Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 2:7

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." — Revelation 2:7 (ASV)

He that hath an ear . . .—Or, Let him that hath an ear, hear. These words—an echo from the Gospels—recur in all the seven epistles. In the first three, however, they are placed before the promise; in the remaining four they follow it.

The heart which is hardened is the precursor of the ear that is deaf (Jeremiah 6:10 and John 12:37-40). The “spiritual truth” needs a spiritual organ for its discernment. These are truths, then, only heard

“When the soul seeks to hear; when all is hushed,
And the heart listens.”—Coleridge, Reflection.

To him that overcometh (or, conquers) will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.—The reference to conquering is a prominent feature of Saint John’s other writings. The word—used but once in the three Gospels (Luke 11:22), and but once by Saint Paul (Romans 12:21)—is found in John 16:33; 1 John 2:13–14; 1 John 5:4–5; and occurs in all these epistles to the churches.

The promise of the tree of life is appropriate:

1. to the virtue commended: those who had not indulged in the license of Nicolaitanes will eat of the tree of life;
2. to the special weakness of the Ephesians: to those who had fallen, and lost the paradise of first loving communion and fellowship with God (Compare to Genesis 3:8 and 1 John 1:3), is held out the promise of a restored paradise and participation in the tree of life. (Revelation 22:14; Genesis 3:22.)

This boon of immortality is the gift of Christ—I will give. It is tasted in knowledge of God and of His Son (John 17:3); it is enjoyed in their presence (Revelation 22:3–4).