Explaining the Inner Meaning of Mark 1

Verses 3, 4. That the Jewish Church was in a state of vastation at that time, so that there remained in it no longer any good or any truth, and in this state was instructed from the Word to shun all evils as sins against God, and to believe in the Lord's Divine Human principle, since otherwise the evil of sin can never be removed.

Verse 5. That this instruction was received by the humble and the penitent, who were thus admitted into the Church, being made sensible that of themselves they are nothing but evil.

Verse 6. The ultimates of the Word, which are natural, are figuratively described.

Verses 7, 8. Which ultimates testify that they can only effect external purification, whereas the Word itself, by and through its internal sense, is effective of internal purification, which is regeneration, by Divine Truth and Good.

Verse 9. That the LORD as to His Human essence, submits to be initiated into the external truths of the Word, because He thus became the Word in its ultimates, as He was the Word in its first principles, and because also He glorified His Humanity, or made it Divine, as He regenerates man, and makes him spiritual.

Verses 10, 11. Yet ascending rapidly out of external truths. He enters into the interior truths and goods of the Word, even to the Divine Truth and Good in Himself.

Verses 12, 13. And is thus admitted, as to His Humanity, into temptations, which are nothing else but the assaults of infernal spirits, seeking to destroy what is true by what is false, and what is good by what is evil.

Verse 13, latter part. But these assaults are succeeded by victory, attended with divine peace and consolation.

Verses 14, 15. Whence a greater measure of Divine power was communicated to the LORD'S Humanity to announce the descent and nearness of Divine Truth and Good, calling man to forsake all evil as sin against God, and to believe in the manifestation of GOD in the flesh.

Verses 16-20. Which annunciation was first received by those who were in the investigation of scientific and rational truth, and who were thus led to the pursuit and acquirement of spiritual and celestial truth.

Verses 18-20. Renouncing the cravings of self-love, and adoring the LORD as the Divine source of all that is good and wise and blessed.

Verses 21, 22. Who teaches Truth from the Divine Good of the Divine Love, in which all Truth originates, and not from any end of worldly reputation and gain.

Verses 23-27. And who by that truth cleanses man from his natural evils, and thus casteth out the infernal spirits who are in connection with those evils, and who yet are principled in heavenly knowledge, but not in the life of such knowledge.

Verses 27, 28. So that inquiry is hence excited respecting the LORD'S Humanity, which thus proves its Divinity by the subjugation of the powers of darkness, and by the brightness of the Divine Truth which it teaches.

Verses 29-32. And also by its omnipotence in delivering the affection of truth in the Church from the infestation of the love of evil.

Verses 32-35. And in likewise liberating those who were infested with evil and false persuasions, and who, in consequence of such liberation, became receptive of Truth and Good.

Verses 35-40. But the Humanity of the LORD can of itself do nothing but through union with its Divinity, and therefore it is occasionally let into temptation, that by the labour of combat it may attain a fuller union, and thus a greater measure of power to impart instruction, and to deliver mankind from infernal influence.

Verses 40-43. And especially to check the profanation of truth in all those who, through prayer and humiliation, and the acknowledgement of the LORD'S DIVINITY, sought to be cleansed from their sins.

Verses 43, 44. To whom instruction is given, that truth, when rescued from profanation, ought to open itself to the reception of the heavenly good of love and charity, by acknowledging that it thence derives its life and quality.

Verse 45. In which case truth acquires a greater power of making itself known, yet not in connection with its Divine Good, which is still in a state of persecution.

