He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
He that hath an ear … – See the notes on Rev 2:7.
The Epistle to the Church in Philadelphia
This epistle Rev 3:7-13 comprises the following subjects:
- The usual address to the angel of the church, Rev 3:7.
(2)The reference to some attribute or characteristic of the speaker, Rev 3:7. He here addresses the church as one who is holy and true; as he who has the key of David, and who can shut and no one can open, and open and no one can shut. The representation is that of one who occupies a royal palace, and who can admit or exclude anyone whom he pleases. The reference to such a palace is continued through the epistle.
(3)The usual declaration that he knows their works, and that he has found that they had strength, though but a little, and had kept his word, Rev 3:8.
(4)A declaration that he would constrain some who professed that they were Jews, but who were of the synagogue of Satan, to come and humble themselves before them, Rev 3:9.
(5)The particular promise to that church. He would keep them in the hour of temptation that was coming to try all that dwelt upon the earth, Rev 3:10.
(6)The command addressed to them as to the other churches. He solemnly enjoins it on them to see that no one should take their crown, or deprive them of the reward which he would give to his faithful followers, Rev 3:11.
(7)A general promise, in view of the circumstances in Philadelphia, to all who should overcome, Rev 3:12. They would be made a pillar in the temple of God, and go no more out. They would have written on themselves the name of his God, and the name of the holy city – showing that they were inhabitants of the heavenly world.
(8)The usual call on all to attend to what was said to the churches, Rev 3:13.
Philadelphia stood about 25 miles south-cast from Sardis, in the plain of Hermus, and about midway between the river of that name and the termination of Mount Tmolus. It was the second city in Lydia, and was built by King Attalus Philadelphus, from whom it received its name. In the year 133 b.c. the place passed, with the country in the vicinity, under the dominion of the Romans. The site is reported by Strabo to be liable to earthquakes, but it continued to be a place of importance down to the Byzantine age; and, of all the towns in Asia Minor, it withstood the Turks the longest. It was taken by Bajazat, 1392 a.d. It still exists as a Turkish town, under the name of Allah Shehr, City of God, that is, the High Town. It covers a considerable extent of ground, running up the slopes of four hills, or rather of one hill with four flat summits. The country, as viewed from these hills, is extremely magnificent – gardens and vineyards lying at the back and sides of the town, and before it one of the most beautiful and extensive plains of Asia. The missionaries Fisk and Parsons were informed by the Greek bishop that the town contained 3,000 houses, of which he assigned 250 to the Greeks, and the rest to the Turks (the mid-19th century). On the same authority it is stated that there are five churches in the town, besides twenty others which were too old or too small for use. Six minarets, indicating as many mosques, are seen in the town, and one of these mosques is believed by the native Christians to have been the church in which assembled the primitive Christians addressed in the Apocalypse. There are few ruins; but in one part are four pillars, which are supposed to have been columns of a church.
One solitary pillar has been often noticed, as reminding beholders of the remarkable words in the Apocalypse – Him that overcometh I will make a pillar in the temple of my God (Kittos Encyclopedia. See also the Missionary Herald for 1821, p. 253; 1839, pp. 210-212). The town is the seat of a Greek archbishop, with about twenty inferior clergy. The streets are narrow, and are described as remarkably filthy. The engraving in this volume will give a representation of the town as it now appears.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Rev 3:6
Hear what the Spirit saith.
The message to the Churches
I. Every Church of Christ has an organic life of its own. This is not only distinct from the life of any other church, but even distinct from the life of its members. It is perhaps one of the most noticeable of the faults of modern Christians, that they are trying to lose their individuality in the mass, hoping thereby to evade responsibility and to shirk duty. To sink a Christian out of responsibility by absorbing him into a church, is like sinking a soldier in an army; he only passes under more rigid rules and only shows more conspicuously.
II. Every Church has an organic history of its own, which very likely makes up its annals. Get some aged people together on an anniversary, and a quiet stranger might soon ascertain that every church has a special history lust as striking as these had in Asia Minor, and as precious. In one year, doubtless, there was a man whose behaviour or misfortunes gave the people a world of trouble; in another year, there was a man who gave them a world of help. One man failed in business, and that shook the church badly; then a man grew suddenly wealthy, and that saved the church. Let us stop and think how vital, how positively alive and instinct with nervous and palpitating existence, every established organisation comes eventually to be. This and that man was born in her.
