Revelation Chapter 3:14-22/Commentary

Revelation Chapter 3:14-22 3:14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write”: The congregations in Smyrna and Philadelphia received no complaint, while the congregation in Laodicea receives only condemnation. Laodicea was located some forty miles SE of Philadelphia. In Roman times this city had become the wealthiest town in Phryia, in fact the city was so prosperous that when an earthquake destroyed it in A.D. 60, the city officials refused financial aid from Rome. “Tacticus, the Roman historian, inferred that it was unusual that any city would be rich enough to rebuild itself (The Annals of Tacitus, 14.27.1)” (Harkrider p. 55).

“Laodicea. Synonym for indifference through self-satisfaction. Sad to say, probably the most preached-on church of the seven” (McGuiggan p. 72).

“Ramsay describes Laodicea as a city of no extremes, a city that had no particular characteristic” (Hailey p. 156).

Laodicea was a major banking center in the region, which is obviously related to its general wealth. It was also a producer of black wool clothing and carpets, and the location for a famous medical school and the producer of a world-renowned eye powder used to treat eye diseases. “The city’s water supply originated from hot springs six miles away at Denizli. In the process of traveling through aqueduct to Laodicea, the water become tepid—neither hot nor cold” (Gregg p.

78). This congregation had been mentioned earlier in the New Testament (Colossians 4:13-16).

3:14 “The Amen”: From a Hebrew word meaning to be firm or steadfast. Jesus’ very name “the Amen”, guarantees all that He says. Jesus is sure, definite and faithful, in contrast to the lukewarmness of these Christians. Jesus is to be utterly relied upon, His words are unquestioningly to be accepted, and His promises are always true (John 1:51; 3:3,5,11). Compare with 2 Corinthians 1:20. Jesus has a fixed purpose and character, the Laodiceans do not.

3:14 “The faithful and true witness”: “His testimony is absolutely trustworthy.

As the supreme and rightful critic of the church and the absolutely trustworthy 1

one, His criticisms and warnings should be heeded” (Hailey p. 157). “And it is as this infallible and fully authoritative Witness that Christ bears convicting testimony against the church of Laodicea” (Chilton p. 133). Jesus is also the perfect Witness: 1. He has first hand knowledge. 2. He is completely honest. 3. He can accurately communicate what He has seen.

3:14 “The Beginning of the creation of God”: Note the first one created by God, but rather Jesus is the origin of all created things (John 1:1-3). The Greek word translated “beginning” is arche, which carries the concept of the “beginning, origin, active cause”, rather than the first thing created. He is the cause or source of all created things (Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:15-18). “The rich, selfreliant Laodicean is reminded from whom all blessings flow” (McGuiggan p. 73).

Note that the church in Laodicea had been reminded of these truths before (Colossians 4:16; 1:15ff).

3:15 “I know your deeds”: Nothing is hidden from God’s inspection.

3:15 “That you are”: Notice that one cannot separate themselves from their deeds. Lukewarm deeds come from lukewarm people.

3:15 “Neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot”: Is Jesus here saying that He would prefer them to be unbelievers rather than lukewarm Christians? Some say yes, that Jesus would find coldness (unbelief) less offensive than lukewarmness. “Those who zealously oppose Christ, and those who zealously serve Him, have one thing in common: they both take Him seriously. The one who neither opposes nor serves offers Christ the ultimate insult—affirming His existence, but not taking Him seriously” (Gregg p. 79).

Others note that this statement stresses the horror of their situation, that the lukewarm Christian is by far a worse example than an unbeliever (see 2 Peter 2:20-22; Hebrews 6:4-6). Others note that the terms hot and cold simply stand for having a definite influence, and being committed.

3:16 “So because you are lukewarm”: Hot springs could be used for healing, and such springs existed at Hieropolis. Cold water was refreshing, and such water was available at Colossae. But Laodicea the waters were neither hot nor cold. “In other words, the basic accusation against Laodicea is that it is ineffectual, good for nothing. The church provided neither refreshment for the spiritual weary, nor healing for the spiritually sick” (Chilton p. 134).

3:16 “I will spit you out of My mouth”: In clear terms God is disgusted with them, they have become something that makes Him sick, they have become an abomination. Even today one almost gags trying to drink down a glass of lukewarm water. Compare with statement with the Old Testament where God said He would spew people out of the land of Promise (Leviticus 18:24-28).

