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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 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock ,.... The phrase of standing at the door may be expressive of the near approach, or sudden coming of Christ to judgment, see James 5:9 ; and his knocking may signify the notice that will be given of it, by some of the immediate forerunners and signs of his coming; which yet will be observed but by a few, such a general sleepiness will have seized all professors of religion; and particularly may intend the midnight cry, which will, in its issue, rouse... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock - There are many sayings of this kind among the ancient rabbins; thus in Shir Hashirim Rabba, fol. 25, 1: "God said to the Israelites, My children, open to me one door of repentance, even so wide as the eye of a needle, and I will open to you doors through which calves and horned cattle may pass." In Sohar Levit, fol. 8, col. 32, it is said: "If a man conceal his sin, and do not open it before the holy King, although he ask mercy, yet the door of... 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 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock ; behold, I have stood ( ἕστηκα ) at the door, and am knocking ( κρούω ) . "These gracious words declare the long-suffering of Christ, as he waits for the conversion of sinners ( 1 Peter 3:20 ); and not alone the long-suffering which waits, but the love which seeks to bring that conversion about, which ' knocks .' He at whose door we ought to stand, for he is the Door ( John 10:7 ), who, as such, has bidden us to knock ( Matthew... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:20

The Saviour, the soul, and salvation. "Behold, I stand at the door," etc. These words, so welt known and much loved, however their primary intention may have had regard to a sinful community like the Church at Laodicea, nevertheless lend themselves so aptly to the setting forth of Christ's dealing with individual sinful souls, and have been so often used in this way, that once more we employ them for the like purpose. They supply three vivid pictures. I. OF OUR SAVIOR "Behold, I... read more

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