Lesson 11: The Letter to the Church at Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Jesus’ description of Himself – The Amen (Isaiah 65:16; 2 Corinthians 1:20), faithful and true Witness (John 14:6), the Beginning of the creation of God (John 1:3; Heb 1:2).

Conditions – Probably founded by Epaphras (Colossians 2:1); prosperous city, life of ease, banking center, important medical school with renown eye salve.

Commendation – Note, no commendation.

Concern – You are neither hot nor cold, you think you are rich but are poor, you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

 
Command – Buy from Me gold refined by fire so you can become rich, and white garments so you may be clothed, and eye salve so you may see. I stand at your door and knock….

Counsel – To overcomers I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.

Please know that this is the only letter to a church for which Jesus has no commendation. This alone should be a great alarm for us. In church history this is the modern-day church! Much too often we think we are rich and have everything we need. We have things in our churches just as we like them, they make us comfortable, and we flatter ourselves that just being there and hearing nice words from the person speaking or listening to wonderful words in songs make us spiritual. But Jesus’ charge against this church is against us too – we think we are rich, but instead we are poor and wretched and have lost our passion for Jesus.

The gold that we must buy from Him, refined by fire, is the treasure we seek that often costs us everything – but it is a treasure we can store in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). This treasure is the life of another person whom we tell about Jesus and lead to new life in Him. Telling others, our job as His priests, may cost us our job, our safety, even our families – but it is riches we will have for eternity.