I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (Rev 2:2)
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (Rev 2:3)
Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Rev 2:4)
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev 2:5)
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Rev 2:6)
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Rev 2:7)
In his first letter to the 7 churches we see Jesus reiterating that he is indeed the one who holds them in his hand. He is the one in ultimate control because not only is he walking amidst them he is holding their oversight in his right hand; traditionally the hand of power and authority. Here he establishes his right to address them with praise and correction.
Ephesus was a famous church planted by the apostle Paul (Acts 19), and afterwards fed and led by John, who lived there. Ephesus was a rich, seaport, capital city of the province of Asia, (Now modern southwest Turkey).
It was also a place known for its pagan & idol worship, and of course immorality. Ephesus was dominated by the worship of Diana, the fertility goddess. (Also known as Artemis.) It was in the middle of this that Paul established the church and spent more time there than in any other church (according to Acts 19, Acts 20:31), as well as Aquilla and Priscilla, with Apollos (Acts 18:24-28),and Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3).
1. This tremendous temple to Diana in Ephesus was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was supported by 127 pillars, each sixty feet high, and was adorned with great sculptures.Commentary by David Guzik at www.blueletterbible.org
2. "The Temple of Artemis was also a major treasury and bank of the ancient world, where merchants, kings, and even cities made deposits, and where their money could be kept safe under the protection of deity." (Longenecker in his commentary on Acts)
3. "Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan. Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were practised. Books containing formula for sorcery and other ungodly and forbidden arts were plentiful in that city." (Gaebelein in his commentary on Acts).
As we see this was truly a place where the work of the Kingdom would be full of toil, and it is this church that Jesus addresses first.
In verse two Jesus says to the church of Ephesus, “I know your business, what occupies you, your acts and deeds ( greek word "ergon": to work), you trouble ("kopos": intense labour united with trouble and toil), you steadfastness, constancy, endurance, and how you cannot abide a man with a bad nature ("kakos": troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful); and you have tested those who say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them to be liars"
Ephesus was a church which was outwardly successful. It endured in the midst of evil and contended with false apostles; a church doing all the right things.
The Ephesian church also did pursue orthodoxy and purity; they took the warning of Paul well in Acts 20:29-31: For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.Commentary by David Guzik at www.blueletterbible.org
1. The church today, like the Ephesian church then, must vigorously test those who claim to be emissaries from God - especially those who say they are apostles, because deceivers will speak well of themselves; the greater the evil, the more deceptive its cloak
2. Also, the Ephesian church persisted in doing these things, without becoming weary - they showed a godly perseverance that is worthy of our imitation.
All this is good work indeed. However Jesus had something against them. They left their first love. (Rev 2:4). It’s important to note that they did not lose their first love, they left it.
The distinction between leaving and losing love is important; something can be lost quite by accident, but leaving is a deliberate act, though it may happen suddenly. As well, when we lose something we don't know where to find it, but when we leave something, we do know where to find it.Commentary by David Guzik at www.blueletterbible.org
What kind of love did they leave?
I believe because the scriptures state "first love" part of it was the leaving of their initial passionate love for Jesus. (Something we must be aware of even today.) Just as in marriage, we must be vigilent to keep the passionate love we feel in the beginning of a relationship kindled and to remember what it was that drew you to your love.
But there is more. The Greek word used for love in verse 4 is Agape meaning (brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence). As most of us know this is not the word for "eros" love but the word for love of our fellow man.
Which brings us to another lesson for us today: When we get so busy with the work of the Kingdom, especially in ferreting out evil and false prophets, it is then we are in most danger of losing the love.
Just as they did we must be careful of these pitfalls:
1. Their preoccupation with working for Jesus has eclipsed a love relationship with Him - they have lost Jesus in the temple, even as Jesus' parents did. (Luke 2:45-46)Commentary by David Guzik at www.blueletterbible.org
2. Their determined orthodoxy has made them cold, suspicious, and intolerant of diversity
3. The two loves go together; you can't say you love God and not love His family; and you can't love His family without loving Him first.
If we find ourselves there all is not lost. Jesus clearly revealed there is a way back.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev 2:5)
Remember your first love, remember what it was we were called to.
Repent, turn away from the way you were going, and do what it was you were first doing; loving God, loving you neighbors as yourselves, loving your enemies.
Still Jesus gives a hard warning as to what will happen if we do not. We will be removed from our place of honor, and from his midst if we do not repent. An undersireable place to be indeed.
He will remove them from His presence; they may continue as an organization, but no longer as a true church of Jesus Christ - it will be the church of Ichabod, from which the glory has departed.~ Commentary by David Guzik at www.blueletterbible.org
Finally, I would like to restate that it is widely believed that these letters were not just for the specific churches of that time, but for all churches in all time. In addition, it is believed that these churches represent "eras" in church history. With that in mind, it is thought that the Church of Ephesus represents the apostolic church; i.e. the first church.
