Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Be, х ginou (G1096)] - 'Become' what thou art not, 'watchful' х greegoroon (G1127)], 'waking.'
The things which remain - those thy remaining few graces, which, in thy spiritual slumber, are not yet extinct (Alford). Hardly 'the PERSONS that are not yet dead, but ready to die;' for Revelation 3:4 implies that the "few" faithful at Sardis were not "ready, to die," but full of life.
Are. 'Aleph (') A C, Vulgate, Coptic, Syriac, read, 'were ready' [emedon], 'were about to die,' at the time when you "strengthen" them. 'Thou art dead,' Revelation 3:1, is therefore to be taken with limitation; for those must have some life who can strengthen the things that remain.
Perfect, х pepleeroomena (G4137)] - 'filled up in full complement:' 'complete.' Lacking in living faith as the motive of works.
Before God - `in the sight of God.' 'Aleph (') A B C, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, read, 'in the sight of MY God:' Christ's judgment is the Father's. In the sight of men, Sardis had 'a name of living:' 'so many and so great are the obligations of pastors, that he who would fulfill even a third of them, would be esteemed holy by men: whereas, if content with that alone, he would be sure not to escape hell' (Juan D'Avila). Note, in Sardis and Laodicea, alone of the seven, we read of no conflict with foes within or without. Not that either had renounced apparent opposition to the world; but neither had the faithfulness to witness for God by word and example, so as to 'torment them that dwelt on the earth' (Revelation 11:10).