But you do have a few people in SardisSardis was an ancient city located in what is now modern-day Turkey. It was known for its wealth and as a center of commerce and trade. In the context of Revelation, Sardis represents a church that has a reputation for being alive but is spiritually dead. The mention of "a few people" indicates a remnant of faithful believers within a largely complacent church. This concept of a faithful remnant is seen throughout Scripture, such as in the stories of Noah and Lot, and in the remnant of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament.
who have not soiled their garments
In biblical times, garments often symbolized one's spiritual state. To have "soiled garments" would imply moral or spiritual impurity. The faithful in Sardis are commended for maintaining their purity and not succumbing to the moral decay around them. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages, such asZechariah 3:3-5, where clean garments represent righteousness and divine approval.
and because they are worthy
The worthiness mentioned here is not based on human merit but on their faithfulness and perseverance in the face of spiritual decline. This echoes the biblical theme that true worthiness comes from living a life aligned with God's will, as seen in passages likeMatthew 10:37-38, where Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship.
they will walk with Me in white
Walking with Christ in white garments symbolizes victory, purity, and eternal life. White garments are often associated with the redeemed in Revelation, as seen inRevelation 7:9 and 19:8, where the saints are depicted in white robes. This promise of walking with Christ reflects the ultimate reward for those who remain faithful, drawing a parallel to the promise of eternal fellowship with God found throughout the New Testament.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
SardisAn ancient city in Asia Minor, known for its wealth and as a center of trade. It was one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation. The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dead.
2.
The Faithful FewA small group within the church of Sardis who remained faithful and did not "soil their garments," symbolizing purity and righteousness.
3.
Jesus ChristThe speaker in this passage, addressing the church in Sardis through the Apostle John. He promises that the faithful will walk with Him in white.
4.
White GarmentsSymbolic of purity, victory, and righteousness. In the context of Revelation, white garments often represent the redeemed and those who have remained faithful to Christ.
5.
The Book of RevelationThe final book of the New Testament, written by the Apostle John, containing prophetic visions and messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor.
Teaching Points
Faithfulness Amidst CompromiseEven in a spiritually compromised environment, God recognizes and honors those who remain faithful. We are called to stand firm in our faith, regardless of the surrounding culture.
The Symbolism of White GarmentsWhite garments symbolize purity and righteousness. As believers, we are called to live lives that reflect the holiness of Christ, continually seeking His cleansing and forgiveness.
Walking with ChristThe promise of walking with Christ signifies a close, personal relationship with Him. This is the ultimate reward for those who remain faithful, emphasizing the importance of daily fellowship with Jesus.
The Call to Spiritual VigilanceThe church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dead. This serves as a warning to maintain spiritual vigilance and not become complacent in our faith.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Revelation 3:4?
2.How can we ensure our "garments" remain unsoiled in today's world?
3.What does it mean to "walk with Me in white" in Revelation 3:4?
4.How does Revelation 3:4 connect with the concept of holiness in Leviticus?
5.In what ways can we strive to be "worthy" as mentioned in Revelation 3:4?
6.How can Revelation 3:4 inspire us to maintain purity in our lives?
7.What does "walk with Me in white" signify in Revelation 3:4?
8.How does Revelation 3:4 relate to the concept of spiritual purity?
9.Why are only a few in Sardis deemed worthy in Revelation 3:4?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 3?
11.What do white garments symbolize in Revelation?
12.What message was given to the Church in Sardis?
13.Can a Christian's name be removed from the Book of Life?
14.Is Jesus depicted riding a white horse in Revelation?What Does Revelation 3:4 Mean
But you do have a few people in SardisJesus looks at a church widely known for spiritual deadness (Revelation 3:1), yet He gladly points out a faithful remnant. He has always preserved such pockets of genuine belief:
•1 Kings 19:18—God kept “seven thousand in Israel” who refused Baal.
•Romans 11:4 echoes the same principle: a remnant chosen by grace.
•Matthew 7:14 reminds us the narrow road is found by “few,” not many.
•Philippians 2:15 calls believers to shine “as lights in the world” amid a crooked culture.
The Lord literally sees and honors every true follower, even when they feel isolated in a lukewarm environment.
who have not soiled their garmentsGarments picture a believer’s visible testimony. The few in Sardis stayed clean—unspotted by sin, false teaching, or complacency.
•James 1:27 urges us to keep ourselves “unstained by the world.”
•Jude 1:23 warns against “garments stained by the flesh.”
•2 Corinthians 7:1 says we cleanse ourselves from “every defilement.”
•Zechariah 3:3-5 shows God replacing filthy clothes with clean ones, illustrating His power to purify.
Practical take-away: purity involves continual repentance, separation from compromise, and dependence on Christ’s cleansing blood.
and because they are worthyWorthiness is not human achievement but Christ’s righteousness received by faith and displayed in obedient living. The Lord publicly affirms that union between position and practice.
•Luke 20:35 speaks of those “considered worthy to attain to that age.”
•Ephesians 4:1 calls believers to “walk worthy of the calling” they’ve received.
•Colossians 1:10 stresses living “worthy of the Lord” by bearing fruit.
Salvation is by grace alone, yet genuine grace produces conduct that Jesus can openly commend.
they will walk with Me in whiteHere is a literal promise of future fellowship and reward. “White” points to victory, purity, and celebration.
•Revelation 7:9, 14 shows the redeemed in “white robes” made clean by the Lamb’s blood.
•Revelation 19:7-8 pictures the bride in “fine linen, bright and pure.”
