Revelation 2:7 Commentary and Bible Study

This is for Ephesus, but it is for all the churches. ‘Let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.’ Incline your ear, listen carefully, be ready to be convicted by anything that comes from the word of God. Have a deep desire to hear Christ speak. It is wonderful in these letters that it is Christ who is speaking. It is not the apostle John. It is not like the Lord speaking through the prophet Isaiah. John is set to one side; he merely takes down the words and relays them. It is Christ speaking and it is expressed as from him.‘Let him hear.’ There should be a sense of need whenever we hear the word, a readiness to act on what we hear. There should be a time of contemplation after we have heard it. ‘How am I going to act? How am I going to put it into effect?’ There is kind of tenderness and openness that helps us back to true love for Christ.Then we have the great promise. ‘To him [singular] that overcometh.’ It is written to the churches, but there is an individual responsibility to respond. The overcoming word is elsewhere translated ‘conqueror’. To him who is a conqueror. Conqueror over what? Over the flesh that would draw me away from love to Christ, and cause me to be preoccupied with myself. Over sin, over error. He conquerors by the grace and the help of Christ.‘Will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.’ If we can come back to the deepest form of love if we have wandered from it, and overcome that tendency to downgrade in the heart. This is what Christ requires of us, because here are the people who he will give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.