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.
Matthew 11
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It happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
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Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
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and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?"
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Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
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the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
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Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me."
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As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
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But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
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But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
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For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
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Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
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From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
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For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
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If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
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He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions
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and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'
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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
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The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."
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Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent.
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"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
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But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
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You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.
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But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you."
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At that time, Jesus answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
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Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.
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All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
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"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
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Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
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For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
