Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 7:14
Verse 14. Sir, thou knowest] That is, I do not know, but thou canst inform me. Came out of great tribulation] Persecutions of every kind.
And have washed their robes] Have obtained their pardon and purity, through the blood of the Lamb.
Their white robes cannot mean the righteousness of Christ, for this cannot be washed and made white in his own blood. This white linen is said to be the righteousness of the saints, Revelation xix. 8, and this is the righteousness in which they stand before the throne; therefore it is not Christ's righteousness, but it is a righteousness wrought in them by the merit of his blood, and the power of his Spirit.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest , etc.] John replies in a very humble, modest, and respectful manner, to the elder, calling him sir, according to the usage of the eastern people; and it is observable, that this word is much used in his Gospel, and more than in any other book; (see John 4:11,15,19,49 5:7 12:21 20:15). Some copies, and the Complutensian edition, read, my Lord; and so do the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions. John confesses his ignorance, and ascribes knowledge to the elder, and desires information of him; for the sense is, that the elder knew who they were, and from whence they came, but he did not, and therefore desires that he would inform him; and so the Arabic version renders it, and my Lord, thou art more learned; that is, than I am, and therefore instruct me, as he accordingly did; and he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation : seeing this company designs all the elect of God, that ever were, are, or shall be in the world; the great tribulation, out of which they came, is not to be restrained to any particular time of trouble, but includes all that has been, is, or shall be; as all the afflictions of the saints under the Old Testament; from righteous Abel to Zechariah; and all the troubles of the people of God in the times of the Maccabees, ( Hebrews 11:35-38); all the persecutions of the Christians by the Jews, at the first publication of the Gospel; and the persecutions under the Roman emperors, both Pagan and Arian; and the cruelties and barbarities of the Romish antichrist, during the whole time of the apostasy; and particularly the last struggle of the beast, which will be the hour of temptation, that will come upon all the world; and in general all the afflictions, reproaches, persecutions, and many tribulations of all the saints, and every member of Christ in this world, who in the new Jerusalem church state will be come out of them; which supposes them to have been in them, and yet were not overwhelmed by them, and lost in them; but, by divine support and assistance, waded through them, and were now quite clear of them, and never more to be annoyed with them; (see Revelation 21:4). And have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb ; not in the blood of bulls and goats, which could not take away sin; nor in their own blood, their sufferings for Christ, on which they did not depend, knowing there is no comparison between them, and the glory revealed in them; nor in any works of righteousness done by them, which are imperfect and filthy, and need washing; but in the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin. The robes which they washed in his blood may either design themselves, their consciences, which this blood purges from dead works; or their outward conversation garments, which have their spots, and need continual washing; or else the robe of righteousness, and garments of salvation, or their justification, which is by the blood of Christ, ( Romans 5:9). The act of washing from sin, by the blood of Christ, is sometimes ascribed to Christ himself, as in ( Revelation 1:5); but here to the saints, and designs the concern which faith has in the blood of Christ, which deals with it for justification, peace, and pardon, for the removing of sin from the conscience, and for cleansing from all impurity, both of flesh and Spirit: and the effect of this is, that their robes were made white; that is, that they were freed from all sin, were without fault before the throne, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. This shows that these persons had no trust in themselves, or dependence on their own merits, and works of righteousness, but wholly trusted to, and depended on the blood and righteousness of Christ; which is the only way to come out of tribulation, and enter the kingdom.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-17 - Faithful Christians deserve our notice and respect; we should mark the upright. Those who would gain knowledge, must not be ashamed to see instruction from any who can give it. The way to heaven is through man tribulations; but tribulation, how great soever, shall not separate u from the love of God. Tribulation makes heaven more welcome and mor glorious. It is not the blood of the martyrs, but the blood of the Lamb, that can wash away sin, and make the soul pure and clean in the sight of God; other blood stains, this is the only blood that makes the robes of the saints white and clean. They are happy in their employment; heaven is a state of service, though not of suffering; it is a state of rest, but not of sloth; it isa praising, delightful rest They have had sorrows, and shed many tears on account of sin an affliction; but God himself, with his own gracious hand, will wip those tears away. He deals with them as a tender father. This shoul support the Christian under all his troubles. As all the redeemed ow their happiness wholly to sovereign mercy; so the work and worship of God their Saviour is their element; his presence and favour complet their happiness, nor can they conceive of any other joy. To Him may all his people come; from him they receive every needed grace; and to his let them offer all praise and glory __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 ειρηκα 2046 5758 αυτω 846 κυριε 2962 συ 4771 οιδας 1492 5758 και 2532 ειπεν 2036 5627 μοι 3427 ουτοι 3778 εισιν 1526 5748 οι 3588 ερχομενοι 2064 5740 εκ 1537 της 3588 θλιψεως 2347 της 3588 μεγαλης 3173 και 2532 επλυναν 4150 5656 τας 3588 στολας 4749 αυτων 846 και 2532 ελευκαναν 3021 5656 {1: στολας 4749 αυτων 846 } {2: αυτας 846 } εν 1722 τω 3588 αιματι 129 του 3588 αρνιου 721
Vincent's NT Word Studies
14. I said (eirhka). Lit., I have said. Rev., renders by the present, I say. See on cried. John i. 15.
Sir (kurie). Add mou my, and render, as Rev., my Lord. An address of reverence as to a heavenly being. See on Matt. xxi. 3.
Which came (oi ercomenoi). The present participle. Hence, as Rev., which come.
Out of great tribulation (ek thv qliyewv thv megalhv). Lit., out of the tribulation, the great (tribulation). Rev., properly, gives the force of the article, "the great." See on Matt. xiii. 21.
Have washed (eplunan). The aorist tense. Rev., correctly, they washed. Only here and Luke v. 2, on which see note. For the New Testament words for washing, see on Acts xvi. 33.
Made them white. Compare Isa. i. 18; Ps. li. 7; Mark ix. 3. Milligan remarks that robes are the expression of character, and compares the word habit used of dress.
