Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 2:5

"Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent." — Revelation 2:5 (ASV)

The speaker’s command further exposes the problem and offers a way to correct the fault. The imperatives are instructive: “Remember... repent... do.” The Ephesians are to reflect on their earlier works of fervent love, to ponder how far they have fallen from their former devotion and enthusiasm, to humbly “repent” (GK 3566) before God, and to do their former works motivated by love.

These imperatives are all part of a single action designed to keep the Ephesians from the judgment of Christ, which would effectively remove them as his representatives in the world.

How many churches today stand at this same crossroads? Do we sense the importance to Christ of not only honoring his name by our true confession but also of reflecting his life by our loving relationship to others? This threat of loss of light bearing applies equally to the other four churches to whom a similar exhortation to “repent” is given (Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea).