Revelation 22:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here the dignity of the Master who sends the angel is attested. The word "to testify" is used in the sense of "to bear witness." "I am the root and offspring of David." Christ is the root of David as God. As one who came from him, He is his offspring. "The bright and morning star." The morning star and daystar is Christ, who shone upon us in the morning on the third day. He will appear to the saints after the present life, in the morning of the universal resurrection, and will establish the day without end.

This is that star of truth by which the Magi were led to His healing presence. No interpretation of ours can be clearer than the words of this book.

To bear witness means to make something public, not secretly or in a cell, but so that all may hear, everywhere in the churches. Thus no one with evil intentions may do evil under the pretext of ignorance.

Yet with regard to what has been indicated, it would have seemed more consistent to say, “I am the new branch of the root of David.” Here, on the contrary, He calls Himself the root of David, and not only the root, but also the offspring, as was said earlier.

He is the root and cause of all things, including David. Therefore He is God and is acknowledged as God. But He is also the offspring of David, having sprung from him according to the flesh. Therefore He is man and is acknowledged as man.

Revealing the radiance of the grace of the New Testament, John speaks of the time of the first resurrection, when Christ rose from the dead. Therefore we read, "From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord" (Ps 129:6).

Here Christ speaks of the twofold character of His nature, since according to His Godhead He is the creator of David, and at the same time He was born of the seed of David according to the flesh (Rom 1:3). In the Gospel the Lord asks the Jews the same question: how is Christ David's son, if David in the Spirit calls Him his Lord (see Mt 22:42-43)? After the night of sufferings He appeared in the light of the one resurrection and life, showing the world both word and example. Concerning this it was also said to blessed Job: "Can you bring forth the constellations in their season?" (Job 38:32).

Here the Lord says that He Himself is the Messiah awaited by all, who by His Resurrection sanctified the morning of the New Day that knows no evening.