성경

 

马可福音 1:24

공부

       

24 拿撒勒人耶稣,我们与你有甚麽相干?你我们麽?我知道你是谁,乃是神的者。

주석

 

探索马可福音第1章的意义

작가: Ray and Star Silverman (다음과 같이 번역됨 中文 by 觉醒)

第一章

翻译:觉醒


宣告耶稣的神性


1. 神的儿子耶稣基督福音的起头。

当我们开始阅读马可福音时,我们需要牢记,在任何一卷圣经中,所说的第一句话,都会成为后面一切内容的精髓。就像音阶上的基调一样,第一句话奠定了主旨,提供了中心主题,并为后面的一切确立了重点。因此,当我们阅读神的话语时,第一句话应该牢记于心,贯穿于后面的内容,这一点至关重要。 1

在马太福音中,第一句话是:“关于亚伯拉罕的后裔,大卫的子孙,耶稣基督降生的书。”这是福音叙事的开始。从字面上看,这句话说的不过是耶稣的人类血统。这第一句话将祂描述为“亚伯拉罕的后裔、大卫的子孙”。虽然这个王室血统是一个重要的、受人尊敬的血统,但它仍然是一个人类血统。

这描绘了我们最初看待耶稣的方式。我们把祂看作一个人,由人类父母所生。但是,当我们读到马太福音的结尾时,一些奇妙的事情发生了。随着我们对耶稣的认识不断加深,祂的神性也逐渐显露出来。当我们来到马太福音书的结尾时,耶稣说:“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。”(马太福音28:18

因此,马太福音使我们认识了耶稣的神性。这标志着我们信仰发展的一个关键阶段。事实上,耶稣自己曾说,承认祂的神性是基督教信仰的第一块基石或房角石。在马太福音中,当彼得对耶稣说:“你是基督,是永生神的儿子”,耶稣没有否认这一点。相反,耶稣告诉他,这个根本真理不是属血肉的指示他的,而是“我在天上的父”指示他的(马太福音16:17)。耶稣说:“我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上。”(马太福音16:182

马可福音从马太福音结束的地方开始,即从承认耶稣的神性开始。马太福音以“关于亚伯拉罕的后裔,大卫的子孙,耶稣基督降生的书”(马太福音1:1)开始,马可福音则以“神的儿子耶稣基督福音的起头”(马可福音1:1)开始。

还要注意的是,马太福音自称为“耶稣基督降生的书”,马可福音则自称为“耶稣基督的福音”。使用不同的术语是有意义的。“书”表示在我们灵性发展的过程中,即在我们逐渐认识耶稣基督神性的过程中,我们所经历的连续的、完美有序的状态。这是我们的“生命之书”,是神所编写的,描述了我们心中爱和智慧的兴起和发展。这被称为重生的过程,或者用圣经的语言来说,是耶稣基督在我们里面降生的过程。 3


但“福音”不是“书”


“福音”一词来自希腊字εὐαγγέλιον(evangelium),意思是“好消息”。对早期的基督徒来说,该“好消息”是神亲自来到世上,揭示祂的真实本性,征服邪恶,尤其是教导人们通往天堂的道路。因此,在马太福音的结尾,门徒被差遣出去,向万民传扬这个好消息。正如马太福音结尾所记:“所以,你们要去,使万民作我的门徒,奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的,都教训他们遵守。”(马太福音28:1920

当我们查考福音叙事中不断涌现的神圣真理时,我们发现马太福音以众所周知的大使命达到高潮。耶稣差遣祂的门徒出去,传扬祂出生、生活、死亡、复活的好消息,尤其是祂的教导。马可福音正是从这一点开始的(“在旷野有人声喊着说”),宣告弥赛亚,神的儿子,已经来到。简而言之,马可福音是以宣告福音开始的,宣告耶稣是弥赛亚,是神的儿子,祂呼召我们到普天下去传福音。然而,我们很快就会发现,好消息是从悔改开始的。


预备主的道


2. 正如先知以赛亚书上记着说,看哪,我要差遣我的使者在你前面,预备道路。

3. 在旷野有人声喊着说,预备主的道,修直他的路。

在耶稣降生伯利恒前五百年,主通过先知玛拉基说:“看哪,我要差遣我的使者,在我前面预备道路。”(玛拉基书3:1)在马可福音的开头,这位将“预备道路”的“使者”就是施洗约翰。他是神差来为弥赛亚预备道路的。

还有一个更古老的预言,在耶稣降生前七百年,主通过先知以赛亚说:“在旷野有人声喊着说,当预备主的道,修直他的路。”(以赛亚书40:3)这两个预言合在一起,成了马可福音开始时的一个陈述,即:“看哪,我要差遣我的使者在你前面,预备道路。在旷野有人声喊着说,预备主的道,修直他的路。”(马可福音1:2-3)这位来预备主的道,以便人们接受主的使者就是施洗约翰。尽管那个重要的时刻已经过去两千年了,但我们仍然可以听到约翰强有力的宣告:“主来了!”“你们要预备道路!”“祂要进入你们的头脑和心灵!”“修直祂的路!” 4

在马太福音的结尾,耶稣吩咐祂的门徒说:“你们要出去,使万民作我的门徒,给他们施洗。”马可正是从约翰施洗开始,继续讲述故事。虽然经上没有证据表明施洗约翰曾成为十二门徒之一,但有证据表明他遵照耶稣的吩咐,教导人们“遵守[耶稣]所吩咐的一切”(马太福音28:20),从必要受洗开始。

正如我们在马太福音中已经指出的,受洗代表愿意接受新的真理。它与代替赎罪、因信称义或瞬间得救无关。相反,它表明了一种意愿,即愿意通过学习并实践真理来洗净灵魂,同时相信是主赐给我们遵行真理的力量。虽然洗礼本身并不使人得救,但它代表了得救是如何发生的,即通过悔改的过程,使罪得赦。 5

福音的宣告从一位强有力的传道人的话开始,敦促我们不仅要预备主的道,而且要接受“悔改的洗礼,使罪得赦”,这不是偶然的(马可福音1:4)。显然,约翰的讲道很受欢迎,因为“犹太全地和耶路撒冷的人都出去到约翰那里,承认他们的罪,在约但河里受他的洗。”(马可福音1:5

那么,悔改的洗和承认自己的罪将是我们进入马可福音的关键理念。


圣灵的洗


4. 照这话,约翰来了,在旷野施洗,传悔改的洗礼,使罪得赦。

5. 犹太全地和耶路撒冷的人都出去到约翰那里,承认他们的罪,在约但河里受他的洗。

6. 约翰穿骆驼毛的衣服,腰束皮带,吃的是蝗虫野蜜。

7. 他传道说,有一位在我以后来的,能力比我更大,我就是弯腰给他解鞋带,也是不配的。

8. 我是用水给你们施洗,他却要用圣灵给你们施洗。

9. 那时,耶稣从加利利的拿撒勒来,在约但河里受了约翰的洗。

10. 他从水里一上来,就看见天裂开了,圣灵仿佛鸽子降在他身上。

11. 又有声音从天上来,说,你是我的爱子,我喜悦你。

12. 圣灵就把耶稣催到旷野里去。

13. 他在旷野四十天受撒但的试探,并与野兽同在一处,且有天使来伺候他。

施洗约翰知道自己的局限。虽然他知道他的讲道可以帮助人们认识到他们需要一位救主,但他也知道单凭他的话不能带来拯救。因此,他说:“有一位在我以后来的,能力比我更大。”(马可福音1:7)当然,他指的是耶稣,施洗约翰正在为祂铺路。施洗约翰说:“我是用水给你们施洗,他却要用圣灵给你们施洗。”(马可福音1:8

在圣经的语言中,接受“水的洗礼”代表愿意接受真理,尤其是基于圣经字面教导的真理。这是第一次的洗。但之后必须有另一种洗,就是“圣灵的洗”。这第二次的洗发生在我们所知的真理在属灵争战中受到考验的时候。在这种时候,仅仅相信是不够的。相反,我们的信必须经受考验,使它们更加坚固,最终成为我们性格的重要组成部分。在受试探的时候,如果我们让主话语中的真理充满我们的心,主就会藉着真理带着爱和能力来到我们中间。在圣经的语言中,这被称为“圣灵的洗”。 6

因此,施洗约翰不仅仅是一个历史人物。当他在贫瘠的旷野呼喊,以“预备主的道路”时,这代表我们需要用主话语中的真理武装自己,为属灵的争战做准备。作为我们在凡事上的榜样,这正是耶稣在下一节所做的。我们读到:“那时,耶稣从加利利的拿撒勒来,在约但河里受了约翰的洗。”(马可福音1:9)当耶稣从约但河上来的时候,天裂开了,“圣灵仿佛鸽子降在他身上”(马可福音1:10)。

