Revelation 3:20 Explained

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." — Revelation 3:20 (KJV)

Revelation 3:20 is one of Scripture's most tender images — Christ standing at the door, knocking, waiting to be invited in.

Read it in context: The Book of Revelation. Also gathered under verses about salvation.

Revelation 3:20 in context

What does Revelation 3:20 mean?

The picture is striking: Christ knocks but does not break the door down. 'If any man hear my voice, and open' — the handle is on the inside. 'Sup with him' — the shared meal is the deepest image of fellowship and friendship in that culture. Christ offers presence and intimacy, but waits to be welcomed; he will not force entry.

What is the context of Revelation 3:20?

Jesus is addressing the lukewarm church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) — a self-satisfied congregation that had, in effect, shut him outside. The knock is an appeal to a church that thought it needed nothing. It has also become a beloved image of Christ's appeal to the individual heart.

How do I pray Revelation 3:20?

Pray this verse as a literal opening. Is there a 'room' in your life Christ is knocking at — one you've kept shut? Hear the knock. Open the door. Invite him to sup — to share the ordinary table of your daily life.

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