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Selected Verse: Revelation 22:14 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Re 22:14 |
King James |
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
do his commandments--so B, Syriac, Coptic, and CYPRIAN. But A, Aleph, and Vulgate read, "(Blessed are they that) wash their robes," namely, in the blood of the Lamb (compare Rev 7:14). This reading takes away the pretext for the notion of salvation by works. But even English Version reading is quite compatible with salvation by grace; for God's first and grand Gospel "commandment" is to believe on Jesus. Thus our "right" to (Greek, "privilege" or "lawful authority over") the tree of life is due not to our doings, but to what He has done for us. The right, or privilege, is founded, not on our merits, but on God's grace.
through--Greek, "by the gates." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Blessed are they that do his commandments - See the notes on Rev 1:3; Rev 22:7.
That they may have right - That they may be entitled to approach the tree of life; that this privilege may be granted to them. It is not a right in the sense that they have merited it, but in the sense that the privilege is conferred on them as one of the rewards of God, and that, in virtue of the divine arrangements, they will be entitled to this honor. So the word used here - ἐξουσία exousia - means in Joh 1:12, rendered "power." The reason why this right or privilege is conferred is not implied in the use of the word. In this case it is by grace, and all the right which they have to the tree of life is founded on the fact that God has been pleased graciously to confer it on them.
To the tree of life - See the notes on Rev 22:2. They would not be forbidden to approach that tree as Adam was, but would be permitted always to partake of it, and would live forever.
And may enter in through the gates into the city - The New Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. They would have free access there; they would be permitted to abide there forever. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
That do His commandments (οἱ ποιοῦντες τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ)
Read οἱ πλύνοντες τὰς στολὰς αὐτῶν they that wash their robes. Compare Rev 7:14.
That they may have right to the tree of life (ἵνα ἔσται ἡ ἐξουσία αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς)
Lit., in order that theirs shall be authority over the tree of life. For ἐξουσία right, authority, see on Joh 1:12. Ἑπί may be the preposition of direction: "may have right to come to" (so Rev.) or may be rendered over. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Happy are they that do his commandments - His, who saith, I come - He speaks of himself. That they may have right - Through his gracious covenant. To the tree of life - To all the blessings signified by it. When Adam broke his commandment, he was driven from the tree of life. They who keep his commandments" shall eat thereof. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Blessed are they that do his commandments - They are happy who are obedient.
That they may have right to the tree of life - The original is much more expressive, Ἱνα εσται ἡ εξουσια αυτων επι το ξυλον της ζωης· That they may have authority over the tree of life; an authority founded on right, this right founded on obedience to the commandments of God, and that obedience produced by the grace of God working in them. Without grace no obedience; without obedience no authority to the tree of life; without authority no right; without right no enjoyment: God's grace through Christ produces the good, and then rewards it as if all had been our own. |
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.