Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 3:14-22

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." — Revelation 3:14-22 (ASV)

Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of Asia. Here our Lord Jesus styles himself, “The Amen”: one steady and unchangeable in all his purposes and promises. If religion is worth anything, it is worth everything. Christ expects people to be earnest. How many who profess gospel doctrine are neither hot nor cold, except that they are indifferent in essential matters, and hot and fiery in disputes about things of lesser importance!

A severe punishment is threatened. They give a false impression of Christianity, as if it were an unholy religion, while others would conclude it could afford no real satisfaction; otherwise, its adherents would not have been so lacking in zeal for it, or so ready to seek pleasure or happiness from the world. One cause of this indifference and inconsistency in religion is self-conceit and self-delusion: “Because thou sayest.” What a difference between their thoughts of themselves and the thoughts Christ had of them! How careful we should be not to cheat our own souls!

Many are in hell who once thought themselves far on the way to heaven. Let us implore God that we may not be left to flatter and deceive ourselves. Professing believers grow proud as they become carnal and formal. Their state was wretched in itself. They were poor—truly poor—when they said and thought they were rich.

They could not see their state, nor their way, nor their danger, yet they thought they saw it. They did not have the garment of justification or of sanctification; they were exposed to sin and shame, and their rags would defile them. They were naked, without house or shelter, because they were without God, in whom alone the human soul can find rest and safety. Good counsel was given by Christ to these sinful people.

Happy are those who take his counsel, for all others must perish in their sins. Christ shows them where they might find true riches and how they might obtain them. Some things must be given up, but nothing valuable; it is only to make room for receiving true riches. Give up sin and self-confidence, so that you may be filled with his hidden treasure.

They must receive from Christ the white garments he purchased and provided for them: his own imputed righteousness for justification, and the garments of holiness and sanctification. Let them give themselves up to his word and Spirit, and their eyes will be opened to see their way and their ultimate end. Let us examine ourselves by the rule of his word and pray earnestly for the teaching of his Holy Spirit to take away our pride, prejudices, and worldly lusts. Sinners should take the rebukes of God's word and discipline as signs of his love for their souls.

Christ stood outside, knocking—by the workings of his providence, the warnings and teaching of his word, and the influences of his Spirit. Christ still graciously, by his word and Spirit, comes to the door of the hearts of sinners. Those who open to him will enjoy his presence. If what he finds would amount to only a poor feast, what he brings will supply a rich one.

He will give fresh supplies of graces and comforts. The conclusion contains a promise to the believer who overcomes. Christ himself had temptations and conflicts; he overcame them all and was more than a conqueror. Those made like Christ in his trials will be made like him in glory. Everything is concluded with a general call for attention.

And these counsels, while suited to the churches to which they were addressed, are deeply relevant to all people.