Hating the Deeds of the Nicolaitans Revelation 2:6

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He began with the church located in “Ephesus”, and after inditing them for “leaving their first love”, he told them to, “Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.” In chapter two and verse six of Revelation, John shared how Jesus commended the church in Ephesus because they, “hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans” where we read:

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

The verse begins, “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, ...” John began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, yes and moreover” “this you have” or “the church in Ephesus holds, owns and possesses”, “that you hate” which means “the church in Ephesus detests” “the deeds” or “the business, employment and that which one is occupied” “of the Nicolaitans” which means “destruction of people” and was “the people charged with holding the error of Balaam and casting a stumbling-block before the church of Go by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols as well as committing fornication”. The “church in Ephesus” was commended by Jesus for “hating” the “business or acts” of the “Nicolaitans” which conveys the divisive idea of “Nico” or the priestly group and the “laitans” or the “laity”.

The verse goes on to say, “... which I also hate.” John added the words, “which I” or “that Jesus Himself” “also hate” which means “even and indeed detested”. Jesus confirmed His own “hatred” for acts like unto the “Nicolaitans”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we discover Jesus' “detestation” for the way the “Nicolaitans” were acting. The idea was that the “Nico” or “priests” made themselves “superior” to the “laitans” or “laity”, and therefore were prideful and arrogant before the Lord Jesus. Jesus “hated” this behavior, and whenever there is behavior within a minister that exalts himself over those to whom he serves, he is practicing the “deeds of the Nicolaitans”. God Almighty desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and no one person or group is exalted over another. Jesus Christ wants us to “love one another”, and any act or “deed” of superiority must never be among us.

Next time John shares how Jesus told Ephesus, “he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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