SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:17
Porque t dices: Yo soy rico, y estoy enriquecido, y no tengo necesidad de ninguna cosa; y no conoces que t eres un desventurado y miserable y pobre y ciego y desnudo;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:17
Verse 17. I am rich] Thou supposest thyself to be in a safe state, perfectly sure of final salvation, because thou hast begun well, and laid the right foundation. It was this most deceitful conviction that cut the nerves of their spiritual diligence; they rested in what they had already received, and seemed to think that once in grace must be still in grace. Thou art wretched] talaipwrov? Most wretched. "The word signifies," according to Mintert, "being worn out and fatigued with grievous labours, as they who labour in a stone quarry, or are condemned to the mines." So, instead of being children of God, as they supposed, and infallible heirs of the kingdom, they were, in the sight of God, in the condition of the most abject slaves.
And miserable] o eleeinov? Most deplorable, to be pitied by all men.
And poor] Having no spiritual riches, no holiness of heart. Rich and poor are sometimes used by the rabbins to express the righteous and the wicked.
And blind] The eyes of thy understanding being darkened, so that thou dost not see thy state.
And naked] Without the image of God, not clothed with holiness and purity. A more deplorable state in spiritual things can scarcely be imagined than that of this Church. And it is the true picture of many Churches, and of innumerable individuals.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Because thou sayest, I am rich , etc.] In worldly goods, which occasioned her lukewarmness, as riches often do, and her vanity, pride, and arrogance, afterwards expressed. Laodicea was a very rich city, and so will be this church state, through the accession of kings and princes, and great men of the earth unto it, in the former period: riches seldom do any good to the churches of Christ, they did not in Constantine's time; and it seems that even at the close of the spiritual reign of Christ they will be of bad consequence, since they will usher in the Laodicean church state: or her meaning is, that she was rich in spiritual things; not in grace, but in external gifts, which still remained, upon the very great pouring forth of the Spirit in the last church state; and in good works, on which she too much trusted for salvation, placing her righteousness in them: she is one whom the Jews call hrwtb ry[ , rich in the law: and increased with goods : with outward peace and prosperity, with much natural and divine light and knowledge, with the purity of Gospel ordinances, even beyond the former church state in her own imagination: and have need of nothing : contenting herself with these external things: true believers, as considered in Christ, stand in need of nothing indeed, they are complete in him, and have everything in him; but, as considered in themselves, they are daily in need of daily food for their souls, as for their bodies, of fresh light and life, strength and comfort, and of new supplies of grace; wherefore this church shows great ignorance of herself, as well as great pride and arrogance to express herself in this manner: and knowest not that thou art wretched ; as all men are in a state of nature and unregeneracy; which may be the case of many professors, and they be ignorant of it; as to be under a sentence of wrath, obnoxious to the curses of the law, in danger of hell and destruction, lost and undone, and unable to extricate themselves out of such a state: true believers account themselves wretched, as the Apostle Paul did, on account of indwelling sin, and the plague of their own hearts, which the members of this church, the greater part of them, were ignorant of: and miserable ; a miserable man is one that is attended with outward afflictions, but this was not the case of this church; and with spiritual poverty, blindness, and nakedness, and this was her case; some persons neither know their misery, nor their need of mercy: and poor ; not in purse, nor in spirit, nor with respect to outward afflictions, nor as to her church state, but in a spiritual sense; one whom the Jews call a hrwtb r , poor in the law; as such may be said to be who have nothing to eat that is fit to eat; nothing to wear but rags, and have no money to buy either; who are in debt, and not able to pay, nor to help themselves on any account; and this may be the case of professors, and yet not known and considered by them: and blind ; natural men are blind as to a saving knowledge of God in Christ, as to the way of salvation by Christ, as to the plague of their own hearts, as to the work of the Spirit of God upon the soul, and as to the truths of the Gospel, in the power of them; but here it regards blindness with respect to her church state, and its imperfection: and naked ; sin has stripped man of his moral clothing; man's own righteousness will not cover his nakedness; and whoever is destitute of the righteousness of Christ is a naked person.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-22 - Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of Asia. Here ou Lord Jesus styles himself, "The Amen;" one steady and unchangeable in all his purposes and promises. If religion is worth anything, it is worth every thing. Christ expects men should be in earnest. How man professors of gospel doctrine are neither hot nor cold; except as the are indifferent in needful matters, and hot and fiery in disputes abou things of lesser moment! A severe punishment is threatened. They woul give a false opinion of Christianity, as if it were an unholy religion while others would conclude it could afford no real satisfaction otherwise its professors would not have been heartless in it, or s ready to seek pleasure or happiness from the world. One cause of thi indifference and inconsistency in religion is, self-conceit an self-delusion; "Because thou sayest." What a difference between their thoughts of themselves, and the thoughts Christ had of them! Ho careful should we be not to cheat our owns souls! There are many in hell, who once thought themselves far in the way to heaven. Let us be of God that we may not be left to flatter and deceive ourselves Professors grow proud, as they become carnal and formal. Their stat was wretched in itself. They were poor; really poor, when they said an thought they were rich. They could not see their state, nor their way nor their danger, yet they thought they saw it. They had not the garment of justification, nor sanctification: they were exposed to sin and shame; their rags that would defile them. They were naked, withou house or harbour, for they were without God, in whom alone the soul of man can find rest and safety. Good counsel was given by Christ to thi sinful people. Happy those who take his counsel, for all others mus perish in their sins. Christ lets them know where they might have tru riches, and how they might have them. Some things must be parted with but nothing valuable; and it is only to make room for receiving tru riches. Part with sin and self-confidence, that you may be filled with his hidden treasure. They must receive from Christ the white raiment he purchased and provided for them; his own imputed righteousness for justification, and the garments of holiness and sanctification. Le them give themselves up to his word and Spirit, and their eyes shall be opened to see their way and their end. Let us examine ourselves by the rule of his word, and pray earnestly for the teaching of his Holy Spirit, to take away our pride, prejudices, and worldly lusts. Sinner ought to take the rebukes of God's word and rod, as tokens of his love to their souls. Christ stood without; knocking, by the dealings of his providence, the warnings and teaching of his word, and the influence of his Spirit. Christ still graciously, by his word and Spirit, come to the door of the hearts of sinners. Those who open to him shall enjo his presence. If what he finds would make but a poor feast, what he brings will supply a rich one. He will give fresh supplies of grace and comforts. In the conclusion is a promise to the overcomin believer. Christ himself had temptations and conflicts; he overcam them all, and was more than a conqueror. Those made like to Christ in his trials, shall be made like to him in glory. All is closed with the general demand of attention. And these counsels, while suited to the churches to which they were addressed, are deeply interesting to all men __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 λεγεις 3004 5719 οτι 3754 πλουσιος 4145 ειμι 1510 5748 και 2532 πεπλουτηκα 4147 5758 και 2532 ουδενος 3762 χρειαν 5532 εχω 2192 5719 και 2532 ουκ 3756 οιδας 1492 5758 οτι 3754 συ 4771 ει 1488 5748 ο 3588 ταλαιπωρος 5005 και 2532 ελεεινος 1652 και 2532 πτωχος 4434 και 2532 τυφλος 5185 και 2532 γυμνος 1131
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. Because thou sayest. Connect, as A.V. and Rev., with what follows, not with what precedes. Some interpret I will spue thee out of my mouth because thou sayest, etc.
Increased with goods (peplouthka). Rev., have gotten riches. The reference is to imagined spiritual riches, not to worldly possessions. Thou. Emphatic.
Wretched (o talaipwrov). Rev., better, giving the force of the article, the wretched one. From tlaw to endure, and peira a trial.
Miserable (eleeinov). Only here and 1 Cor. v. 19. An object of pity (eleov).
Poor (ptwcov). See on Matt. v. 3.
