So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
16. because thou art lukewarm ] The image is of course taken from the tendency of lukewarm water to excite vomiting. It is intended to be an offensive one, interfering with the self-satisfied refinement to which it is addressed.
I will ] Rather, I shall soon, or, I am likely to : the word used does not necessarily imply that the intention is final, and Rev 3:19 shews that it is not.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
So then because thou art lukewarm … I will spue thee out of my mouth – Referring, perhaps, to the well-known fact that tepid water tends to produce sickness at the stomach, and an inclination to vomit. The image is intensely strong, and denotes deep disgust and loathing at the indifference which prevailed in the church at Laodicea. The idea is, that they would be utterly rejected and cast off as a church – a threatening of which there has been an abundant fulfillment in subsequent times. It may be remarked, also, that what was threatened to that church may be expected to occur to all churches, if they are in the same condition; and that all professing Christians, and Christian churches, that are lukewarm, have special reason to dread the indignation of the Saviour.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. Because thou art lukewarm] Irresolute and undecided.
I will spue thee out of my mouth.] He alludes here to the known effect of tepid water upon the stomach; it generally produces a nausea. I wilt cast thee off. Thou shalt have no interest in me. Though thou hast been near to my heart, yet now I must pluck thee thence, because slothful, careless, and indolent; thou art not in earnest for thy soul.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Neither cold nor hot; partly good, partly bad, having something of profession, nothing of the life and power of religion; contenting thyself that thou art not a Jew, nor a pagan; not a superstitious, idolatrous person; but a Christian, a protestant, a minister, or member of the Reformed church; yet neglecting thy duty both as a minister, and as a Christian, living in a sensual satisfaction of thy lusts.
I will spue thee out of my mouth; I will cast thee off, as men vomit up lukewarm things.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. neither cold nor hotSoone oldest manuscript, B, and Vulgate read. But two oldestmanuscripts, Syriac, and Coptic transpose thus, “hotnor cold.” It is remarkable that the Greek adjectives arein the masculine, agreeing with the angel, not feminine, agreeingwith the Church. The Lord addresses the angel as the embodiment andrepresentative of the Church. The chief minister is answerable forhis flock if he have not faithfully warned the members of it.
I willGreek, “Iam about to,” “I am ready to”: I have it in my mind:implying graciously the possibility of the threat not being executed,if only they repent at once. His dealings towards them will depend ontheirs towards Him.
spue thee out of mymonthreject with righteous loathing, as Canaan spued out itsinhabitants for their abominations. Physicians used lukewarmwater to cause vomiting. Cold and hot drinks werecommon at feasts, but never lukewarm. There were hot and coldsprings near Laodicea.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,…. A lukewarm professor is one that serves God and mammon; that halts between two opinions, and knows not what religion is best, and cares little for any, yet keeps in a round of duty, though indifferent to it, and contents himself with it; and is un concerned about the life and power of godliness, and takes up with the external form of it; and has no thought about the glory of God, the interest of Christ and truth; and this was too much the case of this church, at least of a great number of its members; wherefore it was very loathsome to Christ, hence he threatens:
I will spew thee out of my mouth; this shows how nauseous lukewarmness is to Christ, insomuch that on account of it he would not own and acknowledge her as his; but even cast her out, unchurch her, and have no more any such imperfect church state upon earth, as he afterwards never will, this is the last; nor is there any church state, or any remains of one in Laodicea; it is indeed quite uninhabited.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Lukewarm (). Tepid. Old adjective from , to liquefy, to melt, here alone in N.T.
I will (). “I am about to,” on the point of.
Spew thee ( ). First aorist active infinitive of , old verb to vomit, to reject with extreme disgust, here alone in N.T.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Lukewarm [] . Only here in the New Testament.
Foremost and most numerous among the lost, Dante places those who had been content to remain neutral in the great contest between good and evil.
“Master, what is this which now I hear? What folk is this, which seems by pain so vanquished? And he to me :” This miserable mode Maintain the melancholy souls of those Who lived withouten infamy or praise. Commingled are they with that caitiff choir. Of angels, who have not rebellious been, Nor faithful were to God, but were for self. The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair; Nor them the nethermore abyss receives, For glory none the damned would have from them. ”
“Inferno,” 3, 33 – 42.
I will [] . I am about or have in mind. Not a declaration of immediate and inexorable doom, but implying a possibility of the determination being changed.
