Revelation 3:14-22

To the Church in Laodicea

14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the ¹Amen, ²the faithful and true witness, ³the beginning of God's creation.

15 "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. ⁴Would that you were either cold or hot!

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

17 ⁵For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, ⁶blind, and naked.

18 I counsel you ⁷to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and ⁸white garments so that you may clothe yourself and ⁹the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, ¹⁰so that you may see.

19 ¹¹Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and ¹²knock. ¹³If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, ¹⁴I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

21 ¹⁵The one who conquers, ¹⁶I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as ¹⁷I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 ¹⁸He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

Revelation 3:14-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 3

This chapter contains the epistles to the churches at Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, and begins with that to Sardis; in which the sender describes himself by some things taken out of a former description of him; and gives an account of the state of this church; that her works were known by him, which were imperfect; and that she had the name of a living church, but was dead; wherefore she is exhorted to watchfulness and diligence, to remember how she had heard and received the Gospel, and to hold it fast, and repent of her sins: if not, he threatens to come as a thief unawares upon her, Re 3:1-3, but excepts some few persons from this general account, who were not defiled with the corruptions of the majority, and who therefore should be favoured with communion with him, Re 3:4, and then some gracious promises are made to persevering saints, and the epistle is concluded in the usual form, Re 3:5,6. Next follows the epistle to the church at Philadelphia; in which the sender assumes some peculiar titles not before mentioned, taken from his holiness, truth, and power, Re 3:7, signifies his approbation of her works; declares he had set before her an open door, which could not be shut; affirms she had a little strength, and commends her for keeping his word, Re 3:8, and, for her encouragement, promises that some persons, formerly of bad characters, should come and worship before her, and should know what an interest she had in his love; and that since she had kept his word, he would keep her from an hour of temptation, which will be a trying time to all the world, Re 3:9,10, and in consideration of his speedy coming, he exhorts her to hold fast what she had, that she might not lose her honour and glory; and promises the overcomer a fixed place and name in the house of God; and closes the epistle as the rest, Re 3:11-13, and then follows the last epistle of all, which is that to the church at Laodicea; in which the sender describes himself by some characters taken from his truth and faithfulness, and from his eternity, power, and dominion, Re 3:14, represents the members of this church as lukewarm, and very disagreeable to him, Re 3:15,16, and as having a vain opinion of themselves, being ignorant of their real state and case, Re 3:17, wherefore he gives them some wholesome counsel and advice, suitable to their condition, Re 3:18, and whereas there were some among them he loved, he lets them know that his rebukes and chastenings were from love, and with a view to stimulate them to zeal, and bring them to repentance, which became them, Re 3:19, and then he informs them where he was, what he expected from them, and what they might upon a suitable behaviour enjoy with him, Re 3:20, and next promises to the overcomer great honour and glory, such as he had with his Father; and concludes the epistle in his usual manner, Re 3:21,22.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Corinthians 1:20
• 2. ver. 7; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 19:11; Revelation 22:6
• 3. Colossians 1:15, 18; [Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:13; Proverbs 8:22]
• 4. [2 Peter 2:21]
• 5. Hosea 12:8; Zechariah 11:5; 1 Corinthians 4:8
• 6. John 9:39-41; Ephesians 1:18
• 7. Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 13:44; Matthew 25:9; [Proverbs 8:19]
• 8. [Revelation 19:8]; See ver. 4
• 9. Revelation 16:15
• 10. [See ver. 17 above]
• 11. See Hebrews 12:6
• 12. [Song of Songs 5:2]
• 13. Luke 12:36
• 14. John 14:23; [Luke 24:29, 30]
• 15. See Revelation 2:7
• 16. Revelation 20:4; [Revelation 2:26; John 12:26; 2 Timothy 2:12]; See Matthew 19:28
• 17. Revelation 5:5; Revelation 6:2; Revelation 17:14; John 16:33
• 18. [See Revelation 2:7 above]