21 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write : The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand , the One who walks among e the seven golden lampstands , says this : 2 ' I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance , and that you cannot e tolerate evil men , and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles , and they are not, and you found them to be false ; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake , and have not grown weary . 4 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love . 5 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen , and repent and do the deeds you did at first ; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place -unless e you repent . 6 'Yet this you do have , that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans , which I also hate . 7 ' He who has an ear , let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches . To him who overcomes , I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God .'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Revelation 2:1-7
Commentary on Revelation 2:1-7
(Read Revelation 2:1-7)
These churches were in such different states as to purity of doctrine and the power of godliness, that the words of Christ to them will always suit the cases of other churches, and professors. Christ knows and observes their state; though in heaven, yet he walks in the midst of his churches on earth, observing what is wrong in them, and what they want. The church of Ephesus is commended for diligence in duty. Christ keeps an account of every hour's work his servants do for him, and their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. But it is not enough that we are diligent; there must be bearing patience, and there must be waiting patience. And though we must show all meekness to all men, yet we must show just zeal against their sins. The sin Christ charged this church with, is, not the having left and forsaken the object of love, but having lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Christ is displeased with his people, when he sees them grow remiss and cold toward him. Surely this mention in Scripture, of Christians forsaking their first love, reproves those who speak of it with carelessness, and thus try to excuse indifference and sloth in themselves and others; our Saviour considers this indifference as sinful. They must repent: they must be grieved and ashamed for their sinful declining, and humbly confess it in the sight of God. They must endeavour to recover their first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and must pray as earnestly, and watch as diligently, as when they first set out in the ways of God. If the presence of Christ's grace and Spirit is slighted, we may expect the presence of his displeasure. Encouraging mention is made of what was good among them. Indifference as to truth and error, good and evil, may be called charity and meekness, but it is not so; and it is displeasing to Christ. The Christian life is a warfare against sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh. We must never yield to our spiritual enemies, and then we shall have a glorious triumph and reward. All who persevere, shall derive from Christ, as the Tree of life, perfection and confirmation in holiness and happiness, not in the earthly paradise, but in the heavenly. This is a figurative expression, taken from the account of the garden of Eden, denoting the pure, satisfactory, and eternal joys of heaven; and the looking forward to them in this world, by faith, communion with Christ, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit. Believers, take your wrestling life here, and expect and look for a quiet life hereafter; but not till then: the word of God never promises quietness and complete freedom from conflict here.