“For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
My Notes
What Does Revelation 22:15 Mean?
Near the end of Revelation, the final state of affairs is described: those excluded from the New Jerusalem. The list names dogs (a term for the morally corrupt), sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lies.
"Without" means outside — permanently excluded from the holy city. The new creation has a boundary, and those who chose certain ways of life remain outside it.
"Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" is particularly striking. It is not just those who tell lies but those who love lies — who prefer deception, who are attracted to falsehood, who construct their lives around things that are not true.
The verse functions as a final moral demarcation. Revelation has described the beauty of what is inside the city. This verse describes who remains outside — and the common thread is a life oriented toward what is false, destructive, or opposed to God.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it mean to 'love' a lie — to be attracted to deception rather than truth?
- 2.How is the exclusion from the city a consequence of choices rather than arbitrary punishment?
- 3.Where do you prefer comfortable falsehood to uncomfortable truth?
- 4.How do the open gates (21:25) coexist with the exclusion described here?
Devotional
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and murderers, and idolaters. Outside the city. Outside the light. Outside the presence of God. The exclusion is not arbitrary. It is the natural destination of a life lived in a particular direction.
Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. That is the detail that cuts deepest. Not just those who lie, but those who love lies. Who are drawn to deception. Who build their identity on things that are not true. Who prefer the comfortable falsehood to the uncomfortable truth.
The new creation has a boundary. Inside: light, life, the river of God, the tree of life. Outside: everything that chose darkness over light, deception over truth, self over God.
This is not a verse to use as a threat against others. It is a verse to examine yourself by. Where do you love lies? Where do you prefer comfortable deception to hard truth? Where are you building on something false because the real thing is too demanding?
The city's gates are always open (21:25). The invitation is permanent. But the entrance requires leaving the lies outside.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For without are dogs,.... That is, without the holy city are such persons who are comparable to dogs for their…
For without are dogs - The wicked, the depraved, the vile: for of such characters the dogs, an unclean animal among the…
Without are dogs - All those who are uncircumcised in heart. The Jews call all the uncircumcised dogs. "Who is a dog?…
We have here a solemn ratification of the contents of this book, and particularly of this last vision (though some think…
For should be omitted.
dogs&c. The articles should be expressed, "thedogs, and the sorcerers (see on Rev 9:21; Rev…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture