Eyesalve to See

When Jesus spoke to the church located in the city of Laodicea, He spoke in terms that they could understand in that their city was known for its exporting of an eyesalve or a special cream that was supposed to help people see better with their human, physical eyes. Yet Christ was speaking to these lukewarm, backslidden people concerning a different, imperative seeing, spiritual eye sight or seeing, when He rebuked them with these following words:

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:17-18

“I counsel thee – who art poor, and blind, and naked. To buy of me – Without money or price. Gold purified in the fire – True, living faith, which is purified in the furnace of affliction. And white raiment – True holiness. And eyesalve – Spiritual illumination; the “unction of the Holy One,” which teacheth all things.” John Wesley

“Revelation 3:18: I counsel thee – O fallen and deceived soul, hear Jesus! Thy case is not hopeless. Buy of me. Gold tried in the fire – Come and receive from me, without money and without price, faith that shall stand in every trial: so gold tried in the fire is here understood. But it may mean pure and undefiled religion, or that grace or Divine influence which produces it, which is more valuable to the soul than the purest gold to the body. They had before imaginary riches; this alone can make them truly rich. White raiment – Holiness of heart and life. Anoint thine eyes – Pray for, that ye may receive, the enlightening influences of my Spirit, that ye may be convinced of your true state, and see where your help lies.” Adam Clarke

“3:18 The people were counseled to buy from the Lord gold refined in the fire. This may mean divine righteousness, which is bought without money or price (Isa_55:1) but received as a gift through faith in the Lord Jesus. Or it may mean genuine faith, which when tested in the fire, results in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1Pe_1:7). Also the people were counseled to buy white garments, that is, practical righteousness in everyday life. And they should anoint their eyes with eye salve, that is, gain true spiritual vision through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. This counsel was especially appropriate, since Laodicea was known as a center for banking, textiles, and medicines—especially eye salve.” Williams MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary

Jesus is telling the backslidden Laodiceans to seek His face for clear, deeper, better understanding, enlightenment, and discernment.

If Your Path Lit?

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

As you seek and stay close to the LORD, abide in Christ, He fills your vessel with his burning oil which lights your way down the narrow way which leads to eternal life in glory. The oil in the lamp allows for the lighting of the path. With no light we are stopped, stranded.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105

The “eyesalve” Jesus speaks of here refers to having “eyes to see” which the LORD alone can grant and will only grant to those who meet His conditions of true repentance.

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” Matthew 13:16

Interestingly, the 2 verses preceding the above words of Jesus speak of the many deceived religious hearts of Christ’s day and our day – nothing has changed:

“And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Matthew 13:14-15 

Hardened hearts and darkened eyes are a choice. Repentance brings a washing, clearing, and fresh vision. When we come to Jesus in fresh and true repentance, He grants us a “refreshing … from the presence of the Lord.” 

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19

Repenting (returning wholeheartedly to Jesus) always brings refreshing!

It is only in stopping our lives in this world, getting authentic with God, turning our hearts truly and unreservedly to the LORD, that He opens our eyes to see as He sees and be rescued from perishing in the whirlwind of darkness that cover this present dark, fallen world.

Christ promised us that “the pure in heart” would “SEE God.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 

“see”

G3700
ὀπτάνομαι, ὄπτομαι
optanomai    optomai
op-tan’-om-ahee, op’-tom-ahee
The first a (middle voice) prolonged form of the second (primary) which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternates of G3708; to gaze (that is, with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from G991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from G1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while G2300, and still more emphatically its intensive G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and G4648 a watching from a distance): – appear, look, see, shew self.
Total KJV occurrences: 58

Purity of heart is essential to seeing God now and for everlasting bliss in glory!

MAJOR COMPONENT OF Discerning