“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.”

Jesus always gives His churches time to repent, but there is also a limit to His patience with false doctrine. 

And I gave her time

The deviation from biblical ethics had gone on for a considerable time. Jesus was patient with Jezebel and gave her plenty of time to repent. This woman may have been a professing believer whom Jesus afforded a chance to repent. 

to repent of her sexual immorality

The word “repent” means to change one’s mind or purpose. A person who repents changes their thoughts and attitudes toward doing God’s will. Sorrow is the focal point in the English word “repent,” but it is not the essential idea of the Greek word. The primary idea of the word is change of thinking. Jesus asked for a complete change of thought and way of life. 

and she did not repent

Jezebel remained intransigent in her doctrine and practice. It is interesting that her message was one of tolerance, but she was intolerant when it came to repentance. This obstinance is a grave indictment of this woman in the church at Thyatira.

Principle:

Immorality intransigently rejects the will of God.

Application:

The tolerance of immorality is often obstinate and defiant of God’s will in the face of warnings. Eventually, Jesus’ patience runs out. He will discipline the church at some point for not radically changing its thinking about this belief.

God will give churches of our day time to repent. If our churches harden their hearts, they will go from bad to worse. It is like a runaway truck going down a mountain; it is hard to stop.