Doctrine of the Lord # 9
9. In a broader sense the Law means everything written by Moses in his five books. This is apparent from the following verses:
In Luke:
Abraham said to (the rich man in hell), “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.... If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded even if one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:29, 31)
In John:
Philip...said to (Nathanael), “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets, wrote....” (John 1:45)
In Matthew:
Do not think that I came to undo the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to undo but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17-18)
Again in Matthew:
...all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. (Matthew 11:13)
In Luke:
The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is preached.... (Luke 16:16)
In Matthew:
...whatever you wish men to do to you, do also to them...this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Again in Matthew:
Jesus said..., “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and...you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37, 39-40)
In these places Moses and the Prophets, or the Law and the Prophets, mean everything written in the books of Moses and in the books of the Prophets.
[2] That the Law in particular means everything written by Moses is still more apparent from the following verses:
In Luke:
When the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought (Jesus) to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, that every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” ...And...the parents brought...Jesus (into the Temple), to do for Him according to the custom of the Law.... When they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord.... (Luke 2:22-24, 27, 39)
In John:
In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such.... (John 8:5)
Again in John:
...the Law was given through Moses.... (John 1:17)
It is apparent from this that when reference is made to statements made in the books of Moses, those books are called sometimes the Law and sometimes Moses. This is apparent also in Matthew 8:4; Mark 10:2-4, 12:19; Luke 20:28, 37; John 3:14, 7:19, 51, 8:17, 19:7.
[3] There are also many other things commanded by Moses that he calls the Law. So, for example, laws regarding burnt offerings (Leviticus 6:9, 7:37). Regarding other sacrifices (Leviticus 6:25, 7:1-11). Regarding the grain offering (Leviticus 6:14). Regarding leprosy (Leviticus 14:2). Regarding jealousy (Numbers 5:29-30). Regarding the Nazirite (Numbers 6:13, 21).
Moreover, Moses himself calls his books the Law:
Moses wrote this Law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.... (And he said to them,) “Take this book of the Law, and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah....” (Deuteronomy 31:9, 11, 26)
It was placed beside the Ark, because the Ark had in it the stone tablets which, in a strict sense, are the Law.
The books of Moses were later called the book of the Law:
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the Law in the house of Jehovah.” ...when the king heard the words of the book of the Law, he tore his clothes. (2 Kings 22:8, 11, 23:24)
Published by the General Church of the New Jerusalem, 1100 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 19009, U.S.A. A translation of Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Domino, by Emanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772. Translated from the Original Latin by N. Bruce Rogers. ISBN 9780945003687, Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954074.
Matthew 6
1
"Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2
Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3
But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
4
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5
"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7
In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
8
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
9
Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10
Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11
Give us today our daily bread.
12
Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
13
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.'
14
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15
But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16
"Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
17
But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
18
so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
19
"Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal;
21
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
23
But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.
25
Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26
See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?
27
"Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
28
Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin,
29
yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
30
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31
"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'
32
For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33
But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
34
Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.
