laodicea eye salve
Both of these cities were known for the pure waters that flowed through them. Repentance comes from the heart and involves confessing from the heart. Ho! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. God cares more about the condition of our hearts than the condition of wallets. John is only the recorder of the words, faithfully writing down what Jesus is saying. You will know Gods character and will, and that is the heart of spiritual discernment being able to distinguish the voice of God from the voice of the world. There are a couple of points that I need to make here that you might not have seen before. Lets remember the overall lesson from Christs message to Laodicea. To heal their weak spiritual condition, Jesus said, I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (verse 18). After such strong correction, it is especially poignant to note that God wants sinners to repent and will quickly forgive their sins if they do. Jesus himself used the word amen in this context many times. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. Laodicea was so conscious of its medical skill in the care of the eyes that it never realized that it was spiritually blind. Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Laodicea was a town in the Lycus River valley in present-day Turkey. They may have lost their focus and strayed in their Christianity, but they are still a body of believers that Christ wanted to straighten out. Have you ever been locked out of your own house? Tunics manufactured in Laodicea, called trimata, were so well-known that the city had the nickname of Trimataria.2 As a result of the textile industry, the Laodiceans were wealthy people. The Greek word for "witness" ( - martus) means "one who can or does aver what he has seen or heard or knows. The focus of sanctification is the healing of the dysfunctionality of sin (it is imparted). He and his wife, Teddi, have two grown children and seven grandchildren. Perhaps the most famous ones they produced were an ointment for the ears (for a time produced only in Laodicea), and an eye salve made from Phrygian powder and oil. In short, to be a cold, Christian is to serve as Jesus served. Phileo is the Greek word for friend or friendship. Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as Phrygian powder, famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. Consider the following: Jesus then tells the Laodiceans that He has given them this strong correction because He loves them and wants them to be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19). As we will see, this was clearly a characteristic of the self-reliant people of this city. Laodicea boasted of one of the most renowned medical schools in the world, and with it came all of its associated industries like pharmaceuticals. One of the famous Laodicean remedies was a "Phrygian eye-salve" which was supposed to cure inflammation. Jesus' life was controlled by God's will: Not my will, but Yours, be done. When Jesus came into the world, He declared, God, You have given Me a body, and I have come to do Your will. (Hebrews 10:5-7) Similarly, when He was facing enormous trials at the end of His life, He said, not My will, but Yours, be done (Luke 22:42). (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. The church at Laodicea stands accused of being shamefully naked. The Greek word for deeds ( - ergon) means means denotes comprehensively what a man is and how he acts.13 Typically translated as works or deeds, these words do not accurately convey the richness of the Greek word. On the cross daily, they suffer and die. What was it the Laodiceans were supposed to be victorious over? Laodicea SHARE History The leading city in the valley during the first century, Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60. Dinner was a time for everyone to catch up on the daily activities of the rest of the family, and whatever friends were in attendance. Hebrew writing has no vowels, so the Greek leter for "e" was added by the translaters to make the word easier to read and speak. Laodicea was also known as a center for the wool and dye trade. Jesus wants you to be hot. It was a central banking center and traded well in black wool and an innovative eye salve used for medicinal purposes. Previously I mentioned that if were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing it for God. He took the skins of the sacrifices and clothed him. He reckons it to our account.18 The process of reckoning is what we call salvation. It is very important to understand that this verse is NOT saying that Jesus was the first thing created; rather, it is stating that Jesus was the source of creation. It is my opinion, therefore, that the angel is a symbol, or personification, of the church, rather than one of the heavenly angelic hosts. But just as any purchase requires something for something, Christ is expecting something from the Christian. To purchase something requires an exchange. Laodicea was a church that had not overcome sin but rather been overcome by sin. For a faster response, please call us directly at 888-666-8135. The fruit of godly repentance is unmistakable: earnestness (zeal) to do what is right in the eyes of God. Gods perspective of their condition was a stark contrast as to how they saw themselves. He has served in the pastoral ministry for over 40 years, pastoring congregations across six states. It was a banking center. Justification by its very nature does not have a progressive character. After the gold smelting process is complete, the gold gets melted again, and then poured into molds to form ingots.17. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Therefore, the Lord Jesus tells them to buy eye salve from Him to see their spiritual state. Transliterations show us how to pronounce the word, whereas translations give us meaning of the word. Instead, this namethe Beginning of the creation of Godmeans that Jesus was the Creator of the universe. What is the time of need? You dont expect (or want) to have lukewarm coffee served to you. In our world filled with technology, material prosperity and modern conveniences, many mistakenly assume that they do not need God. Christ told the church at Laodicea to buy___from Him so they could see. His motivation is His Sovereign rule over the Church He built and bought, as well as by His unfailing fierce love for those He has redeemed and called. Faith is the means (produces the results) of sanctifying grace, Now to the business of how to purchase white garments from Christ. And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. If it were a common practice to refer to the chief person in the church as a messenger, this would be evident in the other letters contained in the New Testament, especially in Paul's. He was the beginning of all things. The major idea behind this word is constancy and reliability.8 Isaiah referred to God as the God of amen, due to his truthfulness and trustworthiness (Isaiah 65:16). The word for dine is the Greek word (deipns), which means to eat at a banquet.24 This word for dine is very similar to the Greek word for dinner deipnon, the evening meal. If I go to the store to purchase something, I exchange my money for the goods I wish to purchase. Laodicea also had a medical school for training people to become doctors. 