In Revelation's cosmic story, God says something smaller-scale: "Behold I stand at the door and knock."
The line has been used in Gospel presentations for generations. But what does it mean?
Where Is 'Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock' in the Bible?
The phrase "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" is found in Revelation 3:20. This passage fits inside a series of letters written to seven churches in the first century and contains a message from Jesus Christ to the church in Laodicea.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20 ESV)
The verse's context is important. The book of Revelation is known in Greek as Apokalypsos Ioannou, the revelation of John. Apokolypsis refers to an unveiling or disclosure, so it references the prophetic message given to John. We call it the Revelation of Jesus Christ in English, as stated at the book's beginning. We call it the revelation of Jesus Christ because, while John received the vision, at its core, the revelation is of the person of Jesus being manifest at the end and setting everything right.
In the book's beginning, before we get to the epic end-times visions, Jesus speaks directly to seven churches. In the first century AD, these were cities of trade and communication, connected by major Roman roads, each with its own church. Jesus has John write specific messages to each church: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea. Most get both encouraging and corrective messages from Jesus.
The last church was in Laodicea—the most important city in the Roman province of Phrygia in central Asia Minor. Due to the lucrative trade there, the city was populated by some wealthy and socially prominent Roman citizens. While the city had water access through an aqueduct, it struggled to get cold or hot water (both important for health reasons), usually getting lukewarm water (useless for medical purposes). Jesus references this water problem (being lukewarm is no good) as he critiques the church.
He admonishes them for their self-sufficiency and their spiritual complacency. Then, in Revelation 3:20, Jesus offers a message of hope and an invitation to reconciliation.
The imagery of Jesus standing at the door and knocking signifies a call to the local Laodicean church. It can be extended to a more individual message to respond to His offer of fellowship. The door mentioned represents the heart of the believer or the church member. Jesus is not forcing His way in. He is patiently waiting for an invitation.
The phrase "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door" emphasizes the importance of listening to Christ's call. It's not enough to know that Jesus is knocking; one must actively respond to His call.
The following promise, "I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me," signifies a profound and intimate relationship. Sharing a meal in the biblical context was a sign of fellowship, intimacy, and acceptance.
While "Behold I stand at the door and knock" has been used in several evangelical contexts to call sinners to salvation, we must remember this was a call to a local church, people who were already "saved" yet were wayward in beliefs and actions. Jesus' response is to call them into deeper intimacy to correct their waywardness. But they must participate.
Why Does Jesus Say 'Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock' to Laodicea?
The church in Laodicea had several problems, which Jesus addressed before giving his message of reconciliation through "Behold I stand at the door and knock."
The primary issue in the church of Laodicea was spiritual lukewarmness. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus describes their condition: "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
The Laodicean Christians had become spiritually complacent and self-satisfied. They were neither fervently committed to their faith nor completely rejecting it; they were somewhere in between.
The city of Laodicea was known for its wealth, particularly its prosperous textile industry and renowned medical school. The church seemed to have adopted a similar attitude of self-sufficiency and complacency. They believed they were spiritually rich and did not need anything, including God's grace.
Given this context, Jesus' message, "Behold I stand at the door and knock," carries great significance.
Here's why Jesus used this imagery to address the church in Laodicea.
First, it was a call to repentance, emphasizing the need for genuine faith and a personal relationship with him.
Second, even though the Laodicean church had serious issues, Jesus demonstrated patience and grace by not forcing His way into their lives. He stood at the door, waiting for them to respond willingly, reflecting His desire for individuals to follow Him out of love and conviction rather than coercion.
Third, God's goal is to reconcile everything to himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. He is a God of love, so he offers communion and fellowship through the symbol of eating together but in our hearts. Sharing a meal in biblical times represented a close, personal relationship. Jesus invites the Laodicean believers to experience deep, meaningful fellowship with Him. This intimacy is for our good. Realigning ourselves to truth and the One who is Life brings us true life.
Finally, "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door" underscores the personal responsibility of each individual within the church to respond to Jesus' call, both as individuals and the collective church, to welcome the presence of Christ.
What Happens When People Ignore God Saying 'Behold I stand at the door and knock'?
When people ignore God's message, as conveyed in "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," there can be significant spiritual and personal consequences.
Ignoring God's call to open the door can result in a sense of spiritual separation. By closing off one's heart to Him, individuals may distance themselves from the source of spiritual guidance, comfort, and growth. This separation can leave them feeling spiritually empty and disconnected.
One of the key issues in the message to Laodicea was spiritual lukewarmness. When people ignore God's invitation to deeper fellowship, they may remain in a state of complacency and spiritual apathy. Their faith may neither grow nor mature, and they may continue prioritizing worldly concerns over their relationship with God.
Ignoring God's call means missing out on the blessings and benefits of an intimate relationship with Him. Christ's promise to "come in and eat with him" signifies a profound fellowship and communion with God. Those who disregard this invitation miss the opportunity to experience the richness and joy of a deeper connection with their Creator.
Ignoring God's call can reinforce self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Those who resist opening the door may continue relying on their resources, abilities, and wisdom rather than seeking God's guidance and provision.
Relying upon our own strength leads to greater blindness. In the message to Laodicea, Jesus admonished them to buy "eye salve" to see clearly (Revelation 3:18). By refusing to open the door to Christ's presence, individuals may become spiritually blind to their shortcomings, needs, and the truth of God's Word.
Ultimately, ignoring God's call to open the door can have eternal consequences. The message of salvation and reconciliation is extended through Christ's invitation. He reaches out in love, but the context of the message to Laodicea is clear. Continued rejection of God and living in "lukewarmness" will lead to him rejecting us.
However, ignoring God's call is not irreversible. His grace and mercy are available to those who eventually recognize their need for Him and open the door to His presence. Repentance and turning back to God are always possible, and He eagerly welcomes those who seek Him with a sincere heart.
How Can We Follow the Teachings of 'Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock' Today?
The teachings of "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" offer valuable guidance for Christians pursuing a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God. Again, this wasn't a message to sinners but to the church. We must take this message to our own hearts as believers.
- Listen to God's Voice. The first step is to listen to God's voice actively. In our modern world filled with noise and distractions, we must create moments of stillness and silence to hear His calling. This can be done through prayer, meditating on Scripture, or simply being attentive to His prompting in our hearts.
- Open the Door of Our Hearts. Just as the door in the verse represents our hearts, we should be willing to open our hearts to God. This involves acknowledging our need for Him and inviting Him into our lives. It's an act of surrender, recognizing that we cannot rely solely on our own strength or wisdom.
- Prioritize Intimacy with God: The promise of Christ coming in to eat with us signifies intimacy and fellowship. To follow this teaching, we should prioritize intimacy with God over religious routines or rituals. We seek His guidance or blessings and a genuine relationship with Him.
- Repentance and Humility. Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily, a continual mindset of repentance and humility. Repentance plays a crucial role in opening the door to Christ. It involves acknowledging our sins and turning away from them. Humility is key in recognizing that we need God's forgiveness and grace. Maintaining a humble and repentant heart keeps the door open to God's transformative work in our lives.
- Regular Self-Examination. Continuous self-examination is vital to ensure we do not close the door to Christ. We should regularly assess our spiritual condition, identifying areas where we may have shut Him out through sin, pride, or self-sufficiency. Self-examination helps us stay receptive to God's presence.
- Avoiding Lukewarmness. The message to Laodicea warned against spiritual lukewarmness. Following this teaching requires us to avoid complacency in our faith. We should strive to be fervent in our love and devotion to God, seeking to be "hot" in our faith rather than lukewarm.
- Sharing Christ with Others. Just as Christ stands at the door of our hearts, we should share this message of hope and invitation with others. Evangelism and sharing the gospel help others recognize Christ's call and open the door to Him. The refreshing water isn't only for ourselves or our church. We must share the refreshing water of life with others.
- Maintaining Ongoing Fellowship. Following the teaching of "eating" with Christ implies maintaining ongoing fellowship and hearkens to communion, sharing the Body and Blood of Jesus. This is a literal communion with the church and the communion within our hearts. Spiritual communion with God will nourish us in eternal ways that matter and last.
We know that God is holy and mighty. He's the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. At the same time, passages like "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" highlight how he is intimate and merciful, loving and kind.
Let us, as his children and church, respond to his loving call for a deeper and stronger relationship by opening our hearts to him, who has died for us and lives to empower us. But he will not force the relationship. We must decide daily to surrender and find the blessings there.
Peace.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Marcia Straub
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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