Points to Note:

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1. “Of all things indifference is the hardest to combat. If a man feels intensely about something in one direction, it is at least possible to persuade him to feel intensely in the other direction. But if a man has lost the ability to feel intensely at all, then it is very difficult to do anything with him” (Barclay p. 179).

2. One cannot remain neutral in reference to Jesus Christ. The man who will not help Christ is being a hindrance to Him. 3. “Tepid, flabby, half-hearted, limp, always ready to compromise, indifferent, listless, that ‘we’re-all-good-people-here-in-Laodicea’ attitude” (Hendriksen p. 76).

4. Jesus is far more than simply kind of upset with them, He is thoroughly disgusted with them. Here is one more verse that clearly teaches that Christians can fall away and lose their salvation.

5. No leader wants followers with reservations.

6. The lukewarm Christian is doing far more harm than good.

7. The reason what such indifference needs to be dealt with in a congregation is because such indifference can spread. A congregation is committing spiritual suicide when it refuses to discipline lukewarm members.

3:17 “Because you say”: “Who is more to be pitied than an individual who imagines that he is a fine Christian, whereas in reality the Christ Himself is utterly disgusted with him?” (Hendriksen p. 77). The dangerous thing about being lukewarm is that one has so lowered their standards that they perceive themselves to be faithful Christians. “Let your words be few and sweet. It’s better this way when you come to eating them. How many of us open our mouths only to change feet? The trouble with God is, He always hears what we say and He has this tremendous memory” (McGuiggan pp. 73-74).

3:17 “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”: Apparently the material success of the city had affected this congregation, they may have reasoned that their material prosperity was proof that God considered them faithful. “This church was guilty of the ‘atheism of the dollar’. In comes the dollar and out goes God. We can buy our way to congregational success. We’ll hire the best preacher, the best song-leader, build us the fanciest building, with this all accomplished the result are bound to follow, with God or without Him” (McGuiggan p. 74). Hailey notes, “The picture well describes many congregations today: they possess material prosperity, they engage in ‘projects’ that use finances but which express no real spiritual zeal. They develop a ‘teaching program’ more formal than productive of true inward development.

They enjoy a comfortable building and a respected social position in the community, and live in worldly enjoyment that requires neither sacrifice nor effort.

They feel sufficient within themselves” (p. 159). Compare with Hosea 12:8, Luke 18:11; 17:10.

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3:17 “Have need of nothing”: “Wealth has a way of imparting a false sense of self-sufficiency the very antithesis of the beggarliness of spirit commended in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3)” (Gregg p. 79). “When a relatively poor church such as that at Smyrna (Revelation 2:9) was having a rich effect upon its community, there was no excuse for Laodicea’s impotence. Her problem was not wealth, but disobedience” (Chilton p. 136).

3:17 “You are wretched”: “Like many modern Christians who do just enough to keep their names on a church roll, they would likely have been insulted had anyone else accused them of being lukewarm and unpleasing before the Lord” (Harkrider p. 59).

3:17 “Miserable and poor and blind and naked”: Instead of being a church to be envied or admired, they were miserable. Instead of being wealthy, they were spiritually bankrupt. Instead of being enlightened, they were blinded, and instead of being self-sufficient, they were completely naked. “Laodicea prided itself on its clothing trade. The garments made in Laodicea were famous over all the world, and the wool of the sheep of Laodicea was a luxury article which all men knew…

In the ancient world to be stripped naked was the worst humiliation and shame” (Barclay p. 181). “Each descriptive word was ironic, in view of the local medical school, the banks, the eye salve, the textile industry for which the city was famed” (Gregg p. 79). Please note that a person can be in reality, miserable, poor, blind and naked and not even know it. How a person feels about himself or herself, can have nothing to do with their true condition. The person who seems to be extremely happy, can actually be in a very miserable condition before God. 3:18 “I advise you”: “Though He might boldly command, Jesus takes instead the role of Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) conveying more of a sense of advising one in His best interests” (Gregg p. 79).

3:18 “To buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich”: To “buy” means to purchase or pay the price. The gold under consideration here may be a character that has been refined by trials (1 Peter 1:6-7). “So the Lord called upon them to start over, get excited about being a Christian, endure the trials to follow, and then witness the wealth of true riches that would come as it did to the saints at Smyrna” (Ogden p. 160).

