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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 3:14-22

We now come to the last and worst of all the seven Asian churches, the reverse of the church of Philadelphia; for, as there was nothing reproved in that, here is nothing commended in this, and yet this was one of the seven golden candlesticks, for a corrupt church may still be a church. Here we have, as before, I. The inscription, to whom, and from whom. 1. To whom: To the angel of the church of Laodicea. This was a once famous city near the river Lycus, had a wall of vast compass, and three... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 3:14-22

3:14-22 And to the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write: These things says the Amen, the witness on whom you can rely and who is true, the moving cause of the creation of God. I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are tepid and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich and I have acquired riches, and I need nothing, and are quite unaware that it is you who are the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:19

As many as I love I rebuke and chasten ,.... The persons the objects of Christ's love here intended are not angels, but the sons of men; and these not all of them, yet many of them, even all who are his own by his Father's gift and his own purchase; and who are called his church, and sometimes represented as such who love him and obey his commands: the instances of his love to them are many; as his suretyship engagements for them, his assumption of their nature, dying in their room and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 3:19

As many as I love - So it was the love he still had to them that induced him thus to reprehend and thus to counsel them. Be zealous - Be in earnest, to get your souls saved, They had no zeal; this was their bane. He now stirs them up to diligence in the use of the means of grace and repentance for their past sins and remissness. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:14-21

The epistle to the Church at Laodicea. It was a wealthy city in which this Church had her home, and it was large and beautiful also. It stood on one of the great Roman roads which led away to Damascus and Arabia. Hence there was a large stream of traffic continually flowing through it, and its inhabitants became very rich. At the time when this letter was sent them they were building for themselves one of those huge amphitheatres which the Greeks and Romans of the day were wont to build in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:14-22

The epistle to the Church in Laodicea. Laodicea, on the Lycus, a tributary of the Maeander, lay some fifty miles to the south-east of Philadelphia. The modern Turkish name, Eskihissar, signifies "the old castle." It is situated on the western side of the valley of the Lycus, on the opposite slopes of which, some six or eight miles distant, were Hierapolis and Colossae, with which it is associated by St. Paul ( Colossians 4:13 , Colossians 4:16 ). Named at first Diosopolis, after its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:14-22

(7) The Epistle to the Church in Laodicea. The "Amen, the faithful and true Witness," speaks to the untrue and unfaithful Church, whose outward appearance contrasts so with her internal state. Deceptive pretentiousness receives its rebuke. The lukewarm—neither hot and fervent in devotion nor lowlily acknowledging itself to be cold; neither fervid in holy affection nor consciously lacking holy fervour and confessing it—lacking the true warm fervour of love, and either not knowing the lack,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:14-22

The words of Christ to the Church at Laodicea. "And unto the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans," etc. "Laodicea is in the south-west of Phrygia, on the river Lycus, not far from Colossae, lying between it and Philadelphia, destroyed by an earthquake A.D. 62, rebuilt by its wealthy citizens without the help of the state. This wealth (arising from the excellence of its wools) led to a self-satisfied, lukewarm state in spiritual things. In Colossians 4:16 it is mentioned. The Church in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent . As many as. Not one whom God loves escapes chastening; if he be not chastened, he is not a son ( Hebrews 12:8 ), for "all have sinned, and come short." " I love " is φιλῶ , I love dearly; not merely ἀγαπῶ . I rebuke ( ἐλέγχω ), to reprove, so as to convict of sin and turn to repentance; the work of the Holy Ghost, who should "convict the world of sin" ( John 16:8 ). This verse is a solace and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten - Of course, only on the supposition that they deserve it. The meaning is, that it is a proof of love on his part, if his professed friends go astray, to recall them by admonitions and by trials. So a father calls back his children who are disobedient; and there is no higher proof of his love than when, with great pain to himself, he administers such chastisement as shall save his child. See the sentiment here expressed fully explained in the notes on... read more

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