Arcana Coelestia # 10603
10603. 'Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones' means the kind of outward form that the Word, the Church, and worship take on account of that nation. This is clear from the meaning of 'tablets of stone' as the outward form that the Word takes, dealt with in 10453, 10461 (the outward form the Word takes is its literal sense), the reason why the outward form that the Church and worship take is also meant being that the Church owes its existence to the Word, as worship does too (for all the truth of faith and all the good of love which constitute the Church, and worship as well, must come from the Word; and since the Word possesses an outward form and an inner substance, so too do the Church and worship); from the meaning of 'hewing them', when done by Moses, as making the outward form such as it is on account of that nation, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'like the first ones' as in imitation of them, for the first were made by Jehovah but these by Moses.
[2] Moses' breaking of the ones that had been made by Jehovah, when he saw that nation worshipping the golden calf in place of Jehovah 1 , was providential, because it was impossible for the outward form of the Word, meant by 'the two tablets of stone', to be properly written among that nation, which at heart was wholly idolatrous. This is why the first tablets were broken and Moses was then told to hew others in imitation of the first. They are said to be in imitation of them because the inward sense remained the same, only the outward sense was changed. The inward sense is meant when it says that Jehovah wrote on these tablets the same words as were on the previous ones.
[3] To make this matter easier to understand let the ways in which the outward or literal sense was changed on account of that nation be demonstrated here. On account of this nation altars, burnt offerings, sacrifices, minchahs, and drink offerings were commanded, and therefore are referred to in both the historical sections and the prophetical parts of the Word as the holiest things of worship. But they were in fact no more than concessions made to that nation, for they began with Eber and had been completely unknown in the representative Ancient Church, see 1128, 2180, 2818.
[4] It was also on account of this nation that Divine worship was performed solely in Jerusalem, and that therefore this city was considered to be holy, and was also called holy, in both the historical sections and the prophetical parts of the Word. The reason for this was that at heart this nation was idolatrous, and therefore unless they had all come together in that city at every particular feast each would have worshipped in his own place some gentile god, or a carved or molded image.
It was on account of this nation too that performing holy worship on mountains and in groves, as the ancients had done, was forbidden. This was so that they would not set up idols there or worship the actual trees.
[5] It was likewise on account of this nation that a man was permitted to marry a number of wives, which had been completely unknown in ancient times, and also to put his wives away on various grounds. Consequently laws were laid down regarding such marriages and divorces which would not otherwise have found their way into the outward sense of the Word, which is why in Matthew 19:8 the Lord declares these laws in the outward sense to be Moses' and a concession because of the hardness of their hearts.
It is on account of this nation that Jacob and also the twelve sons of Israel are referred to so many times as the only chosen ones and heirs, for example in Revelation 7:4-8, and in other places, in spite of what they were really like, as described in the Song of Moses, Deuteronomy 32:15-43, and also in places throughout the Prophets, and by the Lord Himself; not to mention other things responsible for the outward form the Word takes on account of that nation.
[6] This particular outward form is what is meant by the two tablets hewn by Moses. The fact that this outward form or sense nevertheless holds the inward Divine sense unchanged within it is meant when it says that Jehovah wrote on these tablets the same words as were on the first ones.
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. In this instance Swedenborg does not use a capital letter for the Divine name in this particular expression; i.e. he writes jehovah, not Jehovah.
Matthew 19
1
It happened when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2
Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3
Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
4
He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
5
and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'
6
So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."
7
They asked him, "Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?"
8
He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
9
I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."
10
His disciples said to him, "If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry."
11
But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
12
For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it."
13
Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
14
But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these."
15
He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
16
Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
17
He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
18
He said to him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder.' 'You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not steal.' 'You shall not offer false testimony.'
19
'Honor your father and mother.' And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20
The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?"
21
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
22
But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23
Jesus said to his disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
25
When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
26
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
27
Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"
28
Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29
Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
30
But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.