圣灵“仿佛鸽子”降在祂身上,代表耶稣即将经历内在净化的过程。每当我们战胜试探时,我们就会变得更柔和,也能够从更高的层次看问题,就像鸽子一样。在这方面,鸽子降下是从天上来的记号,接着有声音从天上来,说:“你是我的爱子,我所喜悦的。”(马可福音1:117

在马太福音中,耶稣受洗后立即被圣灵引到旷野,受魔鬼的试探,然后对耶稣所受的试探有详细的描述,包括祂被试探,要把石头变成饼,从殿顶跳下去,并敬拜撒旦。这些试探概括性地代表了耶稣在逐步征服地狱、恢复自由和教导通往天堂的道路的过程中将要经历的所有试探。

马可福音是同样的顺序。耶稣受洗后,圣灵立即把祂催到旷野里去(马可福音1:12)。这与属灵的法则是一致的,即我们不仅要相信真理,还要按照真理生活。因此,我们在受洗(接受真理)之后,必然要经受试探(按照真理生活)。所以,接受真理仅仅是我们灵性成长的开始。要使真理成为我们自己的,就必须在属灵争战的时候,把它记在心里,并使用它。这就是为什么我们在两部福音书中看到了同样的顺序。然而,在马可福音中,整个试探的过程只用一节经文来描述。如经上所记:“他在旷野四十天受撒但的试探,并与野兽同在一处,且有天使来伺候他。”(马可福音1:138

这里的“野兽”指的是阻碍我们按照真理生活的邪恶欲望和错误思想。它们是对自我和世界的邪恶而残暴的爱,要吞噬我们里面来自主的一切。但是,当我们在试探中得胜,强迫自己按真理行事时,我们就会始终受到主话语中的真理的保护,最终得到这些真理的安慰。如经上所记:“有天使来伺候他。”(马可福音1:139

那么,这就是约翰所说的“圣灵的洗”。 10


耶稣传福音


14. 约翰下监以后,耶稣来到加利利,宣传神的福音。

15. 说,日期满了,神的国近了。你们当悔改,信福音。

16. 耶稣顺着加利利的海边走,看见西门和西门的兄弟安得烈在海里撒网。他们本是打鱼的。

17. 耶稣对他们说,来跟从我,我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。

18. 他们就立刻舍了网,跟从了他。

19. 耶稣稍往前走,又见西庇太的儿子雅各和雅各的兄弟约翰在船上补网。

20. 耶稣随即招呼他们。他们就把父亲西庇太和雇工人留在船上,跟从耶稣去了。

21. 到了迦百农,耶稣就在安息日进了会堂教训人。

22. 众人很希奇他的教训,因为他教训他们,正像有权柄的人,不像文士。

本福音以施洗约翰传悔改赦罪的道开始,这是本福音的主旨。在旷野受试探之后,耶稣继续传同样的主题。如经上所记:“约翰下监以后,耶稣来到加利利,宣传神的福音。”(马可福音1:14)在连续的内在意义上,施洗约翰被囚禁是一个重要的时刻。正如我们已经提到的,施洗约翰代表圣经的字面含义,即我们开始学习圣经时最先学到的真理。然而,如果我们被剥夺了这些真理,或者这些真理被扭曲了,这就好比施洗约翰被“下监”了。 11

当这种情况发生时,耶稣接替了约翰的工作。和约翰一样,耶稣以悔改为主题开始传道。“日期满了,”耶稣说,“神的国近了。你们当悔改,信福音。”(马可福音1:15)然后,耶稣立即召集门徒,协助祂完成使命。祂在加利利海边行走,看见西门和安得烈在海里撒网,就对他们说:“来跟从我,我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。”(马可福音1:17)祂对雅各和约翰也是如此说。他们都毫不迟疑地跟从了祂(马可福音1:19-20)。

耶稣的行动是迅速的。祂没有耽误任何时间,“立即进入会堂教训人”(马可福音1:21)。“众人很希奇他的教训,因为他教训他们,正像有权柄的人,不像文士。”(马可福音1:22


耶稣不许污鬼作声


23. 在会堂里,有一个人被污鬼附着。他喊叫说,

24. 拿撒勒人耶稣,我们与你有什么相干?你来灭我们吗?我知道你是谁,乃是神的圣者。

25. 耶稣责备他说,不要作声,从这人身上出来吧。

26. 污鬼叫那人抽了一阵疯,大声喊叫,就出来了。

27. 众人都惊讶,以致彼此对问说,这是什么事?是个新道理啊!他用权柄吩咐污鬼,连污鬼也听从了他。

28. 耶稣的名声就传遍了加利利的四方。

马可福音的记载简短、直接、直达要点。他没有记录家谱,没有记录耶稣降生,没有记录山上宝训——这些涵盖了马太福音的前七章。他直接从施洗约翰在旷野传道开始,现在又转到耶稣在会堂里传道。祂的教导使众人惊讶,又赶出了一个污鬼。当污鬼承认耶稣是“神的圣者”时,耶稣不许他作声,污鬼就听从了祂。会堂里的人都很惊讶。他们大声说:“这是什么事?是个新道理啊!”他们看到耶稣的大能,说:“他用权柄吩咐污鬼,连污鬼也听从了他。”(马可福音1:27

本福音经常提到“污鬼”、“邪灵”和“魔鬼”。虽然这些术语都有特定的含义,但它们经常交替使用,意指任何违背主旨意的邪恶欲望或错误信仰。在这方面,重要的是要记住,“污鬼”、“邪灵”和“魔鬼”曾经都是人,当生活在世上时,他们选择了欺骗而不是诚实,选择了残忍而不是仁慈,选择了相信自己而不是神。因此,当耶稣赶出污鬼并要求他“不要作声”时,这代表主通过圣经的神圣教导来赶出我们心中的恶欲,并使我们的错误思想安静下来。 12

所以,在本福音中,耶稣立即开始作工,实现祂的目的:祂来是要传福音,并因此赶出魔鬼。好消息迅速传播开来。如经上所记:“耶稣的名声传遍了加利利的四方。”(马可福音1:28)但我们要注意,这个“好消息”是关于悔改的。这在耶稣最初的布道和祂的第一次医治中体现了出来。祂宣传悔改之道,并赶出魔鬼。


不许鬼说话


29. 他们一出会堂,就同着雅各、约翰进了西门和安得烈的家。

30. 西门的岳母正害热病躺着,就有人告诉耶稣。

31. 耶稣进前拉着她的手,扶她起来,热就退了,她就服事他们。

32. 天晚日落的时候,有人带着一切害病的和被鬼附的来到耶稣跟前。

33. 合城的人都聚集在门前。

34. 耶稣治好了许多害各样病的人,又赶出许多鬼,不许鬼说话,因为鬼认识他。

在前面的情节中,当耶稣把污鬼从被鬼附的人身上赶出去时,那污鬼对祂说:“我知道你是谁,乃是神的圣者。”(马可福音1:24)一个污鬼竟然认出耶稣的神性,这很奇怪,但耶稣不许污鬼说什么。祂对污鬼说:“不要作声。”然后命令他从那人身上出来,污鬼就听从了祂。

当我们考虑后面一系列神奇的医治时,这第一个故事很重要,要牢记在心。接下来是西门的岳母得了医治(西门是门徒彼得的名字)。她患了热病,耶稣一摸她的手,热就退了(马可福音1:31)。显然,她迅速得了康复,便起来服事他们。这和医治被污鬼附身的人一样,引起了不小的轰动。耶稣神奇医治的消息传遍了四方。当天晚上,日落以后,有人带着一切害病的来到耶稣跟前,耶稣就治好了他们,“又赶出许多鬼”。祂再次不许鬼说话,“因为鬼认识他”(马可福音1:34)。

这是一个重要的细节。虽然这是第一章,但我们已经看到耶稣至少有两次不许鬼说话。从字面上看,我们可能认为耶稣想要隐藏祂的身份。毕竟,如果祂被发现拥有这种异能,就可能引起那些想要除灭祂的宗教领袖的怀疑。因此,祂最好将这些事情保密。

然而,在更内在的层面上,重要的是要记住,耶稣在行医治的神迹时是直接对魔鬼(也被称为邪灵)说话。魔鬼和邪灵的话不可信,无论他们说什么。他们喜欢撒谎,歪曲事实;他们编造从未发生的故事;他们假装知道没有人能预测的未来。他们引起忧虑和恐惧,使我们想起早应该忘记的事情,又让我们忘记应该记住的事情。因此,最好的办法是不要听他们说话。这就是为什么耶稣叫他们“不要作声”(马可福音1:25),又“不许他们说话”(马可福音1:34),即使是祂神奇的医治。他们一定会把好的扭曲成不好的。 13


