Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet, even as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear not. I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and am alive; and was dead, but behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of hell and of death. ¹⁹ Write therefore the things that you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will be fulfilled hereafter, ²⁰ and the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the messengers of the seven congregations, and the seven candlesticks that you saw are the seven congregations.

He exhorts four of the congregations to mend their ways, and shows the reward of the person who overcomes.

2 To the messenger of the congregation of Ephesus write: These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: ² I know your works, and your labour, and your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you examined those who say they are apostles, but are not, and have found them liars, ³ and did wash yourself. And you have patience, and for my name’s sake have laboured, and have not fainted.

⁴ Nevertheless, I have something against you. For you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you shortly and will remove your candlestick out of its place – unless you repent.

⁶ But this you have: you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which deeds I also hate. ⁷ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Christ cries woe over the Pharisees, scribes, and hypocrites, and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem.

23 Then Jesus spoke to the people and to his disciples, ² saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ All therefore that they bid you to observe, that observe and do. But do not follow their works. For they say, but do not do. ⁴ Yea and they bind up heavy burdens, grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to carry them themselves.

⁵ All their works they do to be seen by men. They enlarge their phylacteries, and make large borders on their garments. ⁶ They love to sit uppermost at feasts, and to have the chief seats in the synagogues, ⁷ and greetings in the markets, and to be called Rabbi by men.

⁸ But you shall not suffer yourselves to be called Rabbi. For one is your Master, that is, Christ, and you are all brethren. ⁹ And call no man upon the earth your father, for there is but one your Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Do not be called teachers, for there is but one your Teacher, and he is Christ. ¹¹ He who is greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² But whosoever exalts himself, shall be brought low. And he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.