Because thou sayest, I am rich, &c.— This angel, or his church, is quite the reverse of the angel of Smyrna: ch. Revelation 2:9. Here is a beautiful gradation in the words before us. It is something to be rich, more to be increased with goods, and still more to be in want of nothing; this is preserved with equal beauty in the latter part of the verse: the whole alludes to their spiritual state and spiritual goods. According to the common language of scripture, they only are wretched and miserable, who are oppressed with sins; Matthew 11:28 they arepoor, who lose their own soul; Matthew 16:26 they are blind, who see not their own sins; John 9:40-41 and they are naked, who are utterly destitute of true holiness; see ch. Revelation 16:15 Revelation 17:16.
Related Commentaries of Revelation 3:17
Revelation 3:17
17 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: