Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
'Aleph (') A B C,Vulgate, prefix 'nevertheless' (notwithstanding thy spiritual deadness), and omit "even."
Names - persons named in the book of life (Revelation 3:5), known by the Lord as His own (John 10:3). These bad the reality corresponding to their name; not a name among men as living, while really dead (Revelation 3:1). The gracious Lord does not overlook exceptional saints among unreal professors.
Not defiled their garments - their Christian profession, of which baptism is the initiatory seal, whence the candidates used in the ancient Church to be strayed in white. Compare Ephesians 5:27, and Revelation 19:8, as to the "fine linen, clean and white, the righteousness of the saints," in which it shall be granted to the Church to be arrayed; and "the wedding garment." Meanwhile she is not to sully her profession with defilement of flesh or spirit, but to 'keep her garments,' for no defilement shall enter the heavenly city. Not that any keep themselves here wholly undefiled; but, as compared with hollow professors, the godly keep themselves unspotted from the world; and when they contract defilement, they wash it away, so as to have "robes white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14). Not 'stain' [miainein], but 'defile,' besmear [molunein] (Song of Solomon 5:3).
They shall walk with me in white. The reward accords with the character of those rewarded: keeping their garments undefiled through the blood of the Lamb now, they shall walk with Him in white hereafter. On "with me," cf. Luke 23:43; John 17:24. "Walk" implies spiritual life; for only the living walk: also liberty, for it is only the free who walk at large. The grace of flowing garments is seen to best advantage when the person 'walks:' so the graces of the saint shall appear fully when he shall serve the Lord perfectly hereafter (Revelation 22:3). They are worthy - with worthiness (not their own, but that) which Christ has put on them (Revelation 7:14; Ezekiel 16:14). Grace is glory in the bud. 'The worthiness denotes a congruity between the saints' state of grace on earth, and that of glory, which the Lord has appointed for them, and is estimated by the law itself of grace' (Vitringa). Contrast Acts 13:46.