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This chapter began the fifth epistle which Christ wrote and directed to the church at Sardis.
In which observe, 1. The glorious description given of our Lord Jesus Christ, namely, that he has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; that is, according to some, he hath the Holy Spirit of God proceeding from him as from the Father: and because he had power to send the Holy Ghost, together with the Father, he is therefore said to have the seven spirits of God; so the Holy Ghost is called, because of the perfection and variety of his gifts and graces, influences and operations. Others by the seven Spirits understand created angels; and the seven Spirits being joined with seven Stars, intimate according to these, that Christ is the Lord of angels and ministers, he upholds his ministers, and has angels always at hand to defend his members.
Observe, 2. This church's partial opinion of herself; in her own and others' esteem, she was alive; thou hast a repute for an excellent church, thy profession causes many to think and speak well of thee: Thou hast a name that thou livest.
Observe, 3. Christ's impartial judgment concerning her, as one that knew her better than either others did, or herself could know her: thou sayest thou art dead or dying, thyself and others are deceived concerning thee.
Learn hence, 1. That it is possible for a professing people to be alive in their own and others' esteem, and yet to be dead or dying in God's account; at the same time that they make a splendid and glorious profession of religion, they may be under the reign and power of hypocrisy.
Learn hence, 2. That no religious pretences, no fair shows, can possibly hide a person's or a people's hypocrisy from God's eye: thou sayest that thou art thus, but I know thee better than others do, or thou canst know thyself; thou hast a name to live, but thou art dead.
Observe, 4. The counsel given by Christ to this languid and languishing church.
1. To be watchful; to shake off her drowsiness and formality; no reformation can be expected, if due consideration, watchfulness, and care, be not exercised.
2. To strengthen the things that are ready to die; that is, blow up every spark of grace which lodges under the ashes of much corruption, and keep it from going quite out. Spirituals are to be succoured and strengthened, if once they grow languishing and dying, lest they grow quite dead.
3. To remember what they had received and heard from Christ's apostles and ministers: to hold fast the truths received, and to repent of what is evil, and to reform what has been done amiss; intimating, that it is the duty of Christians to remember those truths which they have heard and received, and also to hold fast what they have heard and received: and that renewed repentance is the duty of Christians, as well as initial repentance.
Observe, 5. The complaint which Christ brings in against the church of Sardis, I have not found thy works perfect before God; not full, says the original, that is, not filled up with that sincerity and zeal which God requires: a man may be full of good works, and yet his prayer not full, but vain and empty; sincerity is the fulness or filling up of all duties: it is not common frailty, but the want of sincerity and soundness, zeal and seriousness, which Christ complains of.
Observe, 6. The danger threatened to security and slothfulness, If thou shalt not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief; that is, I will surprise thee with my judgments in the midst of thy security, as a thief does persons when they are asleep, and least expect him; the expression plainly intimates, both the suddenness of the judgment, and the severity of the judgment threatened.