“And all the churches will know that I am He who searches mind
and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:23
God is a loving and caring Father. He is also a just judge. When He must publicly punish evil or when He has to publicly correct His children for their sin, He wants all to learn from it so others will not make the same mistakes. In Thyatira there are two groups. The first group (and we have no idea of its size) follows Jezebel in her rebellion to God’s word. The second group (likely the majority of the church) does not support Jezebel although we receive no indication that they resist her. The Lord now turns His attention to the “silent majority” in the church.
And all the churches The Lord knows that all the letters He gives to
John will be read by all the churches and in fact, His entire church
throughout the centuries. The Lord’s judgment is for our edification,
correction, reproof and instruction in righteousness. Someone once said, “everybody is valuable because you can always serve as a bad example”. That’s a sad but true statement of the false prophet Jezebel.
Will know God wants us to grow in maturity and that requires knowledge and obedience. The Lord wants us to understand the truth exemplified in His actions and learn from it so that we can avoid this sin and its disastrous consequences (exactly what Satan hides from us).
That I am He The first thing we are to know is that Jesus Christ is fully God. Some think only of His meekness and grace but He is also the Holy God who hates the very sin He came to die for. The church at Thyatira is to remember Christ introduced Himself to them as the Son of God. His eyes are like blazing fire and His feet are like burnished bronze. They are to remember His deity and His righteous hatred of the sin in their midst. He is not their “buddy”, He is almighty God and He is the judge of all men.
Who searches mind and heart The Lord watches all mankind carefully. He searches, examines and investigates hearts. He looks at what is done and why it is done. “Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.” He knows the truth.
I will give to each of you Perhaps the faithful in the church at Thyatira struggled with why this wicked woman was allowed to continue. She is evil and her acts are condoned. Why is she allowed to do this? The Lord reminds His faithful followers of an important truth. “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” They see evil go unpunished and they do not understand. So the Lord answers – have faith in God. He is the one who bestows or grants to each person what they deserve. Justice will reign.
According to your works The judge of the earth is just. There are no favorites, no impartiality to some and not others. The faithful in Thyatira did not choose to live in that time or in that location. God put them there. Their responsibility is to stay faithful in their own hearts to God and God will reward them. How do they do that? According indicates direction – from the higher to the lower, from God to man. He rewards according to man’s works. This word works is first used
in Matthew 5:16,” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Jezebel and her followers did not do that. Romans 1:21 – God knows!
What can we learn? The world is unjust. Do not let it deter you. Remember who is in control and understand they will receive their just due. “Be not deceived (that is what Satan tries to do to us) God is not mocked.” Make sure you know who you are following!