How does Ephesians 3:8 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?

◄ Link Eph 3:8 to Matt 28:19-20. ►

“Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”.

• Paul admits his inadequacy, yet highlights the divine grace that equips him.

• His task: announce “the unsearchable riches of Christ” to the Gentiles—all non-Jewish nations.

• The verse pulses with missionary momentum; Paul sees his personal commission as part of God’s global plan.

The Same Global Heartbeat

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations …” (Matthew 28:19-20).

• Both passages target “all nations”—Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8) and “all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

• The scope is universal: no tribe, language, or ethnicity lies outside Christ’s redemptive reach (Revelation 5:9).

• Paul’s calling is a lived-out model of the Great Commission; he embodies its mandate.

Grace Given to Go

• Jesus’ words “Go” (Matthew 28:19) echo the “grace … given” to Paul (Ephesians 3:8).

• Mission is never self-generated; it flows from grace received (1 Corinthians 15:10).

• Acts 1:8 underscores the same dynamic: “you will receive power … and you will be My witnesses.”

The Message We Carry: The Unsearchable Riches

• Great Commission evangelism is not vague uplift; it proclaims concrete, inexhaustible riches:

– Forgiveness through Christ’s blood (Ephesians 1:7).

– Adoption into God’s family (Romans 8:15).

– Indwelling hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

• Paul’s “unsearchable” language guards against shrinking the gospel to a mere moral code; we announce infinite treasure.

Power and Presence: Christ with Us

• Jesus promises, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

• Paul serves “in the working of His power” (Ephesians 3:7).

• The identical source—Christ’s own presence—sustains every witness, whether apostolic or contemporary.

Tying It Together: Practical Implications

• Identity: Like Paul, every believer is a grace-made messenger, however “least” we may feel (2 Corinthians 4:7).

• Message: Keep Christ central; we preach “not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

• Reach: Aim beyond familiar circles. The Great Commission forbids parochialism; Ephesians 3:8 reinforces it.

• Confidence: Christ’s promised presence assures fruit even in hard soil (Isaiah 55:11).

• Worship: Proclaiming Christ’s riches is an act of praise that declares “the excellencies of Him” (1 Peter 2:9).