Revelation 3:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

All people have a bodily ear, but only a spiritual person acquires the spiritual ear. The prophet Isaiah, for example, had such an ear (Isa. 8:5).

Let him who has an ear understand the goodness and mercy of God toward fallen humanity, and the ingratitude of sinners who are unwilling to labor even a little in the work of their salvation. Here ends the first part of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus. In it, under the name of the seven churches of Asia Minor, He gives instruction to the One Orthodox Church. She abides in different times, under different circumstances, and in different states, and He Himself is her Head.

To the Church of Laodicea in Phrygia, whose members did not regard their Christian duties with sufficient seriousness, the Lord addresses Himself as the embodied affirmation of the truth of His words: the Amen, the faithful and true Witness.

He also speaks as One Who is Himself able to fulfill every threat He has uttered against those who forget His commandments.

Describing the condition of the Laodicean Church, the Lord compares it to lukewarm water. Whoever takes it into his mouth involuntarily spits it out, because it produces a very unpleasant sensation.

It would have been better if the Laodiceans were cold, that is, if they had remained pagans. Then they might have been left in peace while their conversion was awaited.

Everyone has hearing, and everyone has the capacity to attend to the words of God and receive the proclamation of the Spirit.

Therefore let each one listen. Hearing was given to you for this.

God Himself speaks to you. Listen attentively, and fulfill what you hear exactly and faithfully.

The matter concerns your eternal destiny. Listen diligently, and hasten to order your eternal destiny in good time.

There will be a time when God will cease speaking to you, and you will lose your hearing.

Or, if you hear, there will be no possibility of fulfilling what you have heard.

Therefore listen and do according to what you hear.

If you do not wish to listen, you will perish. If you hear but do not fulfill, you will perish.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches."