He that hath an ear... — Or. Let him that hath an ear, hear. These words — an echo from the Gospels — recur in all the seven epistles. In the first three, however, they are placed before the promise; in the remaining four they follow it. The heart which is hardened is the precursor of the ear that is deaf (Jeremiah 6:10, and John 12:37-40). The “spiritual truth” needs a spiritual organ for its discernment. These are truths, then, only heard
“When the soul seeks to hear; when all is hushed,
And the heart listens.” — Coleridge, Reflection.
To him that overcometh (or, conquereth) will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. — The reference to conquering is a prominent feature of St. John’s other writings. The word — used but once in the three Gospels (Luke 11:22), and but once by St. Paul (Romans 12:21) — is found in John 16:33; 1 John 2:13-14; 1 John 5:4-5; and occurs in all these epistles to the churches. The promise of the tree of life is appropriate (1) to the virtue commended: those who had not indulged in the license of Nicolaitanes shall eat of the tree of life; (2) to the special weakness of the Ephesians: to those who had fallen, and lost the paradise of first loving communion and fellowship with God (comp. Genesis 3:8, and 1 John 1:3), is held out the promise of a restored paradise and participation in the tree of life. (Comp. Revelation 22:2; Revelation 22:14; Genesis 3:22.) This boon of immortality is the gift of Christ — I will give. It is tasted in knowledge of God and of His Son (John 17:3); it is enjoyed in their presence (Revelation 22:3-4).