The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 112

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ven. 1-6.-The epistle to the Chu'f'ch al &,,,.di,. Were any one visiting the actual sites where the several Churches spoken of in these letters once stood, he would, ere he came to Sardi..~, h&ve gone a long way round the circle on the circumference of which they all were. Beginning with Ephesus at the southern end, and proceeding north- wards along the sea-shore, he next would come to Smyrna, then to Pergamos, then to 'l'hyatira, and then, coming down the inland side of the rude circle we have imagined, he would reach Bardis, and proceeding on would come first to Philadelphia. and then to Laodicea, the last of the seven. But now we have come to Sardis-a notable city in the ancient world, because associated with the great names of Oyrus, Oroosus, and Alexander. With this historic fame, however, we have nought to do, but with the religious condition of the Church tqere as shown in this letter. And, as in all the previous letters, so here, the title assumed by the Lord Jesus has special reference to the condition and need of the Church addressed. Ephesus needed encouragement and warning alike. The Lord, therdore, speaks of himself as "he who holdeth the aeven stare in his }'.ight hand." Smyrna. needed strong support under her heavy trial. The Lord therefore speaks to them as "The First and the Last, who," etc. Pergamos neeJed th&t the Word of God should be sharply and severely brought to bear upon her, The Lord therefore telh of himself as "he who hath the 11barp sword with the two edges," et.c. 'l'hyatira. needed to be reminded of the holy and awful wrath of the Lord against such as she wu harbouring in her midst. The Lord therefore declares himself to be " he whose eyes are as a fla.me of fire," etc. And now this Church of Sardis needed to be won back a.gain to true godliness, for though she ha.4 a name that she lived, she was dead. The Lord therefore speaks of himself to her as "he who hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars." Now note how this name of the Lord bears- L ON TBE 81N WITH WBICII THE 0HURCH WAS CII.ARGE.A&LE. Obsene concerning this sin: L B was not that of others. Nought is said of Nicolai tans and followers of Balaam, or of such as Jezebel was. Nothing of false doctrines or of vicious life. These thlngs which are denounced so terribly in other letters are not charged against this Church. and we may therefore assume that they could, perhaps they did, thank God that they were not as those other Churches were. 2. Nor was it that they did nothing. On the contrary, their works are mentioned repeatedly. No doubt there were all wonted ministries, religious observances, charities, and missions. There must have been, for: 3. They 'U/e'f'e no scandal to othB'f'B. On the contrary, they had a name, a reputation, an honourable character, as a living Church. Laodicea deceived herself, thinking she was rich; but it is not said she deceived others. This Church, Sardis, did deceive others; she was reckoned by them t.o be really living, though in fact she was dead; and very probably she had· deceived herself also. But: 4. Their WO'f'ka were nol ?'f'fect before God. Well enough before men, but before him quite otherwise. They were of such sort that be said of those who. did them, that they were "dead." They were done, as were the prayers, alms, and fa.stings of the hypocrites, "to be seen of men." Assuredly not with single eye or with pure motive. They ha.4 their reward: people talked of them, and gave them credit as having life. But before God they were dead. Let us remember that it is as "befO'f'e God "everything is to be estimated. Let all who engage in any form of Christian service remember this. It is terribly apt t-o be forgotten. Remember how St. Paul said, "It is a small thing to me to be judged. of you or of any human judgment: he that judgeth me is the Lord;" "I labour to be accepted of him." The one question for us all is, how will our work appear before God? For: 6, Tuir condiwm wa, one moll di,plea8i#fl to. Mm. The· severe tou of the lett.er 128 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOIIN THE DtVIMB. (cu. m. 1-22.