Arcana Coelestia # 9857
9857. 'And you shall make a breastplate of judgement' means that which has regard to Divine Truth shining forth from Divine Good. This is clear from the meaning of 'a breastplate' as Divine Truth shining forth from the Lord's Divine Good within last and lowest things, dealt with in 9823. It is called 'a breastplate of judgement' because it gave answers, and through these Divine Truth was revealed; furthermore Divine Truth, and therefore doctrinal teachings and a life in accord with them, is meant in the Word by 'judgement'. This then is why this breastplate is referred to as 'the breastplate of judgement', and also further on in this chapter as 'the judgement', in verse 30 - 'Aaron shall carry the judgement of the children of Israel over his heart before Jehovah continually'. And when Joshua was chosen to be leader of the people, it says that he was to stand before Eleazar the priest, who would inquire for him by the judgement of the Urim before Jehovah, Numbers 27:21.
[2] 'Judgement' means Divine Truth and intelligence springing from It, as a consequence of which it means religious teachings and a life in accord with them. This is clear from a large number of places in the Word, such as the following: In Isaiah,
The vineyard of Jehovah Zebaoth is the house of Israel. He looked for judgement, but behold, festering; for righteousness, but behold, a cry. Isaiah 5:7.
'Looking for judgement' means intelligence springing from Divine Truth, and a life in accord with the commandments. In the same prophet,
On the throne there sat in truthfulness, in the tabernacle of David, one who judges and seeks judgement. Isaiah 16:5.
This refers to the Lord's Coming. 'The throne' on which He is going to sit means Divine Truth that emanates from Him, and consequently means the spiritual kingdom, see 2129, 5313, 6397, 8625, 9039. 'Judging judgement' means teaching Divine Truth, and 'seeking judgement' people's acceptance of it.
[3] In the same prophet,
On that day Jehovah will be a tiara of beauty for the remnant of His people, and a spirit of judgement to him who sits in judgement. Isaiah 28:5-6.
'A tiara of beauty', when these words have reference to Jehovah, that is, the Lord, means Divine Intelligence, see above in 9827; and 'a spirit of judgement' means wisdom that springs from Divine Truth, 9818. 'To him who sits in judgement' means one who informs people about or teaches Divine Truth. In the same prophet,
Jehovah has filled Zion with judgement and righteousness. Isaiah 33:5.
'Zion' stands for the celestial Church, 'being filled with judgement' for intelligence that springs from Divine Truth, and 'being filled with righteousness' for wisdom that comes from Divine Good.
[4] In the same prophet,
Who has directed the Spirit of Jehovah? With whom did He deliberate, that He might make Him intelligent, and instruct Him in the way of judgement, and teach Him knowledge, and show Him the way of intelligence? Isaiah 40:13-14.
'The Spirit of Jehovah' means Divine Truth, 9818. 'Instructing Him in the way of judgement' self-evidently means making him knowledgeable, intelligent, and wise. In Jeremiah,
The stork in the sky knows her appointed times, but Jehovah's people do not know the judgement of Jehovah. How can you say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? Jeremiah 8:7-8.
'Not knowing the judgement of Jehovah' stands for ignorance of Divine Truth, the source of wisdom; and this is why it says, 'How can you say, We are wise?'
[5] In the same prophet,
Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness, and his upper rooms without judgement! Jeremiah 22:13.
'Building upper rooms without judgement' stands for absorbing ideas that are not true. In Hosea,
I will betroth you to Me forever in righteousness and in judgement, and I will betroth you to Me in truth. Hosea 2:19-20.
'Betrothing in judgement' stands for joining by means of Divine Truth, thus by means of faith and the life of faith. In Amos,
Let judgement flow like water, and righteousness like a mighty torrent. Amos 5:24.
In the same prophet,
You have turned judgement into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood. Amos 6:12.
Here also 'judgement' stands for intelligence that springs from Divine Truth, and for a life based on this.
[6] In Zephaniah,
Jehovah in the morning will bring His judgement to light. Zephaniah 3:5.
'Bringing judgement to light' stands for revealing Divine Truth. In Moses,
All the ways of Jehovah are judgement. Deuteronomy 32:4.
In David,
O Jehovah, Your truth reaches up to the skies, Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, Your judgements [like] the great abyss. Psalms 36:5-6.
In the same author,
Jehovah will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noonday. Psalms 37:6.
In the same author,
Hear my voice according to Your mercy; O Jehovah, revive me according to Your judgements. Psalms 119:149.
In these places 'judgement' and 'judgements' stand for Divine Truth.
[7] In Luke,
Woe to you Pharisees! You pass by the judgement and the love of God. These you ought to have done. Luke 11:42.
'Passing by the judgement of God' stands for shunning Divine Truth, and 'passing by the love of God' for shunning Divine Good and a life inspired by them both. The fact that this life is also meant accounts for their being told, These you ought to have done. In Isaiah,
Jehovah Zebaoth will be exalted in judgement, and God will be made holy in righteousness. Isaiah 5:16.
In the same author,
... upon the throne of David to establish the kingdom in judgement and in righteousness, from now and even for evermore. Isaiah 9:7.
In the same author,
Give counsel, execute judgement, set your shade like the night in the middle of the day. Isaiah 16:3.
'Executing judgement' stands for acting in accordance with God's truth.
[8] In Jeremiah,
I will raise up for David a righteous branch, who will execute judgement and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15.
In Ezekiel,
If a man has been righteous, one who has executed judgement and righteousness ... [if he] walks in My statutes, and keeps My judgements, to execute truth, he is righteous; he will surely live. Ezekiel 18:5, 9.
In Zephaniah,
Seek Jehovah, O all the meek of the earth, who have executed His judgement. Zephaniah 2:3.
'Executing God's judgement' stands for carrying out Divine Truth or acting in accord with it. In Isaiah,
I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth judgement to the nations. He will not quench nor will He break until He has set judgement on the earth. Isaiah 42:1, 4.
This refers to the Lord. 'Bringing forth judgement to the nations' and 'setting judgement on the earth' stand for teaching Divine Truth and establishing it in the Church.
[9] In the same prophet,
Law will go out from Me, and I will raise up My judgement to be the light of peoples. Isaiah 51:4.
'Judgement' stands for Divine Truth, 'to be the light of peoples' for to bring enlightenment. In John,
For judgement I came 1 into this world, that those who do not see may see, but those who see may become blind. John 9:39.
'Coming into the world for judgement' stands for coming to reveal Divine Truth, which gives people vision if the Lord is the source of their wisdom, but makes them blind if they themselves are the source of it and on account of this are reputed to be learned.
[10] In Jeremiah,
Swear by the living Jehovah, in truth, in judgement, and in righteousness. Jeremiah 4:2.
In the same prophet,
There is none judging judgement for healthiness; you have no restorative medicaments. Jeremiah 30:13.
In David,
Righteousness and judgement are the support of Your throne; mercy and truth will stand firm before Your face. Psalms 89:14.
'Righteousness' stands for the good that belongs to mercy, and 'judgement' for the truth that belongs to faith, which is why the expression 'mercy and truth' is also used. In Ezekiel,
Jerusalem has changed My judgements into wickedness more than the nations, and My statutes more than the lands. Therefore I will execute in you [My] judgements in the eyes of the nations, and I will scatter all your remnant. Ezekiel 5:6-8, 10, 15.
'Changing judgements' stands for altering truths as they exist in the civic state, these truths being meant by 'judgements' when 'statutes' are also mentioned, see 8972. But 'executing judgements' means passing judgement that points to death, which is damnation, or to life, which is salvation. Salvation or damnation is also meant by 'judgement' when the expression 'day of judgement' or 'hour of judgement' is used, for example in Matthew 11:22, 24; 12:36, 41-42; Luke 10:14; 11:31-32; John 5:28-29; Revelation 14:7; 18:10. The same thing is also meant by 'judgement' when judgement-making is referred to, for example in Matthew 5:21-22; 7:1-2; 23:14, 33; John 5:24, 26-27; 7:24; 8:15-16; 12:31, 47-48; Luke 6:37; 12:13-14, 56-57; 19:21-22; 20:47; 22:30; Mark 12:40; Isaiah 3:14; 41:1; Jeremiah 25:31; 48:21; Joel 3:12; Psalms 7:7-8; 9:4, 7-8; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; 25:1; Revelation 17:1; 18:10; 20:12-13.
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. The Latin means I come but the Greek means I came, which Swedenborg Has in other places where he quotes this verse.
John 5
1
After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2
Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, "Bethesda," having five porches.
3
In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;
4
for an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.
5
A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years.
6
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be made well?"
7
The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me."
8
Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your mat, and walk."
9
Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.
10
So the Jews said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat."
11
He answered them, "He who made me well, the same said to me, 'Take up your mat, and walk.'"
12
Then they asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your mat, and walk'?"
13
But he who was healed didn't know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.
14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you."
15
The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16
For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
17
But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, so I am working, too."
18
For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19
Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
20
For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
22
For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23
that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him.
24
"Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25
Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live.
26
For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
27
He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.
28
Don't marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice,
29
and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
30
I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
31
"If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.
32
It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.
33
You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34
But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.
35
He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36
But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
37
The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
38
You don't have his word living in you; because you don't believe him whom he sent.
39
"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
40
Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.
41
I don't receive glory from men.
42
But I know you, that you don't have God's love in yourselves.
43
I have come in my Father's name, and you don't receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44
How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don't seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45
"Don't think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
46
For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.
47
But if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
