Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 3:16

"So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth." — Revelation 3:16 (ASV)

Sadly, the speaker’s knowledge reveals an unqualified condemnation of the Laodicean church—a verdict that is the exact opposite of the church’s own evaluation (v.17). Their deeds were “neither cold nor hot.” This expression may refer to their lack of zeal (v.19) or their uselessness, for Christ says, “I wish you were either one or the other” (lit., “either cold or hot”). There is good reason not to understand this expression as if Christ meant, “I wish you were either spiritually cold (i.e., unsaved or hostile) or spiritually hot (i.e., alive and fervent).” It is inconceivable that Christ would wish that people were spiritually cold in this sense. Furthermore, the application of “hot” and “cold” to spiritual temperature, though familiar to us, would have been foreign to first-century Christians. The two adjectives in “neither hot nor cold” should be understood together as equivalent to “lukewarmness” (v.16). That is to say, they were useless to Christ because they were complacent, self-satisfied, and indifferent to the real issues of faith in him and of discipleship. “I am about to spit you out of my mouth” alludes to the “lukewarm” water that was a part of the situation in Laodicea . “Cold” could refer to the useful cool water located at Colosse, less than ten miles away. “Hot” would remind the Laodiceans of the beneficial “hot springs” to the north of Hierapolis. Christ detests their attitude of compromise, one that seeks easy accommodation and peace at any cost. With such a condition, he must deal harshly. To be a Christian means to be useful to Christ.