with compassion. No one was beyond the reach of his all-encompassing depth of care.
As believers today, we are called to rest in this intimate depth of Christ’s love for each of us. He knows us and meets us in our unique needs, joys, sorrows, and longings. We can entrust our lives fully to him as our loving Shepherd (1 Peter 5:7). Out of this security, we are freed to love others out of the depth of Christ’s love.
Comprehending the individual depth of Christ’s love brings incredible comfort and courage. No part of our lives escapes his sight. We are fully known and fully loved, now and for eternity. What wondrous love is this!
Putting the Dimensions Together
When we grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love – its vast, multidimensional nature – it enlarges our capacity to receive his fullness. His love encompasses the cosmos yet meets us each intimately. This great eternal love entered time and opened heaven’s door to us. It is both universally inclusive yet personally attentive to each individual. As Paul prayed, comprehending these dimensions equips us to better grasp the wonders of Jesus’ matchless love.
Living in light of this all-encompassing, eternal, divine, and intimate love transforms everything. It draws out our worship, humility, and strength for kingdom service. It redeems our identity and heals our hearts. It ushers us into the very Triune love that formed the fabric of reality. We find ourselves both delighting in this love and longing for the day we will experience its fullness in eternity.
While the height and depth, length and breadth remain far beyond complete human comprehension, may the glimpses we have in Scripture enlarge our vision. By the Spirit’s power, may we increasingly comprehend and walk in step with the magnificent dimensions of Christ’s love until we see face to face.