3:18 “And white garments, that you may clothe yourself”: They needed personal holiness (Revelation 19:8). Indifference to Jesus may have led them to think that what they did in their personal lives did not matter.

3:18 “That the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed”: Their “nakedness” was their lack of faith, indifference, and compromise.

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3:18 “And eyesalve to anoint your eyes, that you may see”: “Despite the fact that a world-renowned eye salve was produced in that very city, the church had lost its spiritual perception” (2 Peter 1:9) (Gregg p. 80).

3:19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline”: Even the previous stern and cutting words are evidence of love on Jesus’ part for these Christians. “It is the Father who is said to chasten His children in Proverbs 3:12. Here it is Jesus taking this responsibility—perhaps another instance of the Revelation identifying Christ with God” (Gregg p. 80). God does not regard such a rebuke as an unkind or inconsiderate act (Proverbs 9:8). Such a reprove and statement also infer that these Christians can change and that being lukewarm does not have to be permanent condition here on the earth. “In spite of this church’s attitude toward Him, the Lord yet has a tender and affectionate feeling for it” (Hailey p. 161).

3:19 “Be zealous therefore”: Yet such love is not a reason to remain indifferent, repentance is needed and it is needed now and with great enthusiasm. Please note that zeal does not fall from the sky, rather zeal is a choice made by the individual. A person can make the decision to be zealous.

3:19 “And repent”: If the Christian needs to repent and his or her sins are not being automatically forgiven.

3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock”: “Here is a picture of the Lord seeking admittance into the life of this spiritually indifferent church from which He had been excluded. The knocking expresses His effort through the Word to be admitted. The Savior never forces admission but seeks entrance by the willing disposition of the individual” (Hailey p. 3:20). Jesus has been knocking through His preaching to this congregation. Clearly Jesus feels like an outsider in reference to this church.

3:20 “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door”: Jesus’ voice and Jesus knocking refer to the same event. Notice the word “anyone”. God is no respecter of persons and each individual Christian in Laodicea must do their own repenting. It is not enough to merely hear, one must act upon what they are hearing.

3:20 “And will dine with him, and He with Me”: This “dining” may refer to spiritual communion and fellowship, and may also include such spiritual communion with Christ in eternity as well (Matthew 8:10-13). We tend to forget that life with Christ is a continual feast for the faithful.

3:21 “He who overcomes”: This means that no one can overcome for you.

Notice that the specific individuals who will overcome is still something flexible, and that there is no predestination here. Here is the repeated exhortation in the book. Christians are not to run and hide, rather they are to overcome. Christ’s kingdom is already here (Colossians 1:13); He has already disarmed the realm of

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evil (Colossians 2:15), we are kings and priests with Him already (Revelation 1:6), He reigns now (Acts 2:29-36), above all creation (Ephesians 1:20-22), with all the power in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18), and Jesus is presently engaged in putting all His enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25). We need to have confidence and go forth and conquer and spread this kingdom far and wide.

3:21 “I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne”: In a sense we reign with Jesus now (Ephesians 2:6; Revelation 5:9), but this is talking about reigning with Christ in eternity (2 Timothy 2:11).

3:21 “As I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”: Jesus presently reigns! (Hebrews 1:8; 12:2; Psalm 110:1) 3:22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”: “So often we listen to a message which comes through a preacher and apply it to everyone but ourselves. In our heart of hearts we believe that the stern words cannot possibly be meant for us…But this phrase says to everyone one of us: ‘All these things are meant for you’” (Barclay p. 188). In addition, this sentence infers that what Jesus said to these Christians 2000 years ago still needs to be heeded by believers in any generation. Jesus has not changed and His standards remain the same.

Among historicists and some futurists, it is generally argued that Laodicea represents the lukewarm sector of the church in the end times (possibly beginning near the end of the 19th century), yet the entire congregation in Laodicea was lukewarm and not merely a portion of it. There is no remnant here, no faithful few, thus to apply this verse to our own time would mean that there are no true Christians on the earth today. In addition, it is subjective reasoning to assume that the end of the 19th century is the “end times”, for there are no “end times” in Scripture but simply the “last day”, which is unknown to all except God (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).

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