4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led {g} captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(g) A multitude of captives.
4:8 Wherefore he saith. The citation is from Ps 68:18. It is cited to show that Christ gives.
When he ascended on high. Paul applies this to Christ's ascension to heaven.
He led captivity captive. The captives, led captive by Christ, are sin, the curse of the law, and death.
And gave gifts to men. As a conqueror, returning in triumph, was wont to distribute gifts, so Christ signalized his ascension by gifts.
4:8 Wherefore he saith - That is, in reference to which God saith by David, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive - He triumphed over all his enemies, Satan, sin, and death, which had before enslaved all the world: alluding to the custom of ancient conquerors, who led those they had conquered in chains after them. And, as they also used to give donatives to the people, at their return from victory, so he gave gifts to men - Both the ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit. Psa 68:18.
4:7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart.
