Arcana Coelestia # 9266
9266. 'For a gift blinds those whose eyes are open' means that gain prevents truths from being seen. This is clear from the meaning of 'a gift' as any kind of gain, dealt with immediately above in 9265; from the meaning of 'blinding', when it refers to truths, as preventing them from being seen; and from the meaning of 'those whose eyes are open', or those who can see, as those who have a knowledge of truths and can see clearly what the truth is. For 'seeing' means knowing, understanding, and acknowledging truths, and also possessing faith, 897, 2150, 2325, 2807, 3764, 3863, 3869, 4403-4421, 5114, 5286, 5400, 6805, 8688, 9128. This explains why 'those whose eyes are open' are elsewhere called 'the wise',
A gift 1 blinds the eyes of the wise. Deuteronomy 16:19.
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. i.e. a bribe
Arcana Coelestia # 6805
6805. 'And God saw the children of Israel' means that He endowed the Church with faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'seeing' as having faith, dealt with in 897, 2325, 2807, 3863, 3869, 4403-4421, 5400, so that 'God saw' is endowing with faith (for faith comes from God); and from the meaning of 'the children of Israel' as the Church, dealt with in 6637.