耶稣宣告祂的目的


35. 次日早晨,天未亮的时候,耶稣起来,到旷野地方去,在那里祷告。

36. 西门和同伴追了他去,

37. 遇见了就对他说,众人都在找你。

38. 耶稣对他们说,我们可以往别处去,到邻近的乡村,我也好在那里传道,因为我是为这事出来的。

39. 于是在加利利全地,进了会堂,传道赶鬼。

40. 有一个长大麻风的来求耶稣,向他跪下,说,你若肯,必能叫我洁净了。

41. 耶稣动了慈心,就伸手摸他,说,我肯,你洁净了吧。

42. 大麻风即时离开他,他就洁净了。

43. 耶稣严严的嘱咐他,就打发他走。

44. 对他说,你要谨慎,什么话都不可告诉人,只要去把身体给祭司察看,又因为你洁净了,献上摩西所吩咐的礼物,对众人作证据。

45. 那人出去,倒说许多的话,把这件事传扬开了,叫耶稣以后不得再明明地进城,只好在外边旷野地方。人从各处都就了他来。

到了下一节,我们看到耶稣去到旷野,在那里祷告。西门和同伴找到祂,对祂说:“众人都在找你。”(马可福音1:37)耶稣的回答很重要,因为它揭示了祂的目的:“我们可以往别处去,到邻近的乡村,我也好在那里传道,因为我是为这事出来的。”(马可福音1:38)是的,耶稣是来传福音的。如经上所记:“于是在加利利全地,进了会堂,传道赶鬼。”(马可福音1:39)再一次,重要的是要注意到,耶稣传道的目的是“赶鬼”,这是从悔改开始的。 14

大多数人都同意,“好消息”应该传扬开来。有趣的是,对于向谁传扬好消息,耶稣很谨慎。正如我们在前两节所看到的,耶稣叫污鬼不要作声,不许魔鬼说话。我们将看到,被禁止出声的不只是污鬼和魔鬼。例如,在接下来的情节中,耶稣治愈了一个麻风病人。治好他以后,耶稣对他说:“你要谨慎,什么话都不可告诉人。”耶稣再次严严地叮嘱,不可将这事告诉人,只要去把身体给祭司察看,并“献上摩西所吩咐的礼物”。耶稣说,摩西所吩咐的这些事可作为麻风病人得了洁净的“证据”。(马可福音1:44

在一个层面上,耶稣指的是在希伯来圣经中随处可见的洁净仪式。根据这些教义,任何患有传染性皮肤病的人(在这里是大麻风)都要遵守特别的规矩,包括彻底清洁麻风病人的房子和衣服,并在活水上宰一只活鸟,将其血洒在麻风病人身上七次。此外,还要献上一只没有瑕疵的羊羔,并献上用油调和的细面(利未记14:1-16)。这些都象征一种纯真的意愿,即愿意遵守主的诫命,让内心得到净化,摆脱邪恶的欲望和支持这些欲望的错误思想。 15

简单地说,从属灵的角度来理解,摩西所吩咐的真正祭物是按照诫命生活,放弃自私的意念。这是唯一需要的证据。这是生命得到内在净化的证据,而不仅仅是外在的治愈。希伯来圣经中所有的献祭和洗濯都与净化欲望和思想有关。正因为如此,大卫说:“神啊,求你为我造清洁的心,使我里面重新有正直的灵。”(诗篇51:101712

不幸的是,尽管麻风病人得了医治,但他没有听从耶稣的吩咐。他没有保持沉默,把身体给祭司察看,并献上摩西所吩咐的礼物,而是违背了耶稣的吩咐。他出去,“倒说许多的话”,把耶稣为他做的事传扬开了(马可福音1:45)。


麻风病的属灵含义


在本章早些时候,耶稣叫污鬼“不要作声,从这人身上出来”(马可福音1:25)。在后面几节经文,耶稣赶出许多鬼,“不许鬼说话”(马可福音1:34)。在这一节,祂对麻风病人说:“你要谨慎,什么话都不可告诉人。”值得注意的是,每当耶稣赶出污鬼或魔鬼时,祂不许他们说话。正如我们已经提到的,邪灵和魔鬼不是可靠的见证人。他们喜欢撒谎,夸大其词,忽略重要的细节,扭曲事实,让自己看起来良善,让别人看起来败坏。因此,耶稣让他们闭嘴是最好的。

但是,耶稣刚刚治好的麻风病人又如何呢?这一次,耶稣没有对污鬼或魔鬼说话。相反,他直接对麻风病人说话,叫他不要告诉任何人。


这是为什么?


一种解释可能从麻风病的属灵含义以及这种疾病被治愈的含义中找到。因为麻风病是一种皮肤病,它代表了当人们知道真理,却不真正相信真理时,在灵性上是什么样子。可以说,他们没有从心里接受真理。由于治愈只是“表面的”,所以它代表了外在缺陷的治愈。这是麻风病的一种。

然而,还有一种更深、更严重的麻风病。当麻风病没有得到治疗,并渗透到身体内部,影响神经系统和内部器官时,就会出现这种情况。这代表了当人们知道真理,深深地相信它,却不按照他们所信的去生活时,在灵性上是什么样子。更糟糕的是,他们歪曲圣经的真理,为自己的私欲和恶欲辩护。虽然他们看起来毫无瑕疵,洁白如雪,但他们内心充满了邪恶的欲望和诡计。每当这种情况发生时,属天的良善与真理就会与地狱的邪恶与虚假混合在一起。这种善与恶、真与假的混杂被称为“亵渎”。 17

回到耶稣刚刚治愈的麻风病人的例子,我们应该记住,耶稣嘱咐他不要对任何人讲说他被治愈的事。此外,耶稣还嘱咐他去把身体给祭司察看,并献上摩西所吩咐的礼物。倘若他如此行,他就会经历内在的治愈,而不仅仅是外在的治愈。可恰恰相反,他没有遵从耶稣的指示,随从了自己的意愿。这种意愿的不顺从表明他可能只是得了外在的治愈,没有得到内在的治愈。

从属灵的角度来看,外在的治愈是人的悟性得到了纠正,能够正确地理解圣经。而内在的治愈是情感得到了治愈,这将表现为对主的话语的顺从。麻风病人无视耶稣的嘱咐,证明他的治愈是外在的。因此,正如耶稣不许污鬼和魔鬼说话一样,祂也吩咐麻风病人不可将所发生的事情告诉任何人。在麻风病人做什么之前,特别是在他传扬他身体被治愈的消息之前,耶稣吩咐他首先遵守代表内在得到洁净的利未人的律法。

第一章到此就结束了。耶稣已经受了洗,与魔鬼争战,也传扬了福音,赶走了魔鬼,医治了病人,洁净了长大麻风的。至少有三次,耶稣叫人们不要谈论所发生的事情。当我们继续学习马可福音时,我们将仔细看看耶稣是如何预备祂的门徒(以及我们)接受和传扬福音的。

각주:

1属天的奥秘8864[3-4]:“所说的第一件事......主导着后面的每一件事。因此,在后面的内容中,我们必须把第一个内容记在心里,将其视为主旨......主所说的话都是这样的性质,即第一句话主导着后面的内容,将它们包括在内......[在任何系列中]最先出现的东西是最内在的,后面的内容涉入其中,从而不断发展。最内在的东西主宰着一切,是所有事物存在的本质。”

2真实的基督教342:“信仰主耶稣基督的第一步是承认祂是神的儿子。这是迈向主降世所揭示和宣告的信仰的第一步......主说祂要把祂的教会建造在这磐石上,就是建立在承认祂是神的儿子这一真理之上。事实上,‘磐石’意味着真理......承认耶稣是神的儿子是信仰的开端。”

3揭秘启示录867:“‘书’不是指书,而是指心灵的内层......心灵的内层被描述为‘书’,是因为每个人在世时从意愿或爱所出的一切思想、意图、言语和行为都记录在心灵的内层。”另见属天的奥秘9325[3]:“在圣经的内在意义上,‘出生’和‘世代’表示来自主的新生的事物。”

4真实的基督教110[4-5]:“当人们通过圣经的真理来预备他们的悟性时,他们就使自己的悟性适应接受神的信。当人们通过仁爱的行为预备他们的意愿时,他们就使自己的意愿适合接受神的爱。这可以比作一个切割钻石的工人,使它准备好接受和反射明亮的光线。预备自己接受神,与祂结合,就是按照神圣的秩序生活,而神的所有诫命都是秩序的法则。”

