4736. “可以把他丢在这旷野的坑里” 表他们可以暂时把它藏在他们的虚假当中, 也就是说, 他们可以视它为一个谎言, 但仍要持有它, 因为这对教会很重要. 这从 “坑” 和 “旷野” 的含义清楚可知: “坑” 是指虚假 (参看4728节); “旷野” 是指没有真理的地方. 因为 “旷野” 这个词意义广泛, 它表示无人居住, 因而荒凉之地, 当用来论及教会时, 表示没有良善, 从而没有真理之地 (2708, 3900节). 因此, “旷野的坑” 在此表示在因没有良善而没有真理之处的虚假. 之所以说 “因没有良善而没有真理”, 是因为如果有人认为没有行为的信仰能使人得救, 那么真理可能确实存在, 但却不是居于他里面的真理, 因为它不关注良善, 也不植根于良善. 这种真理不是活的, 因为它含有一个虚假原则在里面, 因而对于拥有这种真理的人来说, 它无非是一个基于在它里面掌权的虚假原则的谎言. 这个原则就像灵魂, 其余的从这灵魂拥有其生命. 另一方面, 如果良善在它们里面, 尤其它是纯真的良善, 如外邦人, 甚至许多教会中人当中的良善, 那么被当作真理接受的虚假就有可能存在.

14. And they that hear the words of the prophecy, signifies that they live according to the doctrine of heaven. This is evident from the signification of "hearing," as being to perceive and obey (See Arcana Coelestia 2542, 3869, 4653, 5017, 7216, 8361, 8990, 9311, 9397, 10061); thus also to live according to that doctrine; for those who perceive and obey the doctrine of heaven live according to it; and from the signification of "the words of the prophecy," as being the truths that pertain to the doctrine of heaven; for "words" are truths (n. 4692, 5075); and "prophecy" is doctrine (n. 2534, 7269); here it is the doctrine of heaven, since it is prophecy belonging to the Word, and the Word is from heaven. To "hear" is to obey and to live, because with celestial angels the things that are heard enter into the life; but as this is a thing unknown, I would like to explain it briefly.

There are two senses given to man which serve as means of receiving the things whereby the rational is formed, and also the things by which man is reformed; these are the sense of sight and the sense of hearing; the other senses are for other uses. The things that enter by the sense of sight enter into man's understanding and enlighten it, for which reason by "sight" is signified the understanding enlightened, for the understanding corresponds to the sight of the eye, as the light of heaven corresponds to the light of the world. The things, however, that enter by the sense of hearing enter both into the understanding and into the will, and for this reason by "the hearing" is signified perception and obedience. Consequently, in human language, to "hear" anyone, and to "give ear to" anyone, also to "listen to," and "hearken to," are common expressions; and by "hearing anyone" is meant to perceive, and by "giving ear to," as also by "listening to" is meant to obey; while "hearkening to" means either perceiving or obeying. These expressions flowed down into human language out of the spiritual world, where man's spirit is. Their origin in the spiritual world shall also be explained.

[2] Those there who are in the province of the ear are obediences from perception. (That all who are in the spiritual world are in some province that is named from the members, organs, or viscera of man, because they correspond thereto, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 87-102.) Moreover, the province of the ear is in the axis of heaven; into it, therefore, or into those who are there, the whole spiritual world flows in, with the perception that "thus must it be done;" for this is the reigning perception in heaven; from this it is that those who are in that province are obediences from perception. That the things that enter by hearing enter immediately through the understanding into the will, may be further illustrated by the way in which angels of the celestial kingdom, who are most wise, are instructed. These angels receive all their wisdom by hearing, and not by sight; for whatsoever they hear about Divine things, they receive in the will from veneration and love, and make it of their life; and because they receive these things not first in the memory, but immediately in the life, they do not speak about matters of faith, but when these are mentioned by others, they answer, "Yea, yea," or "Nay, nay," according to the Lord's words in Matthew 5:37. From this it is evident that hearing is given to man chiefly for the reception of wisdom, and sight for the reception of intelligence. Wisdom is to perceive, to will, and to do; and intelligence is to know and to perceive. (That the celestial angels imbibe wisdom by hearing, not by sight, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 270-271; and more concerning those angels, n. 20-28.)