46. Who also am your brother, signifies and respecting the good of love to Him. This is evident from the signification of "brother," as being the good of love. "Brother" signifies the good of love, because in heaven there are no other than spiritual relationships, thus no other brotherhoods; for those there do not become brothers by birth; moreover, those who were brothers in the world do not recognize each other there, but each regards the other from the good of love; those most closely conjoined regarding each other as brothers; and others, according to their conjunction by good, regarding each other as kinsmen and as friends. This is why in the Word "brother" signifies the good of love. This, moreover, the Lord teaches where it is said:
One said unto Jesus, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without seeking to speak with Thee: but He answered and said, Who is My mother, and who are My brethren? (Matthew 12:47-50).
My mother and My brethren are they who bear the Word of God and do it (Luke 8:19-21).
And in another place:
One is your Teacher, Christ, and all ye are brethren (Matthew 23:8).
From this it is evident what it is to be a "brother in the Lord." (But see what has been shown before respecting this; as that all are consociated in heaven according to spiritual kinships, which are the kinships of the good of love and faith, and that such recognize each other as kindred, in the work on Heaven and Hell 205; and in the Arcana Coelestia 685, 917, 2739, 3612, 3815, 4121; consequently by "brethren" in the Word are meant those who are conjoined by good, n. 2360, 3303, 3803, 3815, 4121, 4191, 4267, 5409, 6756, 10490; that the Lord calls those "brethren" who are in the good of love and of faith from Him, n. 4191, 5686, 5692, 6756; that they are called "brethren" also from spiritual kinship, n. 6756; that charity and faith, thus good and truth, are brethren, in what respect, n. Arcana Coelestia 367, 3160, 9806; that good and truth are also brother and sister, in what respect, n. 2508, 2524, 3160; that good and truth are also married partners, in what respect, n. 3160; that "man with brother" means truth with good, n. 3459, 4725)
