25. Omdat zij het Goddelijke van de Heer meer innerlijk opnemen, overtreffen de engelen in het hemelse koninkrijk van de Heer in hoge mate de wijsheid en heerlijkheid van de engelen die in het geestelijke koninkrijk zijn. Want zij zijn in liefde tot de Heer en zodoende dichterbij en nauwer met Hem verbonden. Deze engelen zijn zo, omdat ze het Goddelijke ware direct in hun leven hebben opgenomen en blijven opnemen, en niet eerst in het geheugen en de gedachten zoals de geestelijke engelen. Zodoende hebben zij het Goddelijke ware in hun harten geschreven en worden zij ze gewaar en zien zij ze als het ware in zichzelf; evenmin beraadslagen ze er bij zichzelf over of ze al dan niet waar zijn. Zij zijn als hen die in Jeremia als volgt worden beschreven: Ik zal mijn wet in hun binnenste leggen en die in hun hart schrijven. Dan zullen zij niet meer een ieder zijn naaste en een ieder zijn broeder leren. Kent de Heer, want zij allen zullen Mij kennen, van de kleinste tot de grootste onder hen (Jeremia 31:33-34). n in Jesaja heten zij: Door Jehova onderwezen (Jesaja 54:13). at de door Jehova onderwezenen diegenen zijn die door de Heer onderwezen werden, leert de Heer Zelf in Johannes 6:45-46.

14. And they that hear the words of the prophecy, signifies that they live according to the doctrine of heaven. This is evident from the signification of "hearing," as being to perceive and obey (See Arcana Coelestia 2542, 3869, 4653, 5017, 7216, 8361, 8990, 9311, 9397, 10061); thus also to live according to that doctrine; for those who perceive and obey the doctrine of heaven live according to it; and from the signification of "the words of the prophecy," as being the truths that pertain to the doctrine of heaven; for "words" are truths (n. 4692, 5075); and "prophecy" is doctrine (n. 2534, 7269); here it is the doctrine of heaven, since it is prophecy belonging to the Word, and the Word is from heaven. To "hear" is to obey and to live, because with celestial angels the things that are heard enter into the life; but as this is a thing unknown, I would like to explain it briefly.

There are two senses given to man which serve as means of receiving the things whereby the rational is formed, and also the things by which man is reformed; these are the sense of sight and the sense of hearing; the other senses are for other uses. The things that enter by the sense of sight enter into man's understanding and enlighten it, for which reason by "sight" is signified the understanding enlightened, for the understanding corresponds to the sight of the eye, as the light of heaven corresponds to the light of the world. The things, however, that enter by the sense of hearing enter both into the understanding and into the will, and for this reason by "the hearing" is signified perception and obedience. Consequently, in human language, to "hear" anyone, and to "give ear to" anyone, also to "listen to," and "hearken to," are common expressions; and by "hearing anyone" is meant to perceive, and by "giving ear to," as also by "listening to" is meant to obey; while "hearkening to" means either perceiving or obeying. These expressions flowed down into human language out of the spiritual world, where man's spirit is. Their origin in the spiritual world shall also be explained.

[2] Those there who are in the province of the ear are obediences from perception. (That all who are in the spiritual world are in some province that is named from the members, organs, or viscera of man, because they correspond thereto, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 87-102.) Moreover, the province of the ear is in the axis of heaven; into it, therefore, or into those who are there, the whole spiritual world flows in, with the perception that "thus must it be done;" for this is the reigning perception in heaven; from this it is that those who are in that province are obediences from perception. That the things that enter by hearing enter immediately through the understanding into the will, may be further illustrated by the way in which angels of the celestial kingdom, who are most wise, are instructed. These angels receive all their wisdom by hearing, and not by sight; for whatsoever they hear about Divine things, they receive in the will from veneration and love, and make it of their life; and because they receive these things not first in the memory, but immediately in the life, they do not speak about matters of faith, but when these are mentioned by others, they answer, "Yea, yea," or "Nay, nay," according to the Lord's words in Matthew 5:37. From this it is evident that hearing is given to man chiefly for the reception of wisdom, and sight for the reception of intelligence. Wisdom is to perceive, to will, and to do; and intelligence is to know and to perceive. (That the celestial angels imbibe wisdom by hearing, not by sight, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 270-271; and more concerning those angels, n. 20-28.)

7216. 'And they did not hear Moses' means that they did not receive it in faith and obedience. This is clear from the meaning of 'hearing' as receiving in faith and obedience. For the meaning of 'hearing' as faith in the will and in actions, and obedience, see 2542, 3869, 4651-4660, 5017.