4170. And the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That this signifies the truth of good, in that He had taken nothing of his, is evident from the signification of “rams,” as being the truths of good; for “sheep” signify goods, and hence “rams,” because they belong to the sheep, signify the truths of good; and from the signification of “eating,” as being to appropriate (see n. 3168, 3513, 3596, 3832), and thus to take; for that which is appropriated from another is taken from him.

3832. And made a feast. That this signifies initiation, is evident from the signification of a “feast,” as being appropriation and conjunction (see n. 3596); in the present case initiation, because initiation precedes conjunction, and likewise pledges and attests it. The feasts made in old times among those who were in significatives and representatives, signified nothing else than initiation into the mutual love which is of charity. The nuptial feasts also signified initiation into conjugial love; and the holy feasts, initiation into spiritual and celestial love; and this because feasting, or eating and drinking, signified appropriation and conjunction (as shown above, n. 3734). Because of this signification the Lord also said with the same meaning:

Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 8:11).

And in another place, to His disciples:

That ye may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom (Luke 22:30).

And when He instituted the Holy Supper, He said:

I say unto you, that I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29).

Everyone may see that by “sitting down, eating and drinking in the Lord’s kingdom,” is not signified sitting down, eating, and drinking; but something which exists in that kingdom, and is the appropriation of the good of love and the truth of faith; thus it signifies that which is called spiritual and celestial food. It is also manifest from the above words that there is an internal sense in all that the Lord spoke, and that without understanding this it cannot be known what it is to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to eat and drink in the Lord’s kingdom at His table, and to drink with them of the fruit of that vine in the kingdom of His Father; nay, neither can it be known what is meant by eating bread and drinking wine in the Holy Supper.