Revelation 3:18 - Do You Have The Gold, White Raiment And Eye Salve That Jesus Offers?
Rev.3:18; Do You Have The Gold, White Raiment And Eye Salve That
Jesus Offers?
TEXT, TRANSLATIONS AND PARAPHRASES
Rev 3:18 (NIV) I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the
fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can
cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you
can see.
Rev 3:18 (CWR) I advise you to buy from me gold, a faith that
has been purified and tested by fire, and the white robe of my
righteousness to cover your spiritual nakedness, and the eyesalve of the Holy
Spirit to help you discern the things of God.
WORD STUDY
Gold. represents spiritual riches, referring to "faith which
worketh by love" and the works that result. [SDA Commentary]
Tried in the fire. faith that has been tried and purified by the
fires of affliction [SDA Commentary]
White raiment. may be understood as the righteousness of Christ
[SDA Commentary]
Eyesalve. heaven's antidote for their spiritual blindness.... This
is the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11). [SDA Commentary]
BACKGROUND
Gold . . . White Garments . . . Eye Salve. These perhaps refer
to the city's three main sources of wealth--banking, production of
wool cloth, and medicines. [Ryrie SB]
Gold, White Clothes and Eye Salve refers to three items in which
Laodicea took great pride: financial wealth, an extensive textile
industry and a famous eye salve. [NIV SB]
APPLICATION COMMENTARY
The Laodicean church was spiritually self-deluded. Because the
church was wealthy it assumed that it had need of nothing, when in
actuality it was spiritually impoverished. The church believed that
because it had expensive garments it was well-clothed, when it was
really spiritually naked. It believed that physical sight indicated the
ability to see spiritually, when it was actually blind to spiritual
realities. Fortunately, Christ provides spiritual gold, heavenly white
garments (7:13, 14; 19:7, 8), and healing eye salve to all who repent (v.
19). [Nelson SB]
Laodicea was known for its great wealth--but Christ told the
Laodiceans to buy their gold from him (real spiritual treasures). The city
was proud of its cloth and dyeing industries--but Christ told them
to purchase white clothes from him (his righteousness). Laodicea
prided itself on its precious eye salve that healed many eye
problems--but Christ told them to get medicine from him to heal their eyes so
they could see the truth (John 9:39). Christ was showing the
Laodiceans that true value was not in material possessions, but in a right
relationship with God. Their possessions and achievements were valueless
compared with the everlasting future of Christ's kingdom. [Life
Application SB]
Laodicea was known for its great wealth, but Christ told the
Laodiceans to buy their gold from him; then they would have real spiritual
treasures. They had fool's gold in their bank accounts, gold from this
world with no spiritual or eternal value. Only with Christ's gold
would they be rich.
The city was proud of its cloth and dyeing industries. They had
developed a black wool that had become famous all over the Roman Empire
and was bringing huge prices. Although they had wealth in their
clothing, they were naked before God. They were self-centered. But Christ
told them to purchase white robes (his righteousness) from him. That
alone would keep the shame of [their] nakedness from being seen.
Laodicea prided itself on its precious eye salve that healed
many eye problems, but they were spiritually blind. Christ told them
to get salve from him to heal their eyes so they could see the
truth (John 9:39).
Christ was showing the Laodiceans that true value is not in
material possessions but in a right relationship with God. Their
possessions and achievements were valueless compared with the everlasting
future of Christ's kingdom. (Life Application Commentary)
GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE, WHITE RAIMENT, AND EYE SALVE
The True Witness counsels us to buy of Him gold tried in the
fire, white raiment, and eyesalve. The gold here recommended as having
been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich;
for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested
the more brilliant is its luster. The white raiment is purity of
character, the righteousness of Christ imparted to the sinner. This is
indeed a garment of heavenly texture, that can be bought only of Christ
for a life of willing obedience. The eyesalve is that wisdom and
grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and
to detect sin under any guise. 4T88,9
GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE
True grace, which is of inestimable value, and which will endure
the test of trial and adversity, is only obtained through faith and
humble, prayerful obedience. Graces that endure the proofs of affliction
and persecution, and evidence their soundness and sincerity, are the
gold which is tried in the fire and found genuine. 4T88,9
The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love. Only
this can bring us into harmony with God. COL158
WHITE RAIMENT
By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure,
spotless character which Christ's true followers will possess... The fine
linen, says the Scripture, "is the righteousness of saints." Rev. 19:8.
It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character,
that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their
personal Saviour.
The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when
they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect
conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was
given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of
God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of
their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true
to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin
entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had
encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place
of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a
covering.
This is what the transgressors of God's law have done ever since
the day of Adam and Eve's disobedience. They have sewed together fig
leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn
the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have
tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.
But this they can never do. Nothing can man devise to supply the
place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly
citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels
at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us
meet to appear in God's presence. This covering, the robe of His own
righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul.... This
robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human
devising...
When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His
heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His
mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His
life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His
righteousness. COL310-12
EYE SALVE
But we must have a knowledge of ourselves, a knowledge that will
result in contrition, before we can find pardon and peace. The Pharisee
felt no conviction of sin. The Holy Spirit could not work with him.
His soul was encased in a self-righteous armor which the arrows of
God, barbed and true-aimed by angel hands, failed to penetrate. It is
only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. He
came "to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruised." Luke 4:18. But "they that are whole need not a
physician." Luke 5:31. We must know our real condition, or we shall not feel
our need of Christ's help. We must understand our danger, or we
shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or
we should not desire healing. COL158
CLOSING THOUGHTS
True Riches
Some believers falsely assume that numerous material possessions
are a sign of God's spiritual blessing. Laodicea was a wealthy city,
and the church was also wealthy (3:17). But what the Laodiceans
could see and buy had become more valuable to them than what is unseen
and eternal. Wealth, luxury, and ease can make people feel
confident, satisfied, and complacent. No matter how much you possess or how
much money you make, however, you have nothing if you don't have a
vital relationship with Christ. How does your current level of wealth
affect your spiritual desire? Instead of centering your life around
comfort and luxury, find your true riches in Christ. (Life Application
Commentary)
When Christians fail to stand for something, they end up
standing for nothing. The lukewarm church is the most pitiful church of
all. Christ's word to the lukewarm church, and the lukewarm
Christian, is one of rebuke. He stands at the door and knocks, and asks us
to exchange fellowship with the world for a more intimate,
challenging walk with Him. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
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