Arcana Coelestia #10130
10130. 'Everyone touching the altar will be sanctified' means whoever receives what is Divine and the Lord's. This is clear from the meaning of 'touching' as an imparting, conveying, and being received, dealt with below; from the meaning of 'the altar' as that which is representative of the Lord in respect of the good of love, at this point in heaven and in the Church, dealt with above in 10129; and from the meaning of 'being sanctified' as receiving what is Divine and the Lord's, also dealt with above, in 10128. The reason why 'touching' means an imparting, conveying, and being received is that a person's inner feelings are expressed by outward means, in particular by touch, and are thereby imparted and conveyed to another; and insofar as the will of the other is in tune and at one with his they are received. Whether you say the will or the love, it amounts to the same thing; for whatever a person loves he likewise wills. From this it also follows that the inner feelings a person has as a result of what he loves and therefore thinks are expressed through touch, and by means of it are imparted and conveyed to another. And insofar as the other loves the person expressing those feelings or loves the things which that person says and does, those feelings are received.
[2] This is especially apparent in the next life, for all people's actions there flow from the heart, that is, from their will or love. They are not allowed to act with gestures separate from their will or love, nor to speak with fraudulent lips, that is, separately from the thoughts of the heart. There it is evident how inner feelings are imparted and conveyed to another by touch, and how the other's reception of them is determined by his own love. Everyone's will or love constitutes the entire person there, and the sphere of life from it flows out from him like breath or an exhalation, envelops him, and constitutes an extension of himself, so to speak, around himself, in a way scarcely different from the emission around plants in the world, which is also detected at a distance through their odours, and also that around animals, which is actually detected by a dog with its keen sense of smell. There is a like emission from every human being, as also a wealth of experience makes known. But when a person lays aside the body and becomes a spirit or an angel that emission or exhalation is not material, as it was in the world; instead it is something spiritual flowing from his love. This love produces a sphere around him, which enables other spirits to detect at a distance what he is like. See what has been shown regarding this sphere in the places referred to in 9606.
[3] Since in their world this sphere is imparted and conveyed to another, and is received by him in accordance with