Jesus said He would “spew out” the lukewarm church because lukewarmness reflects indifference, self-sufficiency, and spiritual uselessness. This warning was directed to the church of Laodicea, which claimed to be thriving yet was blind to its spiritual poverty. Christ’s rebuke was not for immorality or persecution, but for complacency and pride that masked a lack of true devotion.
Revelation 3:15–16 states:
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Laodicea was a wealthy city known for its banking industry, medical school, and textile production. Yet its water supply came through an aqueduct system from nearby hot springs and arrived tepid, neither refreshingly cold nor therapeutically hot. The metaphor fit the church exactly. Their spiritual condition was as unpleasant and distasteful as their lukewarm water.
Jesus said:
“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…”
(Revelation 3:17)
The Laodiceans were materially secure but spiritually bankrupt. Their self-deception was their greatest danger. They believed they had everything, yet they lacked what truly mattered: faith, righteousness, and fellowship with Christ.
The term “vomit” is strong and deliberate. It indicates rejection, not mild disapproval. Lukewarm faith is offensive to Christ because it pretends devotion while lacking substance. It neither confronts sin with conviction nor draws near to God with zeal. It is content with external religion and no inward fire.
Yet even in this stern rebuke, Christ extended grace:
“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed… and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
(Revelation 3:18)
Christ offered what Laodicea truly needed: purified faith, spiritual covering, and restored sight. He urged them to repent and return to genuine fellowship:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
(Revelation 3:19)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in…”
(Revelation 3:20)
Though Christ was outside this church, He had not abandoned it. He called individuals within to respond and reignite their relationship with Him.
The threat to spew out the lukewarm church was not about loss of salvation, but loss of fellowship, usefulness, and witness. A church that loses its zeal for Christ becomes distasteful to Him, unfit to represent His name.
