Ephesians 1:18

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, &c.] By the Spirit of God already, to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin; the insufficiency of their own righteousness; the beauty, glory, fulness, and suitableness of Christ, as a Saviour; the excellency, truth, and usefulness of the doctrines of the Gospel; in which their understandings were before dark, but now had light into them: wherefore these words are not to be considered as part of the apostle's petitions, but rather as what was taken for granted by him; and are to be put into a parenthesis, and the following words to be joined in connection with the preceding verse; unless it should be thought, that the apostle prays for greater…”

“understanding--The oldest manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read "heart." Compare the contrary state of unbelieving, the heart being in fault (Eph 4:18; Mat 13:15). Translate, "Having the eyes of your heart enlightened" (Eph 5:14; Mat 4:16). The first effect of the Spirit moving in the new creation, as in the original physical creation (Gen 1:3; Co2 4:6). So THEOPHILUS to AUTOLYCUS (1.3), "the ears of the heart." Where spiritual light is, there is life (Joh 1:4). The heart is "the core of life" [HARLESS], and the fountain of the thoughts; whence "the heart" in Scripture includes the mind, as well as the inclination. Its "eye," or inward vision, both receives and contemplates the light (Mat…”

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened - The construction here in the Greek is, probably, “that he may give you (δώη dōē, Ephesians 1:17) the Spirit of wisdom, etc. - eyes of the understanding enlightened,” etc. Or the phrase, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened,” may be in the accusative absolute, which Koppe and Bloomfield prefer. The phrase, “the eyes of the understanding,” is a figure that is common in all languages. Thus, Philo says, “What the eye is to the body, that is the mind to the soul;” compare Matthew 6:22. The eye is the instrument by which we see; and in like manner the understanding is that by which we perceive truth. The idea here is, that Paul not…”

“The eyes of your understanding - It is with these alone that we discern the things of God. Being first opened, and then enlightened - - By his Spirit. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling - That ye may experimentally and delightfully know what are the blessings which God has called you to hope for by his word and his Spirit. And what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints - What an immense treasure of blessedness he hath provided as an inheritance for holy souls. Ephesians 1:19”

“1:18 Confident hope for believers is the anticipation of Christ’s return and his future blessings that they will share. Joined with Christ, believers become joint heirs with him of all God’s promised blessings.”

“eyes: Eph 5:8; Psa 119:18; Isa 6:10, Isa 29:10, Isa 29:18, Isa 32:3, Isa 42:7; Mat 13:15; Luk 24:45; Act 16:14, Act 26:18; Co2 4:4, Co2 4:6; Heb 10:32 is: Eph 2:12, Eph 4:4; Rom 5:4, Rom 5:5, Rom 8:24, Rom 8:25; Gal 5:5; Col 1:5, Col 1:23; Th1 5:8; Th2 2:16; Tit 2:13, Tit 3:7; Pe1 1:3; Jo1 3:1-3 his calling: Eph 4:1; Rom 8:28-30; Phi 3:14; Col 3:15; Th1 2:12; Th2 1:11; Ti1 6:12; Pe1 3:9, Pe1 5:10 the riches: Eph 1:7, Eph 1:11, Eph 3:8, Eph 3:16 Ephesians 1:19”