ACC ~ Revelation 3 v15 - 16

APART FROM GOOD WORKS, WEALTH AND KNOWLEDGE MAKE POOR. PRIMASIUS: In this passage we recognize persons of nobility in the world, whom he says are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm, because, although they possess an abundance of wealth, they are empty of works of piety, nor are they inflamed by any feeling of compassion toward good works. They are therefore [considered] as poor, said to be neither cold nor hot, for they abound in riches which they use tepidly and so become sluggish, and by not sharing those riches with the needy are rightly regarded as lacking in the desire for good works. But this passage may also refer to those persons who interpret the Scriptures in private while outside it is not known whether they are faithful and being confident in their literary knowledge, they are found to be empty of works. … Now they may purchase gold for themselves, of which he says, “Receive wisdom as gold and knowledge like chosen silver.” And, should they be able to derive something from the sources of the divine Scriptures, as though illumined by the light of wisdom; they might perfect it by works themselves, either the former enkindled by the depths of piety through the largess of their wealth, or the latter informed spiritually through their knowledge of the Scriptures. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3.15-16.

LOSS OF THE ZEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. OECUMENIUS: “I know your works,” the Lord says, “you are neither cold nor hot.” He who is fervent in the Spirit is “hot,” for the holy apostle speaks of those who are “fervent in the Spirit.” Likewise, he who lacks the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit is “cold.” But you, he says, “are lukewarm.” He calls that person “lukewarm” who in baptism received the communion of the Holy Spirit but has quenched that grace through sloth and attention to temporal matters. And so, this divine directive: “Do not quench the Spirit.” Would that you would be either “hot,” aglow by the work of the Spirit, or totally “cold,” unbaptized and utterly void of the Spirit’s grace, but not “lukewarm”! For the person who has the mental fire of the Spirit comes to maturity, since the senses have been trained to distinguish that which is good from that which is evil, and that person is spiritual. And that person who has never received the grace of the Spirit, yet may hope at some time to receive it, and so is not counted among the hopeless. But that person who is “lukewarm” is moribund and moving toward death, and risks losing both baptism and the previous zeal. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3.14-22.

HYPOCRISY IN A CHRISTIAN DISHONORS GOD. SALVIAN THE PRESBYTER: They learn good and do evil who, it is written, confess God by words and deny him by deeds.They, as the apostle says, repose in the law and know its intent and approve of those things that are the more profitable. They have the form of knowledge and of truth in the law. They preach that they must not steal, yet they do steal. They read that they must not commit adultery, yet they commit it. They glory in the law, yet by transgression of the law they dishonor God. Therefore, for this very reason, Christians are worse because they should be better. They do not practice what they preach, and they struggle against their faith by their morals. All the more blameworthy is evil which the label of goodness accuses, and the holy name is the crime of an unholy person. Hence, the Savior also said in the Apocalypse to the lukewarm Christian: “Would that you were cold or hot. But now because you are lukewarm, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth.” THE GOVERNANCE OF GOD 4.19.

NOT SLACK IN MEEKNESS, OBEDIENCE AND PATIENCE. CAESAREA OF ARLES: Let us not only beware of serious sins, as I suggested above, but let us also spurn small daily acts of negligence as the poison of the devil. There are some people who are weakened by excessive unconcern after their religious profession, because they seem to have left the world. In such people is fulfilled that sentence of our Lord in which it is said, “How I wish you were one or the other—hot or cold! But because you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth!” What does it mean that he said, How I wish you were one or the other—hot or cold? This means that it would have been better for you to have remained cold in the world or to be fervent in the monastery. Now because you have withdrawn from the world and still have refused to acquire spiritual warmth because of your carelessness, you have become lukewarm and will be vomited from the Lord’s mouth, scarcely ever to be recovered again. For this reason, dearest brothers, with God’s help carefully listen to the sentence of sacred Scripture, in which it is said, “With closest custody guard your heart.” There should be rejoicing over the monk who has come to the monastery and, in a meek and humble spirit, wills to practice meekness, obedience and patience. SERMON 235.4, TO MONKS.

THE SEED OF THE DIVINE WORD, THE THISTLES OF WEALTH. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Just as that which is lukewarm induces vomiting in those who take it in, so also, he says, I will vomit you out through the word of my mouth into eternal destruction, as though you were rotten food. For mixing together the seed of the divine word with the thistles of wealth, you have become unaware of your poverty in spiritual matters and of the blindness of your spiritual eyes and of your nakedness in good works. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3.16-17.

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