Revelation 22:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Let no one think that by these words He encourages unrighteousness, defilement, and wrongs. Rather, by pointing to freedom of will and preserving it from compulsion, He says, as it were, "Let each one act according to his own desire. I do not compel him."

It is not that the angel desires the destruction of sinners. Rather, he threatens those who practice impiety, so that, hearing the voices of the threat from above, they may be restrained from criminal deeds. Moreover, he urges the righteous man to become still better, saying, "Let the righteous still do righteousness, and let the holy still be sanctified." Thus the righteous may recognize the swift coming of the Lord, guard themselves better from sin, and already hasten unceasingly toward this holiness and this righteousness.

The angel does not give counsel or prescribe the necessity of wrongdoing and defilement. Rather, he says this: the little time that remains still gives men opportunity. Therefore let each one do what is dear to him, and use his own free will as he wishes, whether for good deeds or evil.

John shows that the judgments of God, which allow evil men to become still more evil, are hidden but righteous. Yet we must understand that evil men harm not only others, but first of all themselves. Therefore he continues, "Let the unclean still be defiled." For if a man harms himself, how can he benefit another?

In the case of Herod, the strict judgment of God lies precisely in this: at the desire of the adulteress, whom Herod knew he ought to leave, he shed the blood of the prophet whom he also knew to be accepted by God. This is the divine providence of which it is said, "Let the unrighteous still do unrighteousness; let the unclean still be defiled." But what follows, "Let the holy still be sanctified," applies to the person of blessed John. Though he was already holy, he was sanctified still further by gaining, through the ministry of preaching the Gospel, the palm branch of martyrdom.

The words of the Lord, which say that the unrighteous should continue to do unrighteousness and the unclean still be defiled, do not mean that He approves unrighteousness, wrongs, and defilements. They point only to the free will given by God to man, which He in no way constrains.

The divine laws are needed not by God, but by men. By conforming themselves to them, men can attain likeness to God, which is the true good for every human being.

God desires the righteous to advance and rise higher in righteousness. At the same time, He is long-suffering toward sinners, awaiting their repentance and conversion to Him. He does this in view of the remembrance of His near coming and of recompense to each according to his works.

"Let the evildoer still do evil." This is not a command, but only a permission. The Lord shows that the present order of things must continue for a little while longer, but that recompense will soon follow.

It is useful, through temptation, to raise even genuine virtue to higher purity, strength, and perfection, according to what is said: “Let the holy be sanctified still” (Rev 22:11). Thus, according to Christ’s promise, “the pure in heart shall see God” (Mt 5:8).

Thus “he who overcomes shall inherit all things” (Rev 21:7). Thus the perfect man, without hindrance, according to the law of likeness and unity, shall approach and share “in the church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and in the spirits of righteous men made perfect” (Heb 12:23).