9987. And this is the word that thou shalt do to them. That this signifies a law of order, is evident from the signification of a “word,” as being Divine truth, and hence a law of order (of which below). In the general sense a “word” signifies an utterance of the mouth, or a speech; and as a speech is a thought of the mind uttered by means of words, therefore a “word” signifies the thing that is being thought; and from this, in the original tongue, everything that really exists, and is anything, is called a “word.” But in an eminent sense the “Word” is Divine truth, for the reason that everything which really exists, and which is anything, is from Divine truth. Therefore it is said in David:

By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the army of them by the breath of His mouth (Psalms 33:6); where “the word of Jehovah” denotes the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord; “the breath of the mouth of Jehovah” denotes the life thence derived; “the heavens made by it, and all the army of them,” denote the angels insofar as they are receptions of Divine truth. That “the heavens” denote the angels is because these constitute heaven; and as the angels are receptions of Divine truth, therefore by “angels” in the abstract sense are signified Divine truths which are from the Lord (see n. 8192); and that in the same sense “the army of the heavens” denotes Divine truths (see n. 3448, 7236, 7988).

[2] From this it can be seen what is signified by “the Word” in John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt in us, and we saw His glory (John 1:1, 3, 14).

That the Lord is here meant by “the Word” is plain, for it is said that “the Word was made flesh.” The Lord is “the Word,” because when He was in the world, the Lord was Divine truth itself; and when He departed out of the world, the Divine truth proceeded from Him (see the places cited in n. 9199, 9315).

[3] That in the supreme sense “the Word” denotes the Lord as to Divine truth, or what is the same, that “the Word” denotes the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, is evident from many passages, as in David:

They cried unto Jehovah, and He sent His Word, and healed them (Psalms 107:19-20).

Ye have not the Word of the Father abiding in you, because whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not, and ye will not come to Me, that ye may have life (John 5:38, 40).

I have given them Thy word, therefore the world hateth them, sanctify them in Thy truth; Thy word is truth (John 17:14, 17).

He that sat on the white horse was clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And He had upon His garment and upon His thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:13, 16).

From these and other passages it is evident that the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord is “the Word,” and in the supreme sense the Lord as to Divine truth, for it is said that “the name of Him who sat on the white horse is the Word of God,” and that “He is King of kings and Lord of lords;” and as “the Word” denotes Divine truth, it is said that “He was clothed in a garment dipped in blood,” for by “garment” is signified truth (n. 9952), and by “blood” truth from good. (See this more fully explained in n. 2760-2762.)

[4] Hence all truth which is from the Divine is called the “word,” as in Joel:

Jehovah uttered His voice before His army; for His camp is very great, for countless is he that doeth His word (Joel 2:11); where the “voice which Jehovah utters” denotes truth from the Divine (n. 9926); the “camp of Jehovah” denotes heaven (see n. 4236, 8193, 8196). From this it is evident that “countless is he that doeth His word” denotes one who does truth Divine.

In Matthew:

When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and heedeth it not, the evil one cometh and snatcheth away that which was sown in his heart. He that was sown upon stony places, is he that heareth the word and straightway with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root. He that was sown among thorns, is he that heareth the word, but the care of the age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word. He that was sown in good ground, is he that heareth the word and payeth attention, and from this bringeth forth fruit (Matthew 13:19-23).

That “the word” here denotes truth Divine is evident without explication. It is said “the word of the kingdom,” because it is the truth of heaven and the church, for “the kingdom” denotes heaven and the church.

[5] From this it can be seen that “words” denote Divine truths which are from the Lord; as in John:

The words that I speak unto you, are spirit and are life (John 6:63).

