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"That ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height, and to know the love of
Christ which passeth knowledge" (3: 18, 19).
We have "the root of the matter", we have been rooted and grounded in love, but the
basis of it all, "the love of Christ" may for ever be beyond our full comprehension.
Indeed, the intervening clause "comprehend with all saints" suggests that only as a
company, a body, a complete fellowship, will any such "comprehension" be possible.
We are seeking to know something, which we are already warned "passeth knowledge".
This however, is an incentive not a deterrent. In human affairs, as we draw near to the
close of an investigation, as our knowledge attains a measure of completeness, the early
zest and eagerness of pursuit is likely to give place to slackness. The poet had seen this
when he said:
"If what stone afar so grand,
Turn to nothing in thine hand.
On again, the virtue lies,
In the struggle, not the prize."
Our quotation is from memory and is possibly faulty, but it will suffice. We are
however confident that the quest before the believer will never cloy, there will never be
"satiation" although there will always be blessed "satisfaction".
"THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE."
It is this word "passeth" that leads us to include this subject among the superlatives of
grace. In the original the word translated "passeth" is hyperballo. To speak in
"hyperbolic" language is to use exaggerated terms. If these terms are justified, we have a
strong and useful figure of speech, but if they are not, we are conscious of a careless
untruthful exaggeration. A polite way of calling a man a liar is to say he is using
hyperbolical language.
There is however in this third chapter nothing but sober truth. Those who know the
love of Christ most are those who are the most ready to subscribe to the statement, "it
exceeds knowledge". For this reason, it may be that I Cor. 13: says:
"Then shall we know, even as we are known . . . . . the greatest of these is love."
We are, however, concerned at the moment, not so much with the occupation or
capacity of the saints IN GLORY, but with their encouragement to endure IN
TROUBLE, and the consciousness that grace superabounds and that love exceeds all
human knowledge will surely minister to those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious,
and sustain them in their hour of trial.
"My cup runneth over."