216.“所以你要发热心，也要悔改”表这一切要通过对真理的情感和对虚假的憎恶来完成。此处经上之所以说“要发热心”，是因为前面（｛2:15）经上说“我巴不得你或冷或热”，那里说的是热。事实上，“热心”（zeal）是指属灵之热，属灵之热是爱的情感，在此是热爱真理的情感，人若出于热爱真理的情感行事，也必出于对虚假的憎恶行事；因此，这是“悔改”的含义。在圣言中，当论述主时，“热心”表示爱和愤怒；表示爱的经文有（约翰福音2:17；诗篇69:9；以赛亚书37:32；63:15；以西结书39:25；撒迦利亚书1:14；8:2），表愤怒的经文有（申命记32:16，21；诗篇79:5-6；以西结书8:3，5；16:42；23:25；西番雅书1:18；3:8）。不过，主的“热心”不是愤怒，只是外在看似如此，其实内在是爱。之所以外在看似如此，是因为当主责备人，尤其人自己的邪恶惩罚他时，主似乎是愤怒的。这是出于爱的允许，为叫人的恶能被除去；正如父母若爱自己的孩子，为除去他们的邪恶，会让他们受责备。因此，很明显，耶和华为何自称“忌邪”（zealous）（申命记4:24；5:9，10；6:14-15）。
216. "'Be zealous, therefore, and repent.'" This symbolically means, in order for this goal to come about from an affection for truth and an aversion to falsity.
The text here says, "Be zealous," because it said in verse 15 above, "Would that you were cold or hot," and the meaning here is for the angel to be hot; for zeal is a spiritual heat, and spiritual heat is an affection of love, here the affection of a love of truth. Moreover, someone who acts from an affection of the love of truth acts also from an aversion to falsity. Consequently this is the symbolic meaning of the command to repent.
In the Word, when zeal or jealousness is applied to the Lord, it symbolizes both love and anger - love in John 2:17, Psalms 69:9, Isaiah 37:32; 63:15, Ezekiel 39:25, Zechariah 1:14; 8:2, anger in Deuteronomy 32:16, 21, Psalms 79:5-6, Ezekiel 8:3, 5; 16:42; 23:25, Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8.
In the Lord's case, however, zeal or jealousness is not anger. It only seems as though it were in outward appearances. Inwardly it is love. It seems in outward appearances as though it were anger because the Lord appears to be angry when He admonishes a person, especially when the person is being punished by his evil, which love permits in order that his evil may be removed. The case is entirely like that of a parent. If he loves his children, he allows them to be chastised in order to remove their evils.
It is apparent from this why Jehovah declares Himself to be a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9-10; 6:14-15).
216. 'Be zealous therefore and repent' signifies that this [healing through temptations] may result from an affection of truth and a turning away of untruth. Here, 'Be zealous' is said, because above (verse 15) it was said, 'I would thou wert cold or hot,' here that he may be hot, for zeal is spiritual heat, and spiritual heat is an affection of love, here the affection of the love of truth; and he who acts out of an affection of the love of truth, acts also out of an aversion to untruth. These things are therefore signified by 'repent.' 'Zeal' in the Word, where [it treats] of the Lord, signifies love and wrath. Love (John 2:17; Psalms 69:9; [H.B. 10]; Isaiah 37:32; 63:15; Ezekiel 39:25; Zechariah 1:14; 8:2). Wrath (Deuteronomy 32:16, 21; Psalms 79:5-6; Ezekiel 8:[3, 5; 16:] 16:42; 23:25; Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8). 'Zeal' with the Lord, however, is not wrath. It only appears like it in externals. Interiorly it is love. In externals it appears like wrath, because the Lord seems to be angry while He is reproving a man, especially when his evil is punishing him. The fact that leave is given by love that his evil may be removed, is just like the case of a parent who, if he loves the children, allows chastising for the purpose of removing their evils. It is plain from these [considerations] why Jehovah says He is 'zealous' (Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9-10; 6:14-15).
216. Be zealous, therefore, and repent, signifies that this should be done from the affection of truth, and aversion from what is false. It is here said, "Be zealous," because it was said above (verse 15), "I would thou wert either cold or hot," here hot, for "zeal" is spiritual heat, and spiritual heat is the affection of love, here the affection of the love of truth, and he who acts from the affection of the love of truth acts also from aversion to what is false; therefore this is signified by "repent.""Zeal" in the Word, when it treats of the Lord, signifies love, and wrath; love in John 2:17; Psalm 69:9; Isaiah 37:32; 63:15; Ezekiel 39:25; Zechariah 1:14; 8:2. Wrath in Deuteronomy 32:16, 21; Psalm 79:5-6; Ezekiel 8:3, 5; 16:42; 23:25; Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8. But "zeal" in the Lord is not wrath, it only appears so in externals, interiorly it is love. It appears so in externals, because the Lord seems to be angry when He rebukes man, especially when man's own evil punishes him. It is so permitted from love, that his evil may be removed; just like a parent, who, if he loves his children, suffers them to be chastised for the sake of removing their evils. Hence it is evident, why Jehovah calls Himself "zealous" (Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9-10; 6:14-15).
216. Zelo ergo age et resipisce," significat ut fiat hoc ex affectione veri et aversatione falsi. - Dicitur hic "zelo age," quia supra (vers. 15) dictum est, "Utinam frigidus esses aut calidus;" hic ut sit calidus, nam "zelus" est calor spiritualis, et calor spiritualis est affectio amoris, hic affectio amoris veri; et qui ex affectione amoris veri agit, is quoque ex aversatione falsi agit; quare haec significantur per resipisce. "Zelus" in Verbo, ubi de Domino, significat Amorem et Excandescentiam:
"Amorem," (Johannes 2:17; Psalm 69:10 (B.A. 9); Esajas 37:32; 63:15; Ezechiel 39:25; Sacharias 1:14; 8:2);
"Excandescentiam," (Deuteronomius 32:16, 21; Psalm 79:5-6; Ezechiel 8:(3, 5; 16:) 42; 23:25; Zephanias 1:18; 3:8);
sed "zelus "apud Dominum non est excandescentia; apparet modo sicut sit in externis, interius est amor; quod appareat in externis sicut sit, est quia apparet sicut Dominus excandescat dum hominem reprehendit, imprimis cum malum ejus punit eum, quod permittitur ab Amore, ut malum ejus removeatur; est prorsus sicut parens, qui si amat liberos, permittit castigationem ad removendum mala eorum. Ex his patet, cur Jehovah Se dicat "Zelotem," (Deuteronomius 4:24; 5:9-10; 6:14-15).