Therefore also the commandments of the Decalogue are called the “ten words” (Exodus 34:28). That “the word” denotes a law of order, is because the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord makes order in the heavens, insomuch that it is order there. Hence the laws of heavenly order are Divine truths (n. 1728, 1919, 2258, 2447, 4839, 5703, 7995, 8513, 8700, 8988). The law of order which is signified by “word” in this chapter is the way in which the Lord glorified His Human, that is, made it Divine, for this is the subject here treated of in the internal sense; and from this in the relative sense the regeneration of man is treated of, for the regeneration of man is an image of the glorification of the the Lord, (n. 3138, 3212, 3245, 3246, 3296, 4402, 5688). That this is the law of order in especial, is because the Lord as to the Divine Human is Order in the heavens, and because everyone who is being regenerated is brought into this order; wherefore they who are in this order are in the Lord.

8700. For the word is too heavy for thee. That this signifies that it is not possible because not in conformity with order, is evident from the signification of “a heavy word,” as being that it is not possible. That “a heavy word” here denotes that it is not possible, is evident from what precedes, namely, that “wearing he would wear away, and the people that were with him,” by which is signified that the truth which has been implanted would perish; and also from what follows, namely, “Thou art not able to do it, thou alone;” and afterward, “If thou do this word, thou shalt be able to stand;” by which is meant impossibility unless a change is made.

[2] That it is not possible because not in conformity with order, is because in the other life everything is possible that is in conformity with order. The Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord is what makes order, and is order itself. Consequently as everything that is according to Divine truth is according to order, it is possible; and as everything that is contrary to Divine truth is contrary to order, it is impossible. That this is the case may appear more evident from examples. It is according to order that they who have lived well shall be saved, and that they who have lived ill shall be condemned. Hence it is impossible that they who have lived well should be sent into hell, and that they who have lived ill should be raised into heaven. Consequently it is impossible that they who are in hell can of the Lord’s pure mercy be brought out therefrom into heaven and be saved; for it is the reception of the Lord’s mercy while they lived in the world through which everyone is saved. They who receive it then are in the other life in the Lord’s mercy, for they are then in the capacity of receiving it there. To give it to others, and in general to everyone at pleasure, provided they have faith, and thus believe that they are cleansed from sins, is impossible, because it is contrary to order, that is, contrary to the Divine which is order.

[3] It is according to order that faith and charity be implanted in freedom and not under compulsion, and that the faith and charity which have been implanted in freedom, endure; but not if they have been implanted under compulsion. The reason is that what is done in freedom is insinuated into the affection, and thus into the will of man, and is therefore appropriated; but not what is done under compulsion. Consequently it is impossible for man to be saved unless, seeing that he has been born in evil, he is allowed to do evil, and to desist from evil. When in this freedom he desists from evil of himself, the affection of truth and good is insinuated by the Lord, whereby he has freedom to receive the things which are of faith and charity, for freedom belongs to the affection. From this it is plain that it is impossible to compel man to salvation. If this could be done, all men in the world would be saved.

[4] It is according to order for all in the other life to be associated together according to the life which they have acquired to themselves in the world; the evil with the evil, and the good with the good. Consequently it is not possible for the evil and the good to be together; neither is it possible for those to be in good who are evil, because good and evil are opposites, and the one destroys the other. For this reason also it is plain that it is not possible for those to be saved who are in hell; thus that it is not possible for salvation to be from mercy alone however a man has lived. They who are in hell and are there tormented, impute the torments there to the Divine, saying that the Divine can take away their torment if He will, because He is omnipotent; but that He will not, and that therefore He is the cause of their torment; for he who can and will not, they say, is the cause. But to take away such torments is impossible, because it is contrary to order; for if they were taken away, the evil would rise up against the good, and would subjugate the angels themselves, and destroy heaven. But the Divine wills nothing but good, namely, the happiness of the good, and for the sake of this, the bridling, and at the same time, the amendment, of the wicked. This being the end-the end of the Divine love and of mercy itself-it is not possible that torments should be taken away from him who is in hell. From these examples it can be seen that everything is impossible which is contrary to order, howsoever it may appear as possible to those who do not know the arcana of heaven.