5真实的基督教621[6]:“人若想要得救,就必须悔改自己的罪;如果不悔改,他就留在与生俱来的罪中。悔改在于停止作恶的意愿,因为它们违背神,在于省察自己......在于认识自己的恶,在主面前认罪,并祈求帮助,不再犯罪,开始新的生活。人若如此行,又信主,他的罪就赦免了。”另见新耶路撒冷及其属天的教义207:“因此,愿那些受洗的人知道,洗礼本身并不使人得着信,也不使人得救,而是证明他们若重生,就可以得着信,并得着拯救。”

6真实的基督教138:“圣灵是......从无所不在的神所发的神圣大能。”另见详解启示录278[9]:“一切能力都是从主那里藉着神圣的真理而来。”

7真实的基督教144:“我们读到,耶稣受了洗,天就开了,约翰便看见圣灵仿佛鸽子降下。这是因为洗礼意味着重生和洁净,鸽子也是如此......在天堂,经常有鸽子出现。每当它们出现时,天使都知道它们对应着关于重生和洁净的情感和思维。”

8属天的奥秘9335:“圣经中提到的各种‘兽’表示良善或邪恶的情感,因此,‘野兽’表示从爱自己和爱世界的乐趣中产生的虚假的情感。此外,这些情感在来世表现为各种野兽,如豹子、老虎、野猪、狼和熊。他们也像野兽一样,因为那些陷入各种恶欲及其衍生的虚假的人,像野兽一样看待和对待他们的同伴。”

9属天的奥秘5036[3]:“在这段经文中,‘野兽’不是指野兽,而是指地狱和从地狱升起的邪恶。伺候祂的‘天使’也不是指天使,而是指神圣的真理,藉着这些真理,祂通过自己的能力战胜并征服了地狱。”

10属天的奥秘5120[13]:“当邪恶藉着虚假与良善和真理争战时,试探就产生了。因为受洗意味着重生,而重生是通过属灵的争战实现的。所以,‘受洗’也意味着试探。”

11详解启示录619[16]:“施洗约翰所穿‘骆驼毛’的衣服,表示属世之人最外在的事物,也表示圣经最外在的事物。他腰间所束的‘皮带’表示这些外在事物与圣经属灵的内在事物的结合和联系......通过他的衣服和食物,约翰代表了圣经最外在的含义,即圣经字面上的含义。”

12天堂与地狱311:“所有人,无论是在天堂还是在地狱,都出自人类。在天堂的,是那些在世时照着天堂的爱与信而生活的人,在地狱的,是那些照着地狱的爱与信而生活的人......在世时是魔鬼的人,死后也是魔鬼。”另见详解启示录586:“‘魔鬼’指恶灵,地狱中所有的恶灵只不过是恶欲而已。”

13灵界日记1622:“当灵魂开始与人说话时,人必须小心,不要相信他们,因为他们所说的几乎都是编造的,他们在撒谎。例如,如果他们被允许描述天堂是什么样子的,天堂里的事情是怎样的,他们会说很多谎言,而且信誓旦旦的,让人感到惊讶......他们非常喜欢编造,若提起任何话题,他们就自以为无所不知,接二连三地发表意见,好像他们知道得一清二楚。这时如果有人听了他们的话,相信了他们,他们就会得寸进尺,以各种方式欺骗和误导这个人。”

14详解启示录586:“在圣经中,‘魔鬼’表示地狱的灵魂。地狱里所有的灵魂不过就是邪恶的欲望......邪恶和虚假的情感叫做‘欲望’,用‘魔鬼’一词来表示。”

15属天的奥秘3919[5]:“没有瑕疵的羊羔表示纯真的状态。”另见属天的奥秘4581[4]:“用油调和的细面表示属天的良善,也就是爱之良善,‘油’表示对主的爱,‘细面’表示对邻舍的仁。”

属天的奥秘2634:“有关洁净心灵的诫命构成了从总体到细节的神圣秩序。人活在这些诫命里,就是活在神圣的秩序里。”另见婚姻之爱340[3]:“主的教导指向内在的、属灵的自我。因此,祂关于洗濯的诫命与洁净内在的自我有关。”

17属天的奥秘6947[4]:“一个‘从头到脚长大麻风’的人是知道内在真理但不承认或相信它们的人。这样的人没有犯内在的亵渎,只是犯了外在的亵渎。这种亵渎是可以消除的,因此这个人是洁净的。但是,如果这个人知道信仰的真理,并且相信它们,但在生活中与它们背道而驰,那么这个人就犯了内在的亵渎,就如一个曾经相信,后来又否认的人一样。”另见属天的奥秘716[3]:“麻风病表示对神圣事物的亵渎。”

스웨덴보그의 저서에서

 

Apocalypse Explained #375

해당 구절 연구하기

  
/ 1232  
  

375. And the oil and the wine hurt thou not, signifies that it is provided that the internal or spiritual sense of the Word should suffer no harm either in respect to good or in respect to truth. This is evident from the signification of "oil," as being the good of love (of which presently); from the signification of "wine," as being the truth of that good, for every good has its truth, that is, every truth is of good, therefore such as the good is such is the truth; also from the signification of "to hurt," as being to do injury to these. That the internal or spiritual sense of the Word in respect to good and in respect to truth is what is here signified in particular by "oil and wine" is evident from this, that "wheat and barley" signify good and truth, equally with "oil and wine," but "wheat and barley" signify the good and truth of the church in general, thus good and truth in the sense of the letter of the Word; for the goods and truths that are in that sense of the Word are goods and truths in general, the sense of the letter enclosing the spiritual sense, and thus spiritual goods and truths; therefore "wheat and barley" signify the goods and truths of the church in general, which are of the sense of the letter of the Word; while "oil and wine" signify the goods and truths of the internal or spiritual sense of the Word. The latter are interior goods and truths, but the former exterior.

[2] That there are interior and exterior goods and truths, the former in the spiritual or internal man, the latter in the natural or external, can be seen from what is said and shown in the work on Heaven and Hell, namely, that there are three heavens, and that the inmost or third heaven is in inmost goods and truths, or in those of the third degree; and the middle or second heaven in lower goods and truths, or in those of the second degree; and the ultimate or first heaven is in ultimate goods and truths, that is, in those of the first degree. Ultimate goods and truths or those of the first degree are such as are contained in the sense of the letter of the Word; consequently those who remain in that sense and from it frame doctrine for themselves and live according to such doctrine, are in ultimate goods and truths. These do not see interior things, because they are not purely spiritual, like the angels of the higher heavens, but spiritual-natural; yet they are in heaven, although in the ultimate heaven, since the goods and truths that they have derived from the sense of the letter of the Word, and which are with them, contain in them interior goods and truths belonging to the spiritual sense of the Word, for the two correspond and by correspondence make a one.

[3] For example: He that believes from the sense of the letter of the Word that God is angry, that He condemns and casts into hell those who live ill, although this is in itself not true, since God is never angry, and never condemns man or casts him into hell, yet with those who live well and who so believe because the Word in the letter says so, this is accepted by the Lord as truth, because the truth lies concealed internally within it, and although they themselves do not see it, it is manifest to the interior angels. Take as another example, one who believes that he will enjoy a long life if he loves father and mother, according to the commandment of the Decalogue, if he loves them for this reason, and lives well, he is accepted just the same as if he had believed the truth itself, for he does not know that "father and mother" mean in the highest sense the Lord and His kingdom, "father" the Lord, and "mother" His kingdom, and that "prolongation of days" or "length of life" signifies happiness to eternity. It is the same in a thousand other instances. This has been said that it may be known what is meant by the exterior goods and truths and by the interior goods and truths of the Word, since "wheat and barley" signify exterior goods and truths, that is, those that are of the sense of the letter of the Word; while "oil and wine" signify interior goods and truths, that is, those that are of the spiritual sense of the Word.

[4] "Wheat and barley" signify exterior goods and truths, or the goods and truths of the sense of the letter of the Word, because they are the harvest of the field and do not serve for food until made into bread, and "bread" in the Word signifies interior goods; consequently "wheat and barley" signify such things as these goods are made out of, that is, the goods and truths of the sense of the letter of the Word. But that "oil and wine" signify interior goods, which are the goods of the internal or spiritual sense of the Word, can be seen from their signification in the Word, as will be evident from what follows. It is said that these "must not be hurt," because they are not to be profaned; for they would be profaned if they were known and were believed and were afterwards denied, or also if the life were contrary to them; and to profane interior goods and truths is to conjoin oneself with heaven and with hell at the same time, which is a total destruction of spiritual life. For not only do such goods and truths as are believed remain, but also the evils and falsities that succeed in their place by denial or by a life contrary to them; thence there is a conjunction of the good and truth that are of heaven with the evils and falsities that are of hell, and the two cannot be separated, but must be torn asunder, and when torn asunder everything of spiritual life is destroyed. In consequence of this, profaners, after death, are not spirits in a human form as others are, but they are mere phantoms, and seem to themselves to fly hither and thither without any thought; and at length they are separated from others and cast down into the lowest hell of all; and as they do not appear in a human form like the other spirits, they are no longer called he or she, but it, that is, not man. (But more may be seen on the profanation of good and truth in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 169, 172.)

