Revelation 2:9 Commentary and Bible Study

‘I know thy works.’ It is a very searching phrase. It is said to every one of the churches. It is quite a motto for us. He knows everything; it makes us cautious in our conduct, careful not to sin. If we remember that when we go to pray, it helps us to be reverent in our prayers as well as joyous. In the case of Smyrna there is no condemnation of what is bad. It is significant that this is the persecuted church.Tribulation and poverty are linked here. They had many troubles and their troubles led to poverty which suggests to us that they were thrown out of work because they would not go to the immoral worship feasts of the trade gods. There was great need in that church.‘And I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not.’ Blasphemy here means slander. I know the slander of them. The Jews slander you. You have enough trouble from the citizens of the city, from the pagan people, but now the Jews are against you too, and they slander you to them. They are not true Jews, says Christ. Yes, they are ethnically true Jews, but they are not true Jews in Christ’s eyes, because they do not receive him and they do not believe him.‘But are the synagogue of Satan.’ A most interesting expression. Satan, of course, means adversary, accuser. They are the synagogue, the church of the accuser. They slander you; they accuse you; they are your enemies; they bring you into as much trouble as they can with the authorities.