Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 3:19

"As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." — Revelation 3:19 (ASV)

Even though the state of a church verges on disaster, all is not lost if there are those in it who will receive Christ’s loving rebuke and come back to him. Christ’s statement “I rebuke and discipline” speaks of his love (Proverbs 3:12; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:6). He spits out those he does not love and “rebukes” (GK 1794) and “disciplines” (GK 4084) those who hear his voice. The difference between the expelled and the disciplined lies in their response: “So be earnest [lit., zealous; GK 2418] and repent.” The Laodiceans’ repentance would come from a rekindling of their loyalty to Christ.