[5] Because such a lot awaits those who profane the interior goods and truths of heaven and the church, therefore the internal or spiritual sense of the Word, in which these are contained, was not opened to the Jews, since if it had been opened they would have profaned it; neither was it opened to Christians, since they also if it had been opened would have profaned it; and for this reason it has been hidden from both Jews and Christians that there is any internal or spiritual sense within the sense of the letter of the Word, which is the natural sense; and that they might remain ignorant of it, it was provided that the knowledge of correspondences, which was the chief knowledge of the ancients, should be lost so entirely that it should be unknown what correspondence is, and therefore what the spiritual sense of the Word is. For the Word is written by pure correspondences, therefore without a knowledge of correspondences it could not be known what the internal sense is. This was provided by the Lord lest the genuine goods and truths themselves, in which the higher heavens are, should be profaned.

[6] But the internal or spiritual sense of the Word is at this day opened, because the Last Judgment has been accomplished, and therefore all things in the heavens and in the hells have been reduced to order, and thus the Lord can provide that no profanations take place. That the internal or spiritual sense of the Word would be opened when the Last Judgment had been accomplished was foretold by the Lord in Revelation (respecting which see in the small work on The White Horse). That the internal or spiritual sense of the Word would then suffer no harm is also signified by the soldiers having divided the Lord's garments and not the tunic, which was without seam, woven from the top throughout (John 19:23, 24). For the Lord's "garments" signify the Word; the "garments that were divided" the Word in the letter; the "tunic" the Word in the internal sense; and the "soldiers" those who should fight in behalf of the truths and goods of the church. (That such are signified by the "soldiers," see above, n. 64 at the end; and that "garments" in the Word signify truths, "clothing" good, and the Lord's "garments" Divine truth, thus the Word, see also above, n. 64, 195)

[7] That "oil" signifies the good of love, can be seen especially from the anointings among the sons of Israel, or in their church, which were effected by oil; for by oil all things of the church were inaugurated, and when they had been inaugurated they were called holy, as the altar and its vessels, the tent of meeting and all things therein, likewise those who officiated in the priesthood and their garments, and also the prophets and afterwards the kings. Anyone can see that it is not oil itself that makes holy, but it is that which is signified by "oil," which is the good of love to the Lord from the Lord; this is signified by "oil;" consequently when persons or things were anointed, from that moment they became representative, for the oil induced a representation of the Lord and of the good of love from Him. For the good of love to the Lord from the Lord is the holy itself of heaven and the church, since through it everything Divine flows in; consequently the things of heaven and the church, which are called things spiritual, are so far holy as they are grounded in this holy.

[8] The reason of the representation of holiness by oil is this: the Lord alone in respect to the Divine Human is the Anointed of Jehovah, for the Divine good itself of the Divine love was in Him from conception, and from that His Human when He was in the world was Divine truth itself, and this He then also made Divine good of the Divine love by uniting it with the Divine Itself in Himself. And as all things that belonged to the church represented things Divine from the Lord, and in the highest sense the Lord Himself (since the church instituted with the sons of Israel was a representative church), so "oil," which signified the Divine good of the Divine love was employed to induce representations; and afterwards the things or persons that were anointed were regarded as holy, not that there was from this any holiness in them, but the holiness was thereby represented in heaven when they were worshiping. This has been said that it may be known that "oil" signifies the good of love.

[9] But that this may be made clearer, I will explain the particulars in order, namely:

1. In ancient times they anointed with oil the stones set up for statues;

2. Also arms of war, as bucklers and shields;

3. Afterwards, the altar and all its vessels, and the tent of meeting and all things therein;

4. And besides, those who officiated in the priesthood, and their garments;

5. Also the prophets;

6. And finally, the kings, who were therefore called "the anointed."

7. It was also a custom commonly received to anoint themselves and others with oil, to testify gladness of mind and good will.

8. From this it is evident that "oil" in the Word signifies good; the "oil of holiness," which was prepared for anointing those things that were to be used in worship in the church, signifying the Divine good of the Divine love; and "oil" in general, good and its enjoyment.

[10] 1. As to the first point, "that they anointed stones set up for statues," is evident from the book of Genesis:

Jacob rose up in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a statue, and poured oil on the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel. And he said, If I shall come again to my father's house in peace, this stone which I have set up for a statue shall be God's house (Genesis 28:18-22).

Stones were thus anointed because "stones" signified truths, and truths without good have no spiritual life, that is, no life from the Divine; but when the stones were anointed with oil, they represented truths from good, and in the highest sense, Divine truth proceeding from the Divine good of the Lord, who is thence called "the Stone of Israel." The stones themselves set up were called "statues," and were accounted holy, and from this arose the use of statues among the ancients, and afterwards in their temples. As this stone then set up by Jacob was representatively sanctified, therefore Jacob called the name of the place Bethel, and said that this stone should be "God's house," Bethel meaning "God's house," and "God's house," signifies the church in respect to good, and in the highest sense the Lord in respect to His Divine Human (John 2:19-22). (The remainder may be seen explained in the Arcana Coelestia; and further, that statues were set up by the ancients for a sign, for a witness, and for worship, n . 3727; that at first they were holy boundaries, n. 3727; that afterwards they were used in worship, n. 4580; what they signified, n. 4580, 10643. That "stones" signify truths, and "the Stone of Israel" the Lord in respect to Divine truth, n. 643, 1298, 3720, 6426, 8609, 9388, 9389, 10376. That the pouring of oil upon the head of a statue or anointing it, was done to induce the representative of truth from good, and that it might thus be used for worship, n. 3728, 4090.)

[11] 2. "That they anointed the arms of war, as bucklers and shields," is evident from Isaiah:

Rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield (Isaiah 21:5).

Also in the second book of Samuel:

The shield of the heroes was polluted; the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil (2 Samuel 1:21).

Arms of war were anointed because they signified truths fighting against falsities, and truths from good are what prevail against falsities, but not truths without good; therefore the arms of war represented the truths by which the Lord Himself with man fights against the falsities from evil which are from hell. (That "the arms of war" signify truths fighting against falsities, see Arcana Coelestia 1788, 2686, and above, n. 131, 367; and that "wars" in general signify spiritual combats, n. 1664, 2686, 8273, 8295; and "enemies" evils and falsities, and in general the hells, n. 2851, 8289, 9314)

[12] 3. "That they anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the tent of meeting, and all things therein," is evident from Moses:

Jehovah said to Moses, Thou shalt anoint the altar, and sanctify it (Exodus 29:36).

In the same:

Thou shalt make the oil of anointing of holiness, wherewith thou shalt anoint the tent of meeting, and the ark of the Testimony, and the table, and all the vessels thereof, and the lampstand and all the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt-offering, and all the vessels thereof, and the lavers, and the base. Thus shalt thou sanctify them, that they may be holy of holies; whosoever shall touch them shall sanctify himself (Exodus 30:25-29; 40:9-11; Leviticus 8:10-12; Numbers 7:1).

The altars and the tent of meeting, with all things therein, were anointed that they might represent the Divine and holy things of heaven and the church, consequently the holy things of worship; and these they could not have represented unless they had been inaugurated by something significative of the good of love, for it is through the good of love that the Divine enters, and through it is present; the same is true in worship, without the good of love the Divine neither enters nor is present. (That the altar was the chief representative of the Lord, and thence of worship from the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 2777, 2811, 4489, 4541, 8935, 8940, 9 388, 9389, 9714; and that the tent with the ark was the chief representative of heaven where the Lord is, n. 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632, 9784)

[13] 4. "That they anointed those who officiated in the priesthood, and their garments," is evident from Moses:

Take the oil of anointing, and pour it upon the head (of Aaron), and thou shalt anoint him (Exodus 29:7; 30:30).

Put upon Aaron the garment of holiness, and thou shalt anoint him and sanctify him, that he may minister unto Me in the priesthood; and his sons thou shalt anoint as thou didst anoint their father, and it shall be that their anointing shall be to them a priesthood of an age throughout their generations (Exodus 40:13-15).

In the same:

Moses poured of the oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him to sanctify him. And afterwards he took of the oil of anointing, and of the blood that was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, upon his garments, upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments and his sons, and his sons' garments with him (Leviticus 8:12, 30).

