Doctrine of the Lord #9
9. In a broader sense the Law means everything written by Moses in his five books. This is apparent from the following verses:
In Luke:
Abraham said to (the rich man in hell), “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.... If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded even if one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:29, 31)
In John:
Philip...said to (Nathanael), “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets, wrote....” (John 1:45)
In Matthew:
Do not think that I came to undo the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to undo but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17-18)
Again in Matthew:
...all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. (Matthew 11:13)
In Luke:
The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is preached.... (Luke 16:16)
In Matthew:
...whatever you wish men to do to you, do also to them...this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Again in Matthew:
Jesus said..., “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and...you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37, 39-40)
In these places Moses and the Prophets, or the Law and the Prophets, mean everything written in the books of Moses and in the books of the Prophets.
[2] That the Law in particular means everything written by Moses is still more apparent from the following verses:
In Luke:
When the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought (Jesus) to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, that every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” ...And...the parents brought...Jesus (into the Temple), to do for Him according to the custom of the Law.... When they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord.... (Luke 2:22-24, 27, 39)
In John:
In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such.... (John 8:5)
Again in John:
...the Law was given through Moses.... (John 1:17)
It is apparent from this that when reference is made to statements made in the books of Moses, those books are called sometimes the Law and sometimes Moses. This is apparent also in Matthew 8:4; Mark 10:2-4, 12:19; Luke 20:28, 37; John 3:14, 7:19, 51, 8:17, 19:7.
[3] There are also many other things commanded by Moses that he calls the Law. So, for example, laws regarding burnt offerings (Leviticus 6:9, 7:37). Regarding other sacrifices (Leviticus 6:25, 7:1-11). Regarding the grain offering (Leviticus 6:14). Regarding leprosy (Leviticus 14:2). Regarding jealousy (Numbers 5:29-30). Regarding the Nazirite (Numbers 6:13, 21).
Moreover, Moses himself calls his books the Law:
Moses wrote this Law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.... (And he said to them,) “Take this book of the Law, and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah....” (Deuteronomy 31:9, 11, 26)
It was placed beside the Ark, because the Ark had in it the stone tablets which, in a strict sense, are the Law.
The books of Moses were later called the book of the Law:
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the Law in the house of Jehovah.” ...when the king heard the words of the book of the Law, he tore his clothes. (2 Kings 22:8, 11, 23:24)
Published by the General Church of the New Jerusalem, 1100 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 19009, U.S.A. A translation of Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Domino, by Emanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772. Translated from the Original Latin by N. Bruce Rogers. ISBN 9780945003687, Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954074.
Luke 16
1
He also said to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
2
He called him, and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'
3
"The manager said within himself, 'What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don't have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
4
I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.'
5
Calling each one of his lord's debtors to him, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe to my lord?'
6
He said, 'A hundred batos of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
7
Then he said to another, 'How much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred cors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
8
"His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
9
I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
10
He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
11
If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12
If you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
13
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren't able to serve God and mammon."
14
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.
15
He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16
The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
17
But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.
18
Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
19
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22
It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23
In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24
He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.'
25
"But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
26
Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'
27
"He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;
28
for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment.'
29
"But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
30
"He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
31
"He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"