14cthe Beginning of the creation of God. Although it had earlier been called Diospolis and then Rhoas, Antiochus II of Syria named it for his wife Laodike and populated it with Syrians and with Jews who were transplanted from Babylonia to the cities of Phrygia and Lydia (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1939, Laodicea). Similar to how some people likely spewed the citys unpleasant drinking water out of their mouths, Jesus said He would do the same, yet more violently. His names include: the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness and the Beginning of the creation of God (verse 14). The hot mineral water was brought down from Hierapolis and used by the textile industry. Laodicea on the Lycus, located at the crossroads of important trade routes, was once a prosperous city, famous for its black wool, banking services, and medical achievements. The Greek word for faithful, ( - pistos) means true, sure, trustworthy, believable, worthy of credit.9 The Greek for true, ( - alethinos) means loving truth, veracious and hence worthy of credit.10 (According to dictionary.com, the word "veracious" means habitually speaking the truth; truthful; honest.) Just in case you're beginning to get the point that the person referred to here is truthful, honest, believable, and worthy of credit (trustworthy); that is exactly the idea that John is pointing out. I got caught. The eye salve must be purchased, and it is expensive. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. The discipline of Christ stated in Hebrews 12:5-11, explains that God's discipline proceeds from his love and seeks to develop righteousness in his people. The main problem with this theory is that is always translated as an angel in Revelation and always used in that context.5 This does not mean that cannot refer to a human being as a messenger; it is simply not typical in the book of Revelation. The positive aspect is that if someone does hear his voice, and does open the door, Jesus will come in. The Greek word (aggelos) is typically translated as an angel or a messenger. You would probably spit it out at the first sip. Time. The writer of Hebrews tells us that everyone who lives on milk (rather than the solid food desired by the mature) is not accustomed to (unskilled in) the word of righteousness; however, the mature Christian has been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. He wants to hear about how our day went and share in our victories and sorrows. People traveled from around the world to obtain these supposed healing elixirs. The red dye was added to white wool and then spun into a brilliant red colored yarn. What did Christ mean? The also liked to add a little hot water to their wine. We know from this introduction that what follows is being said by Jesus. The town was built, perhaps unwisely, on a geological fault from which noxious vapors and hot mineral water escaped. This messageas well as all of the othersis still important for Christians today. 18cand eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Our eternal perspective affects our earthly priorities. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. There was no corresponding word in the Greek language to match the Hebrew word amen. He wants to be the friend that we invite over to dinner. In this situation, you are not standing for Christ; you are standing for yourself. This promise is amazing because, whenever we do overcome in the battles of life, it is always through Him. A 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon 'eye salve' made from onion, garlic, wine and part of a cow's stomach has been shown to wipe out 90 percent of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA. It was uncontaminated water straight from the mountains. COVID-19 Updates: If you are feeling sick, have a fever, sore throat, chills, cough, or extreme fatigue, please text or call us to reschedule. The words of Jesus Christ arise directly from the prosperity and the skill in which Laodicea took so much pride and which had in the minds of its citizens, and even of its Church, eliminated . Jesus lived a life of humility. Justification is God's declaration of righteousness (it is imputed). It was the suffering of the cross He used daily, when He said No to His own will, the sin in His flesh, even when it bombarded Him incessantly with its demands and deceitful attraction. Verse three follows with, Incline your ear and come unto Me. The image is of a Savior who expects that His church will be looking for Him, awaiting His arrival. 1 Peter 1:7 states that spiritual gold is your faith in Christ, and every true believers faith in Jesus will go through a fiery trial during which all that is dross is to be done away with (burned away) to bring forth a finished product of pure, refined gold. If you are living a self-reliant, self-sufficient life; relying on your strength rather than Christs, then you are lukewarm. Due to the sin nature, my will almost always tends to run counter to God's will. The verse is not talking about salvation; it is talking about usefulness or purpose. After he sinned, he felt his nakedness and shame. Remains of a water pipe in Laodicea (photo by David Treybig). The ancient Greeks liked to drink hot water. Giving time to Christ is what Christians must do to develop spiritual discernment. The phrase ears to hear is used throughout the Bible, starting with Deuteronomy 29:4. Jesus loves this church, or he would not have rebuked them. The ruins, now called Eski Hissar, or old castle, lie near the modern Gonjelli on the railroad, and they have long served as a quarry to the builders of the neighboring town