•Isaiah 1:18 assures that sins once scarlet become “white as snow.”
•Daniel 12:3 and1 John 3:2 hint at shining glory and intimate nearness to the Lord.
Walking “with Me” highlights personal closeness—eternal life is ultimately life with Jesus.
summaryRevelation 3:4 celebrates a faithful remnant in Sardis: a few who stay spiritually clean, live out the worthiness Christ gives, and are promised everlasting fellowship clothed in white. The verse urges every believer to remain pure in a compromising culture, confident that the Lord sees, values, and will openly honor those who cling to Him.
(4) The best MSS. commence this verse with "But," or "Nevertheless." The case of the Sardian Church was bad, yet the loving eyes of the faithful witness would not ignore the good. There were a few who had not defiled their garments. These had not succumbed to the oppressive moral atmosphere around them. The words cannot, of course, be understood of absolute purity. Their praise is that, in the deathlike, self-complacent lethargy around, they had kept earnest in the pursuit of holiness, and had not forgotten Him who could cleanse and revive. (Comp.
Revelation 7:14.)
They shall walk with me inwhite.--This "white" is not the white of the undefiled robe; it is the lustrous white of glory, as in the promise in the following verse. (Comp. alsoRevelation 2:17.)
Verse 4. - But thou hast a few names in Sardis. The "but" (Revised Version) must be added, and the "even" (Authorized Version) omitted, on conclusive evidence. "Names" is here used in the sense of persons (
Acts 1:15 and
Revelation 11:13, where the Revised Version has "persons"); there is no reference to the totally different use of "to have a name" in ver. 1. Bode remarks, "He knoweth his own sheep by name, as he knew Moses by name, and writeth the names of his own in heaven." These few are like the few righteous in Sodom. Though they consent to abide in the Church, they do not leaven it, nor does their presence save it: "They shall deliver but their own souls by their righteousness" (
Ezekiel 14:14, 16, 18, 20). The word for "defile" (
μολύνειν) occurs only here,
Revelation 14:4, and
1 Corinthians 8:7. Its radical meaning is "to besmear," and so "to befoul." That of
μιαίνειν (
John 18:28;
Titus 1:15;
Hebrews 12:15;
Jude 1:8) is rather "to stain," which is not necessarily "to befoul." That of
κοινοῦν (
Matthew 15:11-20;
Mark 7:15-23;
Acts 10:15;
Acts 11:9;
Acts 21:28;
Hebrews 9:13) is "to make common or profane." In most cases all these three are rendered "defile" in our version. These few in Sardis have kept themselves "unspotted from the world" in which they live. Neither the corruption of heathendom nor the torpor of a moribund Church has infected them. Their contact with a dead body has imparted no life to the body and no defilement to them. There is no need to press the metaphor and give a special meaning to "garments" - whether their souls, or their bodies, or their consciences, or their baptismal robes. The metaphor is implied in "putting on the new man" (
Ephesians 4:24;
Colossians 3:10), "putting on Christ" (
Romans 13:14;
Galatians 3:27), where the word for "put on" is
ἐνδύεσθαι, "to be clothed with." They shall walk with me. In accordance with Christ's high-priestly prayer (
John 17:24; comp. Roy. 21:24). In white. This elliptical expression (
ἐν λευκοῖς) for "in white robes" occurs in the New Testament only here and
John 20:12, and is another small link between the two books. The word "white" (
λευκός), excepting in
Matthew 5:36 and
John 4:35, is in the New Testament always used of
heavenly purity and brightness. Thus also Plato,
Ξρώματα δὲ λευκὰπρέποντ ἄν θεοῖς εἴν ('Laws,' 956); and Virgil of the souls in the other world, "Omnibus his hives cinguntur tempora vitta" ('AEneid,' 6:665). (See notes on Revelation 1:14.) As we might expect, the word is specially frequent in Revelation. Of course, the white garments referred to here, vers. 5, 18, and
Revelation 4:4, are quite different from the undefiled garments just mentioned. The one is the imperfect purity of struggling saints on earth, the other the perfect purity of glorified saints in heaven. The promise, therefore, is threefold.
(1) They shall walk,i.e. they shall have life and liberty.
(2) They shall have Christ as their constant Companion.
(3) They shall be in unsullied glory. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
ButἈλλὰ(Alla)Conjunction
Strong's 235:But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.you do haveἔχεις(echeis)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.a fewὀλίγα(oliga)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3641:Puny; especially neuter somewhat.peopleὀνόματα(onomata)Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3686:Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.SardisΣάρδεσιν(Sardesin)Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4554:Sardis, an ancient city of Lydia in the province of Asia. Plural of uncertain derivation; Sardis, a place in Asia Minor.whoἃ(ha)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.have not soiledἐμόλυναν(emolynan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3435:To soil, stain, pollute, defile, lit. and met. Probably from melas; to soil.theirαὐτῶν(autōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.garments,ἱμάτια(himatia)Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2440:A long flowing outer garment, tunic. Neuter of a presumed derivative of ennumi; a dress.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.becauseὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.they areεἰσιν(eisin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.worthy,ἄξιοί(axioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 514:Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable.they will walkπεριπατήσουσιν(peripatēsousin)Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4043:From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.withμετ’(met’)Preposition
Strong's 3326:(a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.Meἐμοῦ(emou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.white.λευκοῖς(leukois)Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3022:White, bright, brilliant. From luke; white.
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NT Prophecy: Revelation 3:4 Nevertheless you have a few names (Rev. Re Apocalypse) 
