Verse 19:[1] (Rev. 2:2) I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
I know thy works; the works of the ministry of this church were such as Christ knew, not only with a knowledge of comprehension, but approbation also.[2]
[Faith and charity[3]] Excellent yokefellows, as in Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 6:23; etc. (Grotius).
[And service, etc., καὶ τὴν διακονίαν] And ministration (Beza, Piscator), that is, Good deeds to the poor (Grotius, similarly Beza, Piscator, Pareus, Durham), to the saints (Piscator, Beza). Thus that word is taken in 2 Corinthians 9:1,[4] 12, 13[5] (Grotius). Others: the performance of thy ministry with diligence (Cluverus, similarly Menochius).
And charity; such were his charity to Christians that were in distress. And service; his diligence in his ministration. And faith; his faith, and adherence to Christ, and the doctrine of the gospel.
[And patience] That is, Constancy in bearing adversities (Grotius, similarly Pareus), for Christ’s sake (Pareus).
And thy patience; his meek bearing of his crosses and trials. And thy works; his other works, the fruit of faith and love.
[The last more than the prior] That is, thy progress in piety, fidelity, and patience (Cluverus): Thy works to be more in number, livelier in degree, and more spiritual in the mode of rendering (Durham). The commendation of the Bishop is great, that not only does he not crack under long labor and ills, but he progresses daily unto better things (Grotius).
And the last to be more than the first; and his proficiency both in spiritual habits, and good works, the fruits of them.
[1] Greek: Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην καὶ τὴν διακονίαν, καὶ τὴν πίστιν καὶ τὴν ὑπομονήν σου, καὶ τὰ ἔργα σου, καὶ τὰ ἔσχατα πλείονα τῶν πρώτων.
[2] See, for example, Psalm 1:6.
[3] The Vulgate places faith before love in the ordering.
[4] 2 Corinthians 9:1: “For as touching the ministering (τῆς διακονίας) to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you…”
[5] 2 Corinthians 9:12, 13: “For the administration (ἡ διακονία) of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles by the experiment of this ministration (τῆς διακονίας ταύτης) they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men…”
Dr. Dilday's Sermon: "Progress"
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=629102247361
1) Analysis
a) Context
b) Verse 19
i) “I know thy works”
ii) “And charity”
iii) “And service”
iv) “And faith”
v) “And thy patience”
vi) “And thy works”
vii) “And the last to be more than the first”
2) Use: Let us apply ourselves to growth in Christian virtues.
a) Introduction
b) Scriptural confirmation of the application
c) Application
3) Use: Let love flower in service.
a) Introduction
b) Service and the General Office
c) Application
George Swinnock's Christian Man's Calling: 'Reader, observe how careful the saints have been to do their last work well, and to go out of the world like some sweet spices, perfuming the room in which they fetch their last breath with holiness, and leaving a sweet savour behind them. Jacob, when dying, worshipped, leaning on his staff, Hebrews 11:21. What a character doth he give of the angel of the covenant! and what blessings doth he pray for, and prophesy to come on his children, when he was going from them! How was his heart enlarged in pantings after the Lord Christ! Genesis 48:16, and Genesis 49 per tot. The living waters of his graces ran with the greater strength…
Matthew Mead's The Almost Christian Discovered: 'If a natural conscience be the spring of duty, why then this spring runs fastest at first, and so abateth, and at last drieth up. But if a renewed conscience, a sanctified heart, be the spring of duty, then this spring will never dry up. It will run always, from first to last, and run quicker at last than first: "I know thy works, and the last to be more than the first." [Revelation 2:19] "The righteous shall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." [Job 17:9]'
Thomas Case's A Prospect of Heaven: 'He will own and acknowledge all the holy duties, public and private, which they have done in obedience to his commands. Their hearing, praying, fasting, and afflicting their souls for their own sins, and for other men's sins; their fearing of God, and laying to heart the reproaches of religion, and blasphemies cast upon his name; their mutual holy conferences, one with another, all these were written in a book of remembrance of old, Malachi 3:16, and laid up before him, that they might never be forgotten; and now the book shall be brought forth, and read in the audience of the world, for their greater honour: even the very secret duties which the…
William Tong (for Matthew Henry): 'The honourable character and commendation Christ gives of this church, ministry, and people; and this given by one who was no stranger to them, but well acquainted with them and with the principles from which they acted. Now in this church Christ makes honourable mention, (1.) Of their charity, either more general, a disposition to do good to all men, or more special, to the household of faith: there is no religion where there is no charity. (2.) Their service, their ministration; this respects chiefly the officers of the church, who had laboured in the word and doctrine. (3.) Their faith, which was the grace that actuated all the rest, both their charity and thei…