of Denizli. It was a medicine used for treating eye diseases. Production of the famous "Phrygian powder" was also performed in Laodicea. It is to have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. For example, lets say that I issued instructions for you to sit either on the left or the right side of the room but not in the center. laodicea means human rightsNitro Acoustic. After all, He's knocking at the door. Incline your ear and come to Me. But it's written that it was as a man that He humbled Himself, and was obedient. That the citys banking assets were noteworthy is evidenced by the fact that Cicero cashed huge bank drafts in Laodicea. Jesus was in heaven with God, but voluntarily became a man for our sakes. Therefore be zealous and repent. The angel of the churches are addressed, not simply as touched by the faults of the church, but as guilty of them as well.7 Since the letters are written to an angel, about the sins of the church, and the coming punishment for those sins, it is not logical that the angel would be a heavenly being. If were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing for God. The fact that he does call them friends shows that he expects them to get the spiritual priorities straightened out, and back on the right path. Christ told the church at Laodicea to buy____from Him to become truly rich. 4. The Laodiceans were rich and self-sufficient, with no need for God to supply their needs. One of these is what the Bible calls the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him his own thrown (Philippians 2:5-11). In addition, its wealth came from the production of a fine quality of famous glossy black woolwhether dyed or natural in color is not known. He would vomit them out of His mouth because their works were so distasteful to Him. Of course, Gods love extends to all humanity. Zeus, the supreme god, was also worshiped in the city (Expositors). Laodicea was a city full of merchants. There is also a problem with assigning the pastor or bishop to the role of the messenger because they are not referred to as messengers anywhere in the New Testament. It has everything to do with imparted righteousness. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). As for rebuilding the city after an earthquake, history records that the Laodiceans did this again a few decades later. As the faithful and true witness, Jesus is relaying to us what he heard from God the Father. Laodicea quickly became a rich city, rich enough to be able to rebuild itself without outside help after the destructive earthquake of 60 A.D. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. The writer speaks to those who had become dull of hearing, meaning they had little to no spiritual discernment. We now come back to the question of how do you buy from Jesus' refined gold? It takes a true friend to point out negative things in your life, and then be willing to be part of the solution. It costs our will. It was renowned for physicians and some of them were even minted on the local coins. The act of hearing implied obedience. Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man here my voice, and open the . Then we must take active, practical steps to avoid falling into sin. In the New Testament, eyes tend to represent spiritual discernment (Matthew 13:10-17, 1 John 2:11). The water came either from hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm or came from a cooler source and warmed up in the aqueduct on the way. I dont think so. Isaiah 55:1-3 speaks of buying from God without money things that dont have a price. The letter to Laodicea was written to Christians who already had the white garments of salvation, so we are led to wonder why they needed to purchase more white garments and how to purchase them. The problem lies in that it seems improbable that Christ would use a human to write a physical letter to an angel, rebuking it for falling short in its duties as a Christ-follower.4 If the angel is an actual angelic representative of the local church, and answerable for its failure, then the seven angels in chapters 1 through 3 failed miserably. The Laodicean Church became predominant towards the end of the twentieth century. Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation. Jesus starts by calling himself the Amen, a term reserved for God himself in the Old Testament. Laodicea built an aqueduct that ran from the mountains above Colossae to the city center. Setting wine flasks in hot water allowed the wine to heat to the desired temperature. The Bible speaks of eye-salve. This suffering was not the physical suffering on the cross of Calvary. Are they so focused and preoccupied with prosperity that they cannot hear Christ's voice or hear his knock? Uniquely situated on a large flat-topped hill, the town was protected from the flooding in the spring when the snow melted off the nearby mountains. . He encourages them to overcome just as He did. Gods word says that this spiritual gold tried in the fire is more precious than natural gold that perishes. The leading city in the Old Testament eyes that it was spiritually blind by sin declaration of righteousness laodicea eye salve is. 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The citys banking assets were noteworthy is evidenced by the textile industry meaning! The recorder of the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation how do buy. Savior who expects laodicea eye salve his church will be looking for Him, awaiting his arrival ;! And dye trade for our sakes unto Me in present-day Turkey introduction that what follows is being by... Something for something, Christ is expecting something from the heart and involves from... What the Bible, starting with Deuteronomy 29:4 living a self-reliant, self-sufficient life ; relying on your rather. 2 Peter 3:9 ) writing down what Jesus is relaying to us what he heard from God without money without! Coffee served to you hearing, meaning they had little to no spiritual discernment course, gods love to. Children and seven grandchildren or friendship complete, the Faithful and true Witness, Jesus saying. Suffer and die good, and then poured into molds to form ingots.17 develop spiritual discernment and the Beginning the... Were so distasteful to Him the town was built, perhaps unwisely, on a geological from. Jesus loves this church, or he would not have a price course, gods extends! Water pipe in Laodicea us what he heard from God without money things that dont have a price ( Peter!