III. Every Church has an organic characteristic of its own, and this is derived from the social and personal life of those who compose and manage it. Just as when we split a rock in a quarry into layers, traces will be found in it of lines which the sea waves made there ages ago while the sand was washed into place by the tides and compacted into stone; so when we read the annals of any old congregation, we shall find how certain epochs were fashioned. Sometimes it was the half-dozen elders that gave form to all the church life. Sometimes the deacons drew a line of demarcation. Sometimes a few restless women, sometimes a few uncomfortable men, set the congregation on fire. Sometimes it was the sewing-society, and very often it was the choir.
IV. Every Church has an organic power of its own. This ability for usefulness is entirely distinct from, and superadded to, the influence exerted by individuals. In union there is strength.
V. Finally, there is given us here the lesson that every Church has an organic mortality of its own. It is possible for it to become actually extinct, whenever it is cast out by God. They say there is a star-fish in the Caledonian lakes, sometimes dredged up from the deep water. It looks firm and strong, most compactly put together. But the moment you pull off one of its many branching limbs, no matter how small it may be, the singular creature begins itself to dislocate the rest with wonderful celerity of contortions, throwing away its radiate arms and jerking from their sockets its members, until the entire body is in shapeless wreck and confusion of death, and nothing remains of what was one of the most exquisitely beautiful forms in nature, save a hundred wriggling fragments, each repulsive, and dying by suicide. Those seven fair churches went into sudden and remediless ruin. So any church may go. Once rejected of God, congregations generally hurry themselves into dissolution with reckless bickerings and quarrels; and the end comes swiftly. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 6. He that hath an ear] The usual caution and counsel carefully to attend to the things spoken to the members of that Church, in which every reader is more or less interested.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The common conclusion of all the epistles: See Poole on “Rev 2:7“, See Poole on “Rev 2:11“, See Poole on “Rev 2:17“, See Poole on “Rev 2:29“.
Those who make these churches typical, and the epistles prophetical of the complexion of all the churches of Christ which shall be to the end of the world, say the church of Sardis typifieth those reformed churches after the year 1560, that should cast off antichrist, but continue in a more imperfect state, contenting themselves with a bare disclaiming antichrist, but not rising up to a perfect reformation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. (See on Re2:7.)
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He that hath an ear, let him hear,….
[See comments on Re 2:7].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “He that hath an ear, let him hear,” (ho echon ous akousato) “The one (anyone) who has an ear, let him hear,” give heed or attention to; Pro 1:23; “turn at his reproof,” Mat 11:15; Mat 13:9; Rev 2:7. Anyone and everyone who has ability is required of God to give account for his own decisions and actions of life in spiritual matters, Joh 3:16; Joh 3:18; Rom 14:11-12.
2) “What the Spirit saith unto the churches,” (ti to pneuma legei tois ekklesias) “What the Spirit says to the churches, congregations, or assemblies;” The spirit of God speaks to individuals thru the Word, the church, and nature; and he speaks in a special way thru the churches, to whom the book of Revelation is addressed, Pro 1:23; Joh 16:8; Joh 16:13-15; Eph 3:21; Rev 1:10-11; Rev 22:16-17.
Let it be clearly understood that the book of Revelation is a church letter, relative to all churches of Jesus Christ, and to each member of each church; No book of the Bible is more important than this one, in this generation.
THE MESSAGE TO PHILADELPHIA
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘He who has an ear let him hear, what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’
The passage finishes with the usual refrain. ‘The Spirit is speaking, let him who will, listen’. It is one we must all heed.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Ver. 6. See Trapp on “ Rev 2:7 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
6 .] See above, ch. Rev 2:7 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
He, &c. See Rev 2:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
6.] See above, ch. Rev 2:7.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Rev 2:7
Reciprocal: 2Ch 15:2 – Hear ye me Pro 5:1 – attend Jer 7:2 – Hear Mic 1:2 – hearken Mat 11:15 – General Mat 13:9 – General Mar 4:9 – General Mar 7:16 – General Gal 6:9 – if 1Ti 4:1 – the Spirit Heb 10:15 – General Rev 2:17 – hath Rev 3:22 – General Rev 22:16 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 3:6. The usual call, with which the four last Epistles close.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
These words are the same exhortatory conclusion which we find added by Christ to all the foregoing epistles; and plainly signify thus much, that all persons should look upon themselves as concerned in these several messages which the Spirit of Christ sends unto the churches; hence it is so oft repeated both in the former chapter and in this chapter, because it is of such universal use, and so nearly concerns us all.