Aaron and his sons were anointed, and their very garments, that they might represent the Lord in respect to the Divine good, and as to Divine truth therefrom; Aaron, the Lord in respect to Divine good, and his sons the Lord in respect to Divine truth therefrom; and, in general, that the priesthood might represent the Lord in respect to His work of salvation. Their garments were anointed (Exodus 29:29) because "garments" represented spiritual things investing. (That Aaron represented the Lord in respect to Divine good, see Arcana Coelestia 9806; that his sons represented the Lord in respect to Divine truth proceeding from Divine good, n. 9807; that the priesthood in general represented the Lord in respect to His work of salvation, n. 9809; that the garments of Aaron and his sons represented things spiritual, n. 9814, 9942, 9952.)

[14] Because inauguration to representation was effected by anointing, and Aaron and his sons represented the Lord and what is from Him, therefore to Aaron and his sons the holy things of the sons of Israel were given, which were gifts given to Jehovah, and were called "heave-offerings;" and it is said that they were "the anointing" or "for the anointing," that is, were a representation or for a representation of the Lord, and of the Divine things that are from Him, as is evident from these passages in Moses:

The wave-breast and the heave-shoulder have I taken from among the sons of Israel. This is the anointing of Aaron and the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings by fire to Jehovah, which He commanded 1 to give them in the day that He had anointed them from among the sons of Israel (Leviticus 7:34-36).

And elsewhere in the same:

Jehovah spoke unto Aaron, Behold, I have given thee the charge of Mine heave-offerings as to all the hallowed things of the sons of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, for the statute of an age. Every gift of theirs, even to every meal-offering of theirs, even to every sacrifice of sin and guilt of theirs, every wave-offering of the sons of Israel. All the fat of the pure oil, and all the fat of the new wine, and of the corn, the firstfruits of them, which they shall give unto Jehovah, to thee have I given them. Likewise everything devoted in Israel, every opening of the womb, thus every heave-offering of things holy. Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part in the midst of them; I am thy part and thine inheritance in the midst of the sons of Israel (Numbers 18:8-20).

From this it is evident that the anointing is a representation, since by anointing they were inaugurated to represent, also that it was signified by it that all inauguration into the holiness of heaven and the church is by means of the good of love which is from the Lord, and that the good of love is the Lord with them; because this is so, it is said that Jehovah is "his part and his inheritance."

[15] 5. "That they anointed the prophets also," is evident from the first book of Kings:

Jehovah said unto Elijah, Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; and Jehu anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha anoint to be prophet instead of thee (1 Kings 19:15-16).

And in Isaiah:

The spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon me; therefore hath Jehovah anointed me to preach good tidings unto the poor (Isaiah 61:1).

The prophets were anointed because the prophets represented the Lord in respect to the doctrine of Divine truth, consequently in respect to the Word; for the Word is the doctrine of Divine truth. (That the prophets represented and thence signified doctrine from the Word, see Arcana Coelestia 2534, 7269; in particular, Elijah and Elisha, n. 2762, 5247 at the end, 9372.) That it is the Lord in respect to the Divine Human who is here represented, thus that it was He by whom Jehovah anointed, the Lord Himself teaches in Luke (Luke 4:18-21).

[16] 6. That they afterwards anointed kings, and that these were called "the anointed of Jehovah," is evident from many usages in the Word (as 1 Samuel 10:1; 15:1; 16:3, 6, 12; 24:6, 10; 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Samuel 1:16; 2:4, 7; 5:3; 19:22; 1 Kings 1:34, 35; 19:15, 16; 2 Kings 9:3; 11:12; 23:30; Lamentations 4:20; Habakkuk 3:13; Psalms 2:2, 6; 20:6; 28:8; 45:7; 84:9, 20, 38, 51; 132:17 elsewhere). Kings were anointed that they might represent the Lord in relation to judgment from Divine truth; therefore in the Word "kings" signify Divine truths (See above, n. 31). Kings were called "the anointed of Jehovah," and it was therefore sacrilege to do harm to them, because "anointed of Jehovah" means the Lord in respect to the Divine Human, although, in the sense of the letter the term is applied to the king anointed with oil; for the Lord, when He was in the world, in respect to His Human was the Divine truth itself, and in respect to the very esse of His life, which with man is called the soul from the father, was the Divine good itself of the Divine love; for He was conceived of Jehovah, Jehovah in the Word meaning the Divine good of the Divine love, which is the esse of the life of all; consequently the Lord alone was the Anointed of Jehovah in very essence and in very deed, since there was in Him the Divine good of the Divine love, and the Divine truth proceeding from that good itself in His Human while He was in the world (See above, n. 63, 200, 228, 328; and in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, n. 293-295, 303-305). Moreover, earthly kings were not "the anointed of Jehovah," but were so called because they represented the Lord, who alone was "the Anointed of Jehovah," therefore because they were anointed it was sacrilege to harm the kings of the earth. But the anointing of the kings of the earth was an anointing with oil, while the anointing of the Lord in respect to the Divine Human was accomplished by the Divine good itself of the Divine love; and this is what the "oil" signified and the "anointing" represented. For this reason the Lord was called the Messiah and Christ, Messiah in the Hebrew signifying anointed, and Christ the like in Greek (John 1:41; 4:25).

[17] From this it can be seen, that when "the anointed of Jehovah" is mentioned in the Word, in a representative sense the Lord is meant. As in Isaiah:

The spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me; therefore hath Jehovah anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the poor; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives (Isaiah 61:1).

That the Lord in respect to the Divine Human is He whom Jehovah anointed, is evident in Luke, where the Lord openly declares it in these words:

There was delivered to Jesus the book of the prophet Isaiah. And He unrolled the book, and found the place where it was written, The spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to proclaim the accepted year of the Lord. After that, rolling up the book, He gave it to the minister, and sat down. But the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began to say unto them, Today hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:17-21).

In Daniel:

Know therefore, and perceive, that from the going forth of the Word even to the restoration and building of Jerusalem, even to Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks (Daniel 9:25).

"To build Jerusalem" means to establish the church, "Jerusalem" meaning the church; "Messiah the Prince," that is, the Anointed, means the Lord in respect to the Divine Human.

[18] In the same:

Seventy weeks are determined to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies (Daniel 9:24).

"To seal up vision and prophet" means to conclude and fulfill the things said in the Word respecting the Lord; "anointing the holy of holies" meaning the Lord's Divine Human, in which was the Divine good of the Divine love, or Jehovah.

[19] "The anointed of Jehovah" means the Lord also in the following passages. In David:

The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers took counsel together against Jehovah and against His anointed. I have anointed My king upon Zion, the mountain of My holiness (Psalms 2:2, 6).

"The kings of the earth" are falsities, and the "rulers" are evils from the hells, against which the Lord fought when He was in the world, and which He conquered and subdued; "the anointed of Jehovah" is the Lord in respect to the Divine Human from which He fought; "Zion, the mountain of holiness upon which he is said to have been anointed as a king," is the celestial kingdom, which is in the good of love; this kingdom is the inmost of heaven and the inmost of the church.

[20] In the same:

I found David My servant; with the oil of holiness have I anointed him (Psalms 89:20).

"David" here as also elsewhere means the Lord (See above, n. 205); "the oil of holiness with which Jehovah anointed him" means the Divine good of the Divine love; that it is the Lord who is here meant by David is clear from what there precedes and what follows, for it is said:

Thou spoke in vision of thy Holy One, I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall call Me, My Father. Also I will make him the firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. His seed will I establish forever, and his throne as the days of the heavens (Psalms 89:19, 25-27, 29 besides other passages).

Likewise elsewhere in the same:

In Zion will I make the horn of David to bud; I will set in order a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon himself shall his diadem flourish (Psalms 132:17-18).

That here, too, the Lord is meant by "David" is evident from the preceding verses, where it is said:

We have heard of Him in Ephrathah; we have found Him in the fields of the forest. We will go into His tabernacles; we will bow ourselves down at His footstool. Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints shall shout for joy; for Thy servant David's sake turn not back the faces of Thine anointed (Psalms 132:6-10).

From this it can be seen that the Lord in respect to His Divine Human is here meant by David, "the anointed of Jehovah."

[21] In Jeremiah:

They chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was captured in their pits; of whom we had said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations (Lamentations 4:19-20).

Here, also, "the anointed of Jehovah" means the Lord, for this treats of assault upon Divine truth by falsities and evils, which is the signification of "they chased us upon the mountains, and laid wait in the wilderness;" "the breath of the nostrils" means heavenly life itself which is from the Lord (Arcana Coelestia 9818).