10683. 'For in accordance with these words I make a covenant with you and with Israel' means being joined through these truths to those whose worship is outward and inward. This is clear from the meaning of 'in accordance with these words' as through these leading truths that were to be adhered to, dealt with above in 10682; from the meaning of 'making a covenant' as being joined together, dealt with in 665, 666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021, 6804, 8767, 8778; from the representation of 'Moses', with whom and with Israel, it is said, a covenant is being made, as the outward form taken by the Word, the Church, and worship, that has what is inward in it, dealt with in 10563, 10571, 10607, 10614; and from the meaning of 'Israel' as the inward aspect of the Church and worship, dealt with in 4286, 4292, 4570, 6426. This explains why the covenant is said to be made with Moses and with Israel. It does not say 'with the children of Israel' because in the present chapter and the previous chapter 'the children of Israel' is used to mean those who are interested in the outward aspect of the Church, worship, and the Word without the inward, see 10454-10457, 10461, 10498, 10549-10551, 10570, 10575, 10629.

[2] A brief statement must be made here of what the inward aspect of the Word, the Church, and worship is; what the outward aspect of these that has the inward within it is; and what the outward aspect devoid of the inward is. The inward aspect of the Word, the Church, and worship is what people adhere to if they love to do the truth for its own sake because of an inward and thus spiritual affection. The outward aspect of these that has the inward within it is what people adhere to if they love truth for its own sake because of an outward and thus natural affection. These are external members of the Church, whereas the former are internal; for in every Church there are internal members and external ones. But people's worship is outward devoid of what is inward if they do not love truth for its own sake but for the sake of gain in the world, thus do not love to do truths except for their own benefit or to be seen by others. These people are not within but outside the Church.

[3] When people who love to do the truth for its own sake because of an inward or spiritual affection hear truths, they rejoice and think about the way to live in accord with them. But when those who love truth for its own sake because of an outward or natural affection hear the truth, they too rejoice but do not think about the way to live in accord with them, though without their awareness an influence from an inner source moves them to lead such a life. Those however who love truth for the sake of gain in the world do not think about the way to live; nor do they receive any influence from an inner source. They do no more than commit truths to memory, to the end that they can talk about them.

[4] Those who love to do truth for its own sake love the Lord; for truth comes from the Lord, and the Lord causes it to become good through the willing and doing of it, thus causes it to become part of a person's life. For truth does not become part of a person's life until it passes into his will. Its presence in his will can be known about from and detected in the fact that he does it, and still more in the fact that he loves to do it; for to the extent that a person wills truth he loves it.

[5] Loving truth for its own sake and for the sake of leading a life in accord with it is described by the Lord in the following way in Matthew,

Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me; but he who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in a righteous person's name will receive a righteous person's reward. Indeed whoever gives one of these little ones a cup of water only in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Matthew 10:40-42.

Anyone unacquainted with the internal sense of the Word cannot know what welcoming a prophet in the name of a prophet, a righteous person in a righteous person's name, and the Lord's disciple in the name of a disciple means, nor what the declaration that those who welcome these will receive a reward in keeping with that welcome means. Without the internal sense does anyone know what welcoming another in that person's name means?

[6] But those acquainted with the internal sense pay no attention to the person, only to the reality meant by the person, so that their attention is not focused on a disciple or a prophet but on the realities meant by disciple and prophet. In the internal sense 'disciple' means truth practised in life, but 'prophet' truth upheld by doctrine; and 'in the name of anyone' means on account of his character. From all this it is evident what those words spoken by the Lord mean, namely that those who love truth for its own sake, and those who love to do the truth for its own sake, love the Lord and receive heaven into themselves; for the reward which the Lord imparts is the affection for truth for truth's sake, and the affection for truth for truth's sake holds heaven within it.

[7] By 'disciples' all aspects of love and faith in their entirety are meant, thus in particular those who are led by the Lord, see 3488, 3858(end), 6397.

'Prophet' means truth upheld by doctrine, 2534, 7269.

'Name' means character or essential nature, 144, 145, 1896, 2009, 2724, 6674, 9310.

'Reward' means an affection for truth and good, 3956, 6388.

The idea of a person is converted in the internal sense into that of some reality, 5225, 5287, 5434, 8343, 8985, 9007, 10282.

Doing the truth for its own sake constitutes loving the Lord, 10336.