William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 3:17

Observe here, 1. This church's partial opinion of herself, her vanity and vain-glorious ostentation, accompanied with self-esteem: she said she had need of nothing.

Observe, 2. That this boasting and vain-glorious ostentation did very probably spring from, and was occasioned by, this church's worldly prosperity: thou sayest,. am rich, and increased in goods. We are apt to mistake the warm sun for God's blessing, and to apprehend when we are great that we are gracious; and because rich in goods, conclude ourselves rich in grace: but, alas! God lifts up the light of his common providence upon thousands whom he does not lift up the light of his reconciled countenance upon.

Observe, 3. Christ's impartial judgment concerning this church of Laodicea, Thou sayest, thou art rich, and needest nothing: but. say, thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Behold here, How some have little or no grace, who yet conceit they have much grace; as some reckon their temporal, so there are others that value their spiritual, estate, at many thousands beyond what it really is, and when upon. just balance of account they are worth nothing. Ah, miserable souls! empty and guilty, poor and pennyless in spirituals, wanting every thing, but especially. sight and sense of their poverty and wants.

Observe, 4. The counsel given by Christ to this church, very suitable to her condition: What pinches more than poverty? here is gold to enrich us. What shames us more than nakedness? here is. promise of raiment to clothe and cover us. What afflicts and grieves us more than blindness? here is eye-salve to anoint us.

But observe the order of the words, 1. Christ says not, I commanded thee, but, I counsel thee.. infinite condescension! the Lord Jesus does not always command like. king, but sometimes counsels like. friend; he counsels us by his Spirit, he counsels us by his ministers, he counsels us by our own consciences.

2. Christ's counsel is to buy; that is, earnestly to desire, and sincerely to endeavour, the procuring such spiritual blessings as we want: we buy with our prayers, our tears, our endeavours.

3. The blessings offered, tried gold, that will bear the touchstone, that faith and holiness which will give thee boldness in judgment. White raiment, or the merits of the Mediator, which covers our shame and nakedness out of the sight of God. And eye-salve, or the grace of spiritual illumination, whereby we see the want and worth of these spiritual blessings.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 3:17

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