[22] From this it can now be known why it was so sacrilegious to do harm to the anointed of Jehovah, as appears from the Word. Thus, in the first book of Samuel:

David said, Jehovah forbid that I should do this word unto my lord, the anointed of Jehovah, and put forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah (1 Samuel 24:6, 10).

So again:

David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who shall put forth his hand against the anointed of Jehovah and be guiltless? (1 Samuel 26:9).

In the second book of Samuel:

David said unto him who said that he had slain Saul, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thou hast said, I have put to death the anointed of Jehovah (2 Samuel 1:16).

And again:

Abishai said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the anointed of Jehovah? (2 Samuel 19:21).

That Shimei was therefore slain by command of Solomon (1 Kings 2:36-46, to the end).

[23] 7. "That it was a commonly received custom to anoint themselves and others with oil, to testify gladness of mind and good will," is evident from the following passages. In Amos:

Who drink out of bowls of wine, and anoint themselves with the first fruits of oils, but they are not grieved for the breach of Joseph (Amos 6:6).

In Micah:

Thou shalt tread the olive, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil (Micah 6:15);

meaning, thou shalt not be glad. In Moses:

Thou shalt have olive-trees in all thy border, but thou shalt not anoint thee with the oil (Deuteronomy 28:40).

These words have a like signification. In Isaiah:

To give them a tiara instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning (Isaiah 61:3).

In David:

Thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Psalms 45:7).

In the same:

My horn shalt Thou exalt like that of a unicorn; I shall grow old in fresh oil (Psalms 92:10).

In the same:

Wine gladdeneth the heart of man, to make the face bright with oil (Psalms 104:15).

In Luke:

Jesus said to Simon, I entered into thine house, and My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment (Luke 7:44, 46).

In Matthew:

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast (Matthew 6:17-18).

[24] "To fast" signifies to mourn, because they fasted when they mourned, and as they then refrained from expressions of gladness, they also then abstained from anointing themselves with oil, as in Daniel:

I Daniel was mourning three weeks; I ate not the bread of desires, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither was I anointed with anointing, until three weeks of days were fulfilled (Daniel 10:2-3).

From this it is clear that it was a custom to anoint themselves and others with oil; not with the "oil of holiness" with which priests, kings, the altar, and the tabernacle were anointed, but with common oil, because this oil signified the gladness and satisfaction that are from the love of good, while "the oil of holiness" signified the Divine good; of this it is said:

Upon the flesh of man shall it not be poured, and in quality thereof ye shall not make any like it; it shall be holy unto you. Whosoever shall prepare any like it, or whosoever shall put any of it upon a stranger, shall be cut off from his people (Exodus 30:32-33, 38).

[25] 8. From this it is evident that "oil" in the Word signifies good; the "oil of holiness," which was prepared for anointing the things that were used in worship in the church signifying the Divine good of the Divine love, and "oil" in general, good and its enjoyment, as can be seen from other passages in the Word where "oil" is mentioned, as from the following.

[26] In David:

Behold how good and how lovely it is for brethren to dwell together! It is like the good oil upon Aaron's head, that cometh down upon the beard, Aaron's beard; that cometh down upon the hem of his garments; like the dew of Hermon that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion; there Jehovah hath commanded the blessing of life even to eternity (Psalms 133:1-3).

What these words signify no one can know unless he knows what is signified by "brethren," by "the oil upon Aaron's head," by "his beard," and "the hem of his garments," and by "the dew of Hermon," and "the mountains of Zion." "Brethren" here signify good and truth, for these are called "brethren" in the Word; therefore "Behold how good and how lovely it is for brethren to dwell together" signifies that in the conjunction of good and truth is every heavenly good and delight, for every heavenly good and delight is from the conjunction of good and truth. "The oil upon the head that cometh down upon the beard, Aaron's beard, that cometh down upon the hem of his garments," signifies that from that conjunction is the good and delight of heaven, from inmosts to ultimates, "head" signifying the inmost, "beard" the ultimate; "to come down upon the hem of his garments" signifies the influx and conjunction of celestial good and spiritual good. (That in the Word good and truth are called "brethren," see Arcana Coelestia, n. Arcana Coelestia 367, 3160, 9806; that "head" signifies the inmost, n. 4938, 4939, 9656, 9913, 9914; "beard" the ultimate, n. 9960; "the hem of the garments" the influx and conjunction of celestial and spiritual good, thus of good and truth, n . 9913, 9914; and this is said of Aaron, because he represented the Lord in respect to Divine good, since every good and every conjunction of good and truth is from Him, n. 9806, 9946, 10017.) "The dew of Hermon" signifies Divine truth, and "the mountains of Zion" signify Divine good; therefore "like the dew of Hermon that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion" signifies the conjunction of truth and good, which is here treated of; and as angels and men have all their spiritual life from that conjunction, it is added, "there Jehovah hath commanded the blessing of life to eternity." (That "dew" signifies the Divine truth, see Arcana Coelestia 3579, 8455; that "mountains" signify Divine good, and why, n. Arcana Coelestia 795, 4210, 6435, 8327, 8758, 10438, 10608; and that "Zion" signifies the church where the good of love is, n. 2362, 9055 at the end.) From this it is clear what is the nature of the Word in its spiritual sense, notwithstanding its sound in the letter.

[27] In Ezekiel:

I entered into a covenant with thee, that thou mightest be Mine; and I washed thee with waters, yea, I washed away thy bloods from upon thee, and I anointed thee with oil; and I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skins. Thou didst eat fine flour, honey, and oil, whence thou didst become exceeding beautiful, and didst prosper even to a kingdom (Ezekiel 16:8-10, 13).

These things are said of "Jerusalem," which signifies the church, therefore these particulars signify the spiritual things pertaining to the church. These things evidently were not said of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, namely, that Jehovah "washed them with waters," "washed away their bloods" "clothed them with broidered work, and shod them with badgers skins;" but "to wash with waters" signifies to reform and purify by means of truths; "to wash away bloods" signifies to remove the falsities of evil; "to anoint with oil" signifies to gift with the good of love; "to clothe with broidered work," and "to shoe with badgers' skins," signify to instruct in the knowledges of truth and good from the sense of the letter or the ultimate sense of the Word; "to eat fine flour, honey, and oil," signifies to make truth and good one's own; "to become beautiful thereby" signifies to become intelligent; "and to prosper even to a kingdom" signifies thus to become a church, "kingdom" meaning the church.

[28] In Jeremiah:

Jehovah hath ransomed Jacob. Therefore they shall come and sing aloud in the height of Zion, and shall flow together unto the goodness of Jehovah; to the corn, and to the new wine, and to the fresh oil, and to the sons of the flock and of the herd; and their soul shall become as a watered garden (Jeremiah 31:11-12);

"new wine and fresh oil" signifying truth and good. (What the remainder signifies see just above, n. 374.)

[29] In Joel:

Exult, ye sons of Zion, and be glad in Jehovah your God; for He hath given you the former rain in righteousness, so that the threshing-floors are full of pure grain, the presses overflow with new wine and fresh oil (Joel 2:23-24).

Here, too, "new wine and oil" signify the truth and good of the church, for "sons of Zion," to whom these things are said, signify those who are of the church; "the former rain in righteousness" signifies Divine truth flowing into good, from which is there conjunction, fructification, and multiplication; and "floors full of pure grain" signify consequent fullness.

[30] In the same:

The field was devastated, the ground mourned; for the corn was devastated, the new wine was dried up, the fresh oil languisheth (Joel 1:10).

This signifies the devastation of all things of the church which have reference in general to the good of love and the truth of faith; "field," and also "ground," mean the church, "field" the church from the reception of truth, and "ground" the church from the perception of good; "corn" means everything of the church, "new wine" truth, and "fresh oil" good.

[ 31 ] In Isaiah:

I will sing to my beloved a song of my friend. My beloved had a vineyard in a horn of the son of oil, which he fenced, and gathered out the stones, and planted it with a noble vine; and he waited for it that it should bring forth grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes (Isaiah 5:1-2

"The vineyard that the beloved had in a horn of the son of oil" signifies the spiritual church which has truths from the good of love, thus most excellent; for "vineyard" signifies the spiritual church, or the church that is in truths from good; its inauguration is meant by "the horn of oil," for inaugurations were performed by oil out of a horn; and "the son of oil," means truth from good; "beloved" means the Lord, because He it is who establishes churches, therefore it is said of Him, "which he fenced and gathered out the stones, and planted with a noble vine," "a noble vine" meaning spiritual truth from the celestial, or truth from the good of love; the "grapes that he waited for that it should bring forth" signify the goods of charity, which are the goods of life; and the "wild grapes that it brought forth" signify the evils that are contrary to the goods of charity, that is, the evils of life.

[32] In Hosea:

In that day, I will listen to the heavens, and they shall listen to the earth; and the earth shall listen to the corn and the new wine and the fresh oil; and these shall listen to Jezreel. And I will sow her unto Me in the earth (Hosea 2:21-23).

This is said of a new church to be established by the Lord; and "to listen to" means to obey and to receive; obedience and reception following and succeeding in order are thus described. That the heavens will receive from the Lord is meant by "I will listen to the heavens;" that the church will receive from the heavens, thus from the Lord through the heavens, is meant by "the heavens shall listen to the earth;" that good and truth will receive from the church is meant by "the earth shall listen to the corn and the new wine and the fresh oil;" "new wine" meaning truth, and "oil" good; and that those who are of the church with whom there are good and truth will receive therefrom is meant by "these shall listen to Jezreel." Evidently the earth, its corn, new wine, and oil is not meant, but the church with its goods and truths, for it is said, "I will sow Jezreel unto me in the earth."

[33] In Isaiah:

I will give in the wilderness the cedar of shittah, and the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir, the pine and the box tree (Isaiah 41:19).

This is said of the establishment of the church among the Gentiles by the Lord; and "the wilderness" and "the desert" signify where there was before no good because no truth; "the cedar of shittah," "myrtle," and "oil tree" signify spiritual and celestial good; and "the fir," "the pine," and "the box tree" signify good and truth therefrom in the natural; for every tree in the Word signifies something pertaining to the good and truth of the church; and "the cedar of shittah," "the myrtle," and "the oil tree" signify such things of the church as are in the spiritual or internal man; while "the fir," "the pine," and "the box tree" signify such things of the church as are in the natural or external man.

[34] In David:

[Jehovah is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He will make me to lie down in pastures of the tender herb; He will lead me to the waters of rest. Thou wilt arrange a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; my head wilt thou make fat with oil; my cup will overflow (Psalms 23:1-2, 5).

This means, in the internal sense, that he who trusts in the Lord is led into all the goods and truths of heaven, and overflows with the enjoyments thereof; "my shepherd" means the Lord; "the pastures of the tender herb" signify the knowledges of truth and good; "the waters of rest" signify the truths of heaven therefrom; "table" signifies spiritual nourishment; "to make fat the head with oil" signifies wisdom which is from good; "my cup will overflow" signifies intelligence which is from truths, "cup" signifying the like as "wine." "The pastures of the tender herb" and "the waters of rest," seem to be mentioned as if they were comparisons, because the Lord is called a shepherd, and the flock of the shepherd is led into pastures of herbs and to limpid waters; but still these are correspondences.

[35] In Ezekiel:

Judah and the land of Israel were thy traders in the wheats of Minnith and Pannag, and in honey, and oil, and balsam (Ezekiel 27:17).

This is said of Tyre, which signifies the church in relation to the knowledges of truth and good; thus "Tyre" signifies the knowledges of truth and good of the church; and "Judah" and "the land of Israel," who "were traders" signify the church, "Judah" the church in relation to good, and "the land of Israel" the church in relation to truths from good; and "to trade" signifies to acquire to oneself and to communicate to others. "Wheats of Minnith and Pannag" signify goods and truths in general; and "honey, oil, and balsam," goods and truths in particular, "honey" and "oil" goods; and "balsam" truths which are grateful from good, for all truths that are from good are perceived in heaven as fragrant, and consequently as grateful; and this is the reason that the oil of anointing was prepared from various fragrant things (respecting which see Exodus 30:22-33); and also the oil for the lamps (respecting which see Exodus 27:20-21).

[36] In Moses:

Jehovah fed him with the increase of the fields, He made him to suck honey out of the cliff, and oil out of the flint of the rock (Deuteronomy 32:13).

This treats of the Ancient Church; "to suck oil out of the flint of the rock" means to be imbued with good through the truths of faith; "honey" means natural good and delight; "oil" spiritual good and delight; and "cliff" and "flint of the rock" mean the truth of faith from the Lord. If spiritual things were not meant by these words, what meaning could there be in "sucking honey out of the cliff, and oil out of the flint of the rock"?

[37] In Habakkuk:

The fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall there be produce in the vines; the labor of the olive shall dissemble, and the fields shall yield no food (Habakkuk 3:17).

Here fig tree, vine, olive, and fields, are not meant, but heavenly things, to which they correspond. "The fig tree" corresponds to and thence signifies natural good; "the vine" corresponds to spiritual good, which in its essence is truth; the "olive," as the fruit from which oil is derived, corresponds to the good of love in act; and "fields" correspond to all things of the church; "produce" and "foods" thence signify all things pertaining to spiritual nourishment; from which it is clear what these things signify in their order.

[38] In Hosea:

Ephraim feedeth on wind; they make a covenant with Assyria and oil is carried down into Egypt (Hosea 12:1).

This has no meaning unless it is known what is meant by "Ephraim," by "Assyria," and "Egypt." Man's own intellect [intellectuale proprium], which by reasonings from knowledges perverts and adulterates the goods of the church, is here described. "Ephraim" means the intellect, "Assyria" reasoning, and "Egypt" the knowing faculty; therefore "to carry down oil into Egypt" means to pervert the goods of the church by reasonings from knowledges.

[39] In Zechariah:

I saw a lamp stand of gold; two olive-trees by it, one at the right side of the bowl, and the other at the left side thereof. These are the two sons of oil that stand by the Lord of the whole earth (Zechariah 4:2-3, 14).

"Two olive-trees" and "two sons of oil" mean the good of love to the Lord and the good of charity towards the neighbor; the latter at his left hand, the former at his right.

[40] Likewise in Revelation:

The two witnesses shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty 2 days.

These are the two olive-trees, and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth (Revelation 11:3-4);

the "two olive-trees" and "two lampstands" mean these same goods, which are called "the two witnesses" because they are from the Lord; but more respecting these when they are explained.

[41] Because "oil" signified the good of love to the Lord, and the good of charity towards the neighbor:

The Lord likened the kingdom of the heavens to ten virgins, of whom five had oil in the lamps, and five had not; therefore the latter were called foolish, and the former prudent (Matthew 25:1-11).

"The ten virgins" signify all who are of the church; and "five" signify some or a part of them, for such is the signification of the numbers "ten" and "five" in the Word; and "virgin" or "daughter" signifies the church; "oil" signifies the good of love to the Lord and the good of charity towards the neighbor; and "lamps" signify the truths that are called the truths of faith. From this the meaning of these words in the spiritual sense can be seen, namely, that the virgins that had no oil in their lamps, and consequently were not admitted into heaven, are those who know truths from the Word, or from the doctrine of the church, and yet are not in the good of love and charity, that is, do not live according to these truths; while the virgins who had oil in their lamps, and were received into heaven, are those who are in the good of love and charity, and thence in truths from the Word or from the doctrine of the church; which makes clear why the latter virgins are called "prudent," and the former "foolish."

[42] Because "oil" signified the good of love and charity, and "wine" signified truth:

The Lord says of the Samaritan, who as he journeyed saw in the way a man wounded by thieves, that he poured oil and wine into his wounds, and then set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and told them to care for him (Luke 10:33-35).

In the spiritual sense these things are thus perceived: "the Samaritan" means the Gentiles that were in the good of charity towards the neighbor; "the man wounded by thieves" means those who are infested by those from hell, who are thieves because they injure and destroy man's spiritual life; the "oil and wine that he poured into his wounds" mean things spiritual that heal man, "oil" good, and "wine" truth; that "he set him on his own beast" signifies that he did this according to his intelligence so far as he was able, "horse," and likewise "beast of burden" signifying the intellect; that "he brought him to an inn and told them to care for him" signifies to bring to those that are well instructed in the doctrine of the church from the Word, and who are better able to heal him than one who is still in ignorance. Thus are these words understood in heaven, and from them it is evident that the Lord when He was in the world spoke by pure correspondences, thus for the world and for heaven at the same time.

[43] Because "oil" signified the good of love and charity, and by this those are healed who are spiritually sick, therefore it is said of the Lord's disciples:

That they anointed many with oil and healed them (Mark 6:13).

(Furthermore, what is specially signified by "the oil prepared for the lamps," and what by "the oil prepared for anointings" see Arcana Coelestia 9778-9789, and n. 10250-10288, where they are explained.) From this it can now be seen that "oil" signifies celestial good and spiritual good, that is, the good of love to the Lord, and the good of charity towards the neighbor; "the oil of anointing" the good of love to the Lord from the Lord, and the "oil for the lamps" the good of charity towards the neighbor from the Lord.

각주:

1. The photolithograph has "I commanded."

2. The photolithograph has "sixty-six."

  
/ 1232  
  

Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

Loading…
Loading the web debug toolbar…
Attempt #