Bible Commentaries
Revelation 3

Verse 1

A name ; the merely outward profession and form of religion. Persons may be regular in the outward form of religion, and yet destitute of its spirit. Without an effectual change, such cannot escape the judgments of God.

Verse 2

Things which remain ; their remaining attachment to truth and duty.

Verse 3

Received and heard ; the blessings bestowed, and the truths inculcated upon them.

As a thief ; suddenly and unexpectedly.

Verse 4

Not defiled their garments ; not embraced error or indulged in sin.

In white ; a state of purity and blessedness.

Verse 5

I will not blot out his name-I will confess his name before my Father , and before his angels ; Matthew 10:32-33 ; Matthew 25:34-40 . Character is personal; and amid great and abounding iniquity individuals may faithfully serve God and be ripening for glory.

Verse 7

The key of David ; that is, the key of the house of David. Compare Isaiah 22:22 , from which passage the language is borrowed, but with a far higher application. To have the key of David’s house, is to exercise supreme dominion there, which is expressed by the acts of opening and shutting at will; in other words, it is to be supreme on David’s throne. Compare Luke 1:32-33 : "The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever"; where the "house of Jacob" is the true spiritual Israel, embracing all who have through faith become "Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise," Galatians 3:29 .

Verse 8

An open door ; in allusion to the declaration of the preceding verse: "he that openeth, and no man shutteth." The words seem to mean full liberty in professing and preaching the gospel. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:9 ; 2 Corinthians 2:12 ; Colossians 4:3 .

Verse 9

Synagogue of Satan-say they are Jews ; see note to chap Revelation 2:9 .

Worship before thy feet ; humble themselves before thee. God can at any time humble the most bitter persecutors of his people, and make them their cordial friends, or utterly destroy them.

Verse 10

The hour of temptation ; a season of fiery trial, apparently in the shape of severe persecution.

Verse 11

Thy crown ; the crown of life which Christ will bestow upon all who continue faithful to him.

Verse 12

A pillar in the temple of my God ; give him a permanent place in God’s spiritual temple. Compare Ephesians 2:20-22 ; 1 Peter 2:5 .

The name of my God-the name of the city of my God-my new name ; thus marking him as belonging for ever to God, to the city of God, and to Christ, who has redeemed him by his own blood. The new name of Christ is that which belongs to him in his glorified state as the conqueror of death and all the powers of darkness. It therefore marks its possessor as admitted to share Christ’s glory with him. Compare verse Revelation 3:21 ; John 17:24 .

Verse 14

The Amen ; he who will cause all his words to be accomplished.

The beginning of the creation ; its Author and Lord. See notes to Colossians 1:15-17 .

Verse 15

Neither cold nor hot ; lukewarm, indifferent in religion.

Thou wert cold or hot ; madest no pretension to my service, or else wert zealous in it.

Verse 16

Spew thee out ; reject with abhorrence. God abhors indifference in religion no less really than he does open infidelity or open immorality.

Verse 17

I am rich ; have knowledge and religion enough.

Wretched ; on account of their ignorance of their wants and their indifference to religion.

Verse 18

Gold-white raiment-eye - salve ; representing the rich spiritual blessings which Christ will give to those who look to him. Isaiah 45:22 . The more cold and formal men are in religion, the more self-confident they are-the less they feel their need of Christ and his salvation; and without a great change, they will never obtain the blessings of his favor.

Verse 19

I rebuke and chasten ; to deliver them from sin, and prepare them for heaven.

Verse 20

I stand at the door ; representing his readiness and desire to bestow all needed good upon all who serve him.

Sup with him , and he with me ; which would be to their rich mutual joy. Christ is ready to save men; but in order to be saved by him, they must receive him in faith and love as their Redeemer, and devote life to his service. If they are lost, it will be on account of their opposition to him, and their refusal to accept of his salvation.

Verse 21

To sit with me ; in a state of high and eternal exaltation and blessedness.