Matthew Henry Edited by Victor.s
There are but three scriptures which refer to the place called Paradise. The first, "And Jesus said unto him [the repentant thief] Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise" Luke 23:43. In Second Corinthians 12, Paul speaks of himself being "caught up to the third heaven . . .he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." Paul was caught up into the third heaven: Paradise. Will anyone argue that Paul was not caught up; that he stood not before the throne of God? The last reference: "to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" Rev. 2:7. Shall we say that the tree of life which we know to be in Heaven, is to be found in a place called "Abraham's bosom?"
"Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
One of the basic laws of interpretation is that of the “law of first mention,” and it well applies here. The first reference to leading “captivity captive” is found in Judges chapter five. “Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty” Judges 5:12,13. Israel’s second judge, Ehud, led the people against the Moabites after slaying their king, and the land had rest for eighty years. But after his death Israel once again fell back into sin. “And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan. . .twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.” At that time the Lord raised up a “prophetess”, Deborah. She sent word to Barak the son of Abinoam: he was to assemble ten thousand men at Mount Tabor; Jehovah would draw Sisera (Jabin’s general) and his armies to meet him at the river Kishon; there He would deliver them into his hand. But the death of Sisera would be given into the hand of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera’s death came as she drove a tent nail through his head. The victory was secured and Israel rested for forty years. “Then sang Deborah and Barak. . .Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves” Judges 5:1. The song related the entire episode. In the song there is conveyed a poetic illusion, “Awake, awake, Deborah: awake awake, utter a song: arise Barak, and lead thy Captivity captive” vs. 12. The term most surely would have rung with familiarity among the Israelites! “Captivity” in the song was portrayed by the oppressors, the Moabites. Israel was the oppressed, the captive. But now the tables are turned: Israel is the captor, while Moab is the captive!
A defeated people might find their entire city or district removed from the land and relocated nearby their captors, where they were made to serve as slave labor. Removal was thought to sever a people from the care and protection of their god: it implied the defeat of such deity. Their prominent leaders were likely to be chained, to be treated with indignation and cruelty; the victors leading them down the main streets of the city in great celebration of their triumph.
Let us make the application: Sin was our Captivity. It drew us away; it bound us; it enslaved us. It “removed us from the care and protection of our God: it implied the defeat of such deity!” But He has slain the enemy! They are overcome by His power! He is triumphant, victorious! Death and hell are vanquished foes! He is risen from the grave, alive evermore. He has delivered His people from Captivity! He has taken Captivity captive!
“Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. And you. . .hath He quickened together with Him. And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” Col. 2:12,13,15. Does this verse not clearly define that which we have just read?
In the book of Judges chapter sixteen we are given through Samson, a portrayal of the resurrection of Christ; a metaphor of Death and Hell. “Then went Samson to Gaza. . .And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city. And Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.”
Death and Hell thought to compass in our Lord; but He arose while it was yet night. And He came forth! Not only does He carry the keys of Death and Hell (not the keys to them) but He has carried away the Gates of Death and the Grave, bar and all! Even the framework, the doorposts are removed! As trophies of His victory, He carries them up to the top of a hill: He has “led “Captivity captive!” “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” Col. 2:15. It was “to the top of the hill that is before Hebron.” Hebron, a royal residence for king David: shall we not say that Christ also entered His royal residence in triumph over His foes? May we therefore stand triumphantly in Christ and cry aloud, Death, where is thy sting; Grave, where is thy victory!
Returning to Ephesians chapter four we offer a brief synopsis of verses eight through eleven.
“When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” He ascended up far above the heavens, that He might fill all things,” all the members of His church with gifts and graces, according to His riches in glory. “And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Ten days after our Lord’s ascension (the number of completion for those who are interested) the gift of the Holy Ghost was given; and that, to every believer! Acts 2:38, 10:45, 11:16.
“As great conquerors, when they rode in their triumphal chariots, used to be attended with the most illustrious of their captives led in chains, and were wont to scatter their largesses and bounty among the soldiers and other spectators of their triumphs, so Christ, when He ascended into heaven, as a triumphant conqueror, led captivity captive. . .He conquered those who had conquered us; such as sin, the devil, and death. Indeed, He triumphed over these on the cross; but the triumph was completed at His ascension, when He became Lord over all, and had the keys of Death and Hades put into His hands.”
Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Volume VI, Page 703
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