"You cannot bear evil men." See 1 Corinthians 5.
To this church the Lord presents Himself as "He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, He who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands." This is to make the church in Ephesus and the messenger know that He has full authority; He searches the whole church. B. Revelation 2:2-3 "I know your works and your labor and your endurance and that you cannot bear evil men; and you have tried those who call themselves apostles and are not, and have found them to be false; and you have endurance and have borne all things because of My name and have not grown weary." This section is the Lord's word of praise. This section of praise is divided into three aspects: 1. Concerning Them "Your works." Their works must have been very good. "Your labor." They must have labored diligently. "Your endurance." This church had the heart of a father or mother in bearing others' weaknesses. 2. Concerning the Administration of the Church "You cannot bear evil men." See 1 Corinthians 5. "You have tried those who call themselves apostles and are not." They did not loosely receive people into the work. Even if one was an apostle, he still needed to be tried. From this we see that they had much spiritual insight. 3. Concerning the Outward Work They endured for the Lord's name and did not grow weary. Judging from only the items mentioned above, the church in Ephesus was indeed quite perfect.
C. Revelation 2:4 "But I have one thing against you, that you have left your first love." Although the church in Ephesus was so good, the Lord still had something for which to rebuke her—she had left her first love. We may wonder why a church which labored so diligently would not at the same time love the Lord inwardly. However, much experience tells us that one may be laboring diligently outwardly, yet may have already left the first love inwardly. The "first love" is the best and most perfect love; it is the virgin love which saints offer to the Lord through His love.