Rev 3:14-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 3:14-22: 3:14-22 The letter to the church in Laodicea castigates lukewarm Christians whose inconsistent lives stand for nothing but themselves. They sicken Christ to the point of his spitting them from his mouth. 3:14 Laodicea , situated 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, was the economic and judicial center of a metropolitan region that included Colosse and Hierapolis. The citizens of Laodicea were very proud of their self-sufficiency. After a severe earthquake ( AD 60), Laodicea refused aid from Rome and rebuilt their city themselves (Tacitus, Annals 14.27), making it very beautiful. • the Amen: Used as an oath, “Amen” is a promise of truth (Isa 65:16 ). Jesus is the truth (John 8:32 ; 14:6 ), and his message is authenticated by the truthfulness and reliability of his word. • The description of Christ as the faithful and true witness declares that he knew them as they really were: Though wealthy and proud of their status and accomplishments, they were not measuring up to God’s expectations.

Summary for Rev 3:14-22: 3:14-22 ^a The letter to the church in Laodicea castigates lukewarm Christians whose inconsistent lives stand for nothing but themselves. They sicken Christ to the point of his spitting them from his mouth. 3:14 ^b Laodicea, situated 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, was the economic and judicial center of a metropolitan region that included Colosse and Hierapolis. The citizens of Laodicea were very proud of their self-sufficiency. After a severe earthquake (AD 60), Laodicea refused aid from Rome and rebuilt their city themselves (Tacitus, Annals 14.27), making it very beautiful.

• the Amen: Used as an oath, “Amen” is a promise of truth (Isa 65:16 ^c). Jesus is the truth (John 8:32 ^d; 14:6 ^e), and his message is authenticated by the truthfulness and reliability of his word.

• The description of Christ as the faithful and true witness declares that he knew them as they really were: Though wealthy and proud of their status and accomplishments, they were not measuring up to God’s expectations.
Summary for Rev 3:15-16: 3:15-16 ^f neither hot nor cold: The hot springs in Hierapolis were famous for their healing qualities. Colosse was equally famous for its cold, refreshing springs. In contrast, the water available in Laodicea was smelly and lukewarm. Such water is distasteful; Jesus was saying that the church’s indecisive commitment to him was revolting.
3:17 ^g Although Christians in Laodicea felt prosperous and self-sufficient (see study note on 3:14), Jesus accurately saw their wretched and miserable and poor spiritual condition.
3:18 ^h Jesus’ prescription for Laodicea required a complete change of attitude from self-reliance to dependence on God.

• buy gold from me: Materially, they could buy whatever they wanted, but they needed to acquire the treasures of heaven so they would have spiritual riches through faith in Christ.

• purified by fire: While material wealth will not withstand God’s purging by fire (cp. 1 Cor 3:12-15 ⁱ), spiritual wealth has eternal value.

• White garments represent spiritual purity. Black wool cloth and garments were prized exports of the city of Laodicea. This famous black wool cloth was a source of Laodicea’s material wealth; it probably represents the Laodiceans’ proud and unredeemed spiritual condition.

• Laodicea’s material prosperity was also due to their well-known Phrygian eye ointment, which may have been used there in the eye clinic associated with the famed physician Demosthenes Philalethes. The Laodiceans needed to buy ointment from Christ through faith. Only his eye salve would enable them to see their sin and repent.
3:19 ^j Christ will correct and discipline those whom he loves (Prov 3:11-12 ^k; Heb 12:5-6 ^l), rather than rejecting them. His faithfulness extends even to the unfaithful (2 Tim 2:13 ^m).
3:20 ⁿ A person or a church must hear Jesus knocking and open the door to him. Christ provides a pattern of revival for a church that has grown spiritually weak and fallen out of fellowship with him. Simply opening the door can renew their former bond.

• we will share a meal: A shared meal symbolizes acceptance, deep friendship, and a covenant relationship (19:9 ^o; see Gen 18:1-5 ^p, 16-19 ^q; Exod 12:1-31 ^r; 18:12 ^s; Matt 26:26-30 ^t).
3:21 ^u The reward for victorious and obedient faith is to sit with Christ on his throne. Christians do not become divine, but they share in Christ’s victorious reign (20:4 ^v, 6 ^w; 22:5 ^x; Col 3:1-4 ^y; 2 Tim 2:12 ^z).