Revelation 3:6 - To the Church in Sardis

Audio Bible

Context

To the Church in Sardis
…5Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 7To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.…

Cross References

Matthew 11:15
He who has ears, let him hear.Mark 4:9
Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”Luke 8:8
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop—a hundredfold.” As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”Matthew 13:9
He who has ears, let him hear.”Mark 4:23
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”Luke 14:35
It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.Revelation 2:29
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.Revelation 13:9
He who has an ear, let him hear:Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”Ezekiel 3:27
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ Whoever listens, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.Jeremiah 5:21
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.Deuteronomy 29:4
Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

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Revelation 3

He who has an ear
This phrase is a call to attention, urging the listener to be spiritually perceptive. It echoes the words of Jesus in the Gospels, such as in Matthew 11:15 and Mark 4:9, where He often used similar language to emphasize the importance of understanding His teachings. The "ear" symbolizes the ability to comprehend and respond to spiritual truths, suggesting that not everyone will be receptive to the message.

let him hear
The imperative "let him hear" underscores the responsibility of the listener to actively engage with the message. In the biblical context, hearing implies obedience and action, not just passive listening. This is consistent with the Jewish understanding of "Shema" (Deuteronomy 6:4), which means to hear and obey. The call to hear is a recurring theme in Revelation, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the message.

what the Spirit says
The reference to "the Spirit" highlights the divine origin of the message. In the context of Revelation, the Spirit is the Holy Spirit, who communicates God's will to the churches. This aligns with the role of the Holy Spirit as the revealer of truth, as seen in John 16:13. The Spirit's involvement indicates that the message is not merely human wisdom but divine revelation.

to the churches
The plural "churches" indicates that the message is intended for multiple congregations, specifically the seven churches in Asia Minor addressed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. These churches represent different spiritual conditions and challenges faced by believers. The historical context of these churches, such as their geographical locations and cultural environments, provides insight into the specific issues they encountered. The message to the churches also serves as a timeless exhortation to all believers, emphasizing the universal relevance of the Spirit's words.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Spirit
Refers to the Holy Spirit, who communicates God's message to the churches. The Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, actively involved in guiding and instructing believers.

2. The Churches
In the context of Revelation, this refers to the seven churches in Asia Minor addressed in the letters of Revelation chapters 2 and 3. These churches represent different types of congregations and spiritual conditions.

3. John the Apostle
The author of the Book of Revelation, who received the vision and message from Jesus Christ while exiled on the island of Patmos.

4. Patmos
The island where John received the revelation. It was a place of exile for political prisoners during the Roman Empire.

5. Asia Minor
The region where the seven churches were located, in what is now modern-day Turkey. These churches were significant early Christian communities.

Teaching Points

Spiritual Discernment
Believers are called to actively listen and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. This requires a heart open to God's guidance and a willingness to act on His instructions.

Relevance to All Churches
The message to "hear what the Spirit says to the churches" is timeless and applicable to all congregations, encouraging self-examination and responsiveness to God's word.

Personal Responsibility
Each believer has a personal responsibility to listen and respond to God's message. This involves cultivating a relationship with God through prayer, study, and obedience.

Community Accountability
Churches are encouraged to collectively seek the Spirit's guidance, fostering a community that supports and holds each other accountable in spiritual growth.

Eternal Perspective
Understanding that the messages to the churches have eternal significance, believers are reminded to focus on spiritual truths that transcend temporal circumstances.

Verse 6. - He that hath an ear. As in the others of the last four epistles, and unlike the first three, this exhortation follows the promise to the victor. No satisfactory explanation of the change of arrangement seems to have been given by any commentater. The order in the four last epistles seems best. The exhortation forms a fitting conclusion to each, as in the synoptic Gospels to parables (see notes on Revelation 2:7, and comp. Revelation 13:9). Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

He who
Ὁ (Ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

has
ἔχων (echōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

an ear,
οὖς (ous)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3775: (a) the ear, (b) met: the faculty of perception. Apparently a primary word; the ear.

let him hear
ἀκουσάτω (akousatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Spirit
Πνεῦμα (Pneuma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

says
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

to the
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

churches.
ἐκκλησίαις (ekklēsiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1577: From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.

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Revelation 3:6 Catholic BibleNT Prophecy: Revelation 3:6 He who has an ear let him (Rev. Re Apocalypse)