Arcana Coelestia # 4189
4189. And now come, let us make a covenant, I and thou, and let it be for a witness between me and thee. That this signifies the conjunction of the Divine natural with the goods of works, in which are they who are aside, or the Gentiles, is evident from the signification of a “covenant,” as being conjunction (see n. 665, 666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021); from the representation here of Laban, who is “I,” as being the goods of works, as shown in what follows; and from the representation of Jacob, who here is “thou,” as being the Divine natural.
[2] That by “Laban” are here signified the goods of works in which are those who are aside, or the Gentiles, is for the reason that as Laban is now separated from Jacob (that is, mediate good from the good Divine of the natural), he can no longer represent mediate good; but as he had served for a means, he therefore represents some good, and indeed good that is aside, or collateral good. Before Laban had been thus conjoined with Jacob, he represented collateral good (see n. 3612, 3665, 3778), and accordingly good that is aside, the nature of which will be stated in what follows. It is similar with Laban as with Lot and Ishmael. So long as Lot was with Abraham, he represented the Lord as to the external sensuous man (n. 1428, 1434, 1547, 1597, 1598, 1698); but when he had been separated from Abraham, he represented those who are in external worship, but yet in charity (n. 2317, 2324, 2371, 2399), and also several states of the church successively (n. 2422, 2459).
[3] It was so with Ishmael: so long as he was with Abraham, he represented the Lord’s first rational (n. 1893, 1949-1951); but when he was afterwards separated, he represented those who are called the spiritual (n. 2078, 2691, 2699, 3263, 3268). Such also is the case with Laban. The reason is, that although a separation has been made, conjunction still remains, but not that which existed before. It is for this reason that Laban here and in what now follows represents the goods of works, such as are with those who are aside, that is, with the Gentiles. The Gentiles are said to be aside, or in collateral good, because they are outside of the church. Those within the church who are in truth and good are not in a collateral line, but in the direct line, for they have the Word, and through the Word they have direct communication with heaven, and through heaven with the Lord; but not so the Gentiles, for these have not the Word, and know not the Lord. For this reason they are said to be aside. Those Gentiles are meant who are in the goods of works, that is, who are in externals within which there is the good of charity. These are what are called the “goods of works,” but not “good works;” for good works may exist without having goods within, but not so the goods of works.
Matthew 7
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"Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.
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For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
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Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?
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Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
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You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.
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"Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
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"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
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For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
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Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
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Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
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If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
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Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
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"Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who Enter in by it.
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How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.
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"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
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By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
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Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
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A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
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Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.
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Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
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Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.
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Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?'
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Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'
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"Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.
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The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock.
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Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.
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The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
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It happened, when Jesus had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,
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for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
