Key Verse: “But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.” (Revelation 2:20-21 CSB)
In His letter to the church in the city of Thyatira, Jesus began, like He did with the others, with a word of commendation to the believers. In this case, He identified their “love, faithfulness, service and endurance” as noteworthy aspects of their devotion to Him. Furthermore, unlike those in Ephesus (v.4), He affirmed that the faith and love of the believers was growing ever stronger. “Your last works are greater than the first” (v.19), Jesus said to them.
However, as Jesus looked at the church in Thyatira, there was a glaring problem. “You tolerate a woman named Jezebel,” Jesus said to them, “who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols” (v.20). The issue at hand was that they had not been vigilant against false teaching. Like the people of Israel who had been led astray into idolatry and sexual immorality by Jezebel (1 Kings 16:30-33), some in Thyatira had been deceived into participating in the pagan cult practices and sexual licentiousness that marked this city. In doing so, they had turned aside from a pure devotion to Christ.
Notice though the patience that God had shown to them. Jesus said, “I gave her time to repent” (v.21). As the Righteous Judge, He had every right to wipe them out for their wickedness and rebellion. But instead He had given them the opportunity to change their direction and turn back to Him. “Not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), He chose to restrain His judgment a little longer in order to give them more time to return.
But God’s patience with them wasn’t going to last forever. Eventually, it would run out, if they continued in unrepentant sin. “Unless they repent of her works” (v.22), God’s judgment would soon fall upon them in the form of sickness, affliction and even death. There was no playing games with God. “I am the one who examines minds and hearts and I will give to each of you according to your works” (v.23),He said to them..
Jesus’ words to the church in Thyatira serves as both a warning and an encouragement to us today. First, the warning is that we must never presume on the patience and kindness of God toward us. Yes, God’s patience is much greater than we realize as we stumble forward in our walk with Jesus. He has convincingly proven that through sending His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for us.
But at the same time, we should never take it for granted. God’s patience is not a license for us to continue to sin and live however we please. “God is not mocked” (Galatian 6:7). He is the Holy God who cannot tolerate sin and who will eventually deal with those who refuse to turn to Him.
The encouragement for us though in these words from Jesus is that in His mercy and love, He gives us time to repent. He doesn’t just wipe us out at our first hint of rebellion or sin. Instead, in the immeasurable riches of His kindness and grace, He shows us patience even when we stumble.
Consider the patient love of God toward you today. Though we deserve His wrath, He has poured out His grace. Though we continue to stumble and turn away from Him, He relentlessly pursues us, calling us to turn back again to Him. He extends His kindness toward us in order to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Thank Him today for His incredible patience.
Prayer: God, I know that I test your patience more often than I even realize. Thank you for your kindness and love toward me in Christ Jesus. Thank you for the opportunities that you give me to turn back to you. Show me the areas of my life in which I need to do that again today. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
