Arcana Coelestia #2417
2417. Look not back behind thee. That this signifies that he should not look to doctrinal things, is evident from the signification of “looking back behind him,” when the city was behind him and the mountain before him. For by “city” is signified what is doctrinal (n. 402, 2268, 2392); and by “mountain,” love and charity (n. 795, 1430). That this is the signification will be evident in the explication at verse 26, where it is said that his wife “looked back behind him,” and became a pillar of salt. Everyone may know that in this expression, “looking back behind him,” there is some Divine arcanum, and that it lies too deep to be seen. For in looking back behind him there appears to be nothing criminal, and yet it is a matter of importance so great that it is said he should escape for his life, that is, should take thought for his eternal life by not looking back behind Him. But what it is to look to doctrinal things will be seen in what follows; in this place we shall merely state what these doctrinal things are.
[2] Doctrine is twofold: that of love and charity, and that of faith. At first, while it is still a little maid and a virgin, every church of the Lord has no other doctrine, and loves no other, than that of charity; for this belongs to life. But successively the church turns itself away from this doctrine, until it begins to hold it cheap, and at length to reject it; and then it acknowledges no other doctrine than that which is called the doctrine of faith; and when it separates faith from charity, this doctrine conspires with a life of evil.
[3] Such was the case with the Primitive Church, or that of the Gentiles, after the Lord’s coming. In its beginning it had no other doctrine than that of love and charity, for this the Lord Himself taught (see n. 2371 at the end). But after His time, successively, as love and charity began to grow cold, there arose the doctrine of faith, and with it dissensions and heresies, which increased as men came to lay stress on this doctrine.
[4] The like was the case with the Ancient Church that was after the flood, and was extended through so many kingdoms (n. 2385): this church also in its beginning knew no other doctrine than that of charity, because this looked to and affected the life, and by so doing they had regard for their eternal welfare. And yet after some time the doctrine of faith too began to be cultivated with some, and at length to be separated from charity; but those who did this they called “Ham,” because they were in a life of evil (see n. 1062, 1063, 1076).
[5] The Most Ancient Church which was before the flood and which in preeminence to all others was called “Man,” was in the very perception of love to the Lord and of charity toward the neighbor; thus it had the doctrine of love and charity inscribed on itself. But even then there were those who cultivated faith, and when they separated it from charity they were called “Cain;” for by “Cain” is signified such faith, and by “Abel,” whom he killed, charity (see the explication of chapter 4).
[6] This shows that there are two doctrines, the one of charity, and the other of faith, although in themselves the two are one; for the doctrine of charity involves all things of faith. But when the doctrine comes to be from those things alone which are of faith, it is then called twofold, because faith is separated from charity. That these doctrines are separated at the present day may be seen from the fact that it is altogether unknown what charity is, and what the neighbor is. They who are solely in the doctrine of faith are not aware that charity toward the neighbor consists in anything beyond giving of their own to others, and in feeling pity for anybody who may seem to need it, because they call everybody the neighbor without distinction; and yet charity is all good whatever there is in a man: in his affection, and in his zeal, and from these in his life; and the neighbor is all the good in others by which one is affected, consequently those who are in good; and this with every possible distinction.
[7] For example: that man is in charity and mercy who exercises justice and judgment by punishing the evil and rewarding the good. There is charity in punishing the evil, for to this are we impelled by our zeal to amend them, and at the same time to protect the good, lest these suffer injury at the hands of the evil. In this way does a man consult the welfare of one who is in evil, or his enemy, and express his good feeling toward him, as well as to others, and to the common weal itself; and this from charity toward the neighbor. The case is the same with all the other goods of life; for the good of life is never possible unless it comes from charity toward the neighbor, because it looks to this, and involves it.
[8] Seeing then that there is obscurity so great as regards the true nature of charity and of the neighbor, it is clear that the doctrine of charity (the doctrine of faith having assumed the first place) is among the things that are lost; when yet it was this alone that was cultivated in the Ancient Church; and that to such a degree that they reduced into classes all the goods that belonged to charity toward the neighbor, that is, all those who were in good; and this with many distinctions, to which they also gave names, calling them the poor, the miserable, the oppressed, the sick, the naked, the hungry, the thirsty, captives or those in prison, strangers, orphans, and widows; some also they called the lame, the blind, the deaf, the dumb, the maimed; besides many other names. In the Word of the Old Testament the Lord has spoken in accordance with this doctrine, on which account such terms so often occur there; and He himself again spoke in accordance with the same doctrine, as in Matthew 25:35-36, 38-39, 40, 42-45; Luke 14:13, 21 and in many other places. Hence it is that in the internal sense these names have quite a different signification. In order therefore that the doctrine of charity may be restored, it will of the Lord’s Divine mercy be stated in the following pages who those denoted by these names are, and what charity is, and what the neighbor is, both generally and specifically.
Matthew 26
1
It happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that he said to his disciples,
2
"You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."
3
Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
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They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.
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But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people."
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Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
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a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
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But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
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For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
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However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.
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For you always have the poor with you; but you don't always have me.
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For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
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Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her."
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Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,
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and said, "What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?" They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16
From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
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Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
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He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."'"
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The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.
20
Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
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As they were eating, he said, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me."
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They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?"
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He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.
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The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."
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Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it."
26
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
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He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it,
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for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
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But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."
30
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
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Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
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But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
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But Peter answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble."
34
Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
35
Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All of the disciples also said likewise.
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Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."
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He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.
38
Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."
39
He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."
40
He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?
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Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42
Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done."
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He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44
He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
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Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
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Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."
47
While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
48
Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."
49
Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50
Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51
Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.
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Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
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Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
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How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"
55
In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me.
56
But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
57
Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58
But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
59
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
60
and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
61
and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"
62
The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"
63
But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."
64
Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky."
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Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
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What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death!"
67
Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
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saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?"
69
Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"
70
But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."
71
When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."
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Again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man."
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After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known."
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Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed.
75
Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and wept bitterly.