Spue [] . Only here in the New Testament. Compare Lev 18:28; Lev 20:22.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “So then because thou art lukewarm” (houtos hoti chilaros ei) “So because thou art lukewarm,” satisfied with carelessness, indifference, existing in a nonproductive state, barren and unfruitful, Tit 3:14; 2Pe 1:8-9.
2) “And neither cold nor hot,” (kai oute zestos oute psuchros) “And (exist) neither hot nor cold,” neither without spiritual life (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit), cold or dead, nor hot, zealous on fire for God as they should be, Tit 2:14; 2Co 9:2.
3) “I will spue thee out of my mouth,” (mello se emesai ek tou stomatos mou) “I am about to vomit or regurgitate you (as a church) out of my mouth,” about to revoke your ambassadorship, your witnessing power or dynamics, as a church of mine, withdraw my commission or invalidate your administrative right as a testator, because your indifference and carelessness disgusts me, the Lord warns. God can be provoked to jealousy and anger against his church, as he often was against Israel, Deu 32:15; Deu 32:21; Isa 17:10-11; Psa 78:40-42. May these warnings keep us from carelessness in his churches as the Day of our Lord’s coming draws nigh, Heb 10:36-37.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
16. I will spew Literally, I am about to spew; implying that the rejection is delayed, perhaps to allow time for repentance, yet is nigh at hand. It seems to be a threat of removal of the Church, implying, but not expressing, individual condemnation for each in the final day.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Rev 3:16. I will spue thee out of my mouth. The allegory is continued, for lukewarm things, as water, provoke to vomit, according to the observation and prescription of the ancient physicians. See Celsus de Re. Med. lib. 1. 100. 3.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Ver. 16. I will spue thee out ] I will please myself in thy just punishment. Ah (saith God, as one ridding his stomach), “I will ease me of mine adversaries, I will avenge me of mine enemies,”Isa 1:24Isa 1:24 . Now the basest places are good enough to cast up our gorge in. The hypocrite’s punishment must needs be heavy. Laodicea is commonly looked upon as a type of England. And surely that facies hypocritica hypocricitical look of our nation is facies hippocratica, a mortal complexion, a sad prognostic.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 3:16 . The divine disgust at lukewarm religion. Christ, says the prophet, is sick of the lukewarm: as the purpose ( ) of rejection does not exclude the possibility of a change upon the part of the church which shall render the execution of the purpose needless, advice to repent immediately follows upon the threat. The latter is unconditional only in form. Exclusion from God’s life forms one side of the penalty, humiliating exposure before men the other (18).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
lukewarm. Greek. chliaros. Only here.
will = am about to.
spue. Greek. emeo. Only here. Occurs: Isa 19:14 (Septuagint)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 3:16.[53] ) This is a milder form of speech than if it were . makes a modal[54] form of speech out of a categorical. [He implies the denial which is about to take place, in the event of their continuing lukewarm, before His Father; Psa 16:4.-V. g.]
[53] Ver. 14. , the Beginning) Pro 8:22; Col 1:18.-V. g.
[54] See Appendix on Sermo Modalis.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
I will spue thee out: Rev 2:5, Jer 14:19, Jer 15:1-4, Zec 11:8, Zec 11:9
Reciprocal: Lev 18:28 – General Deu 20:8 – fearful Deu 32:19 – And when 1Ki 18:21 – How long 2Ki 17:41 – these nations Psa 119:20 – soul Psa 119:81 – fainteth Pro 1:23 – behold Eze 20:39 – but Hos 7:8 – a cake Hos 10:2 – Their heart is divided Mat 12:30 – that is Mat 13:12 – from Mat 25:3 – foolish Mat 25:30 – cast Luk 11:23 – General Act 1:2 – through Rom 12:11 – fervent 1Co 8:3 – is
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 3:16. Hence the emphatic threatening of this verse. For the figure comp. Lev 18:28; Lev 20:22.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 16
This mode of expression is only intended to express in a striking manner the displeasure of God against lukewarmness in his friends. We are by no means to understand from it that it is literally better to be open enemies. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus appear to have been timid and hesitating friends of Jesus; but their sin in not being more decided, was not as great as that of open enemies; and so Felix and Agrippa were not as guilty as Caiaphas and Herod And, in modern times, we find that those who regard the Institution, and truths of religion with the most friendly and respectful feelings, constitute the class from which, ordinarily, the greatest number of conversions to true Christianity take place. We are, therefore, clearly to understand this passage only as a pointed and antithetical manner of conveying the general idea that lukewarmness and indifference in the cause of Christ are very sinful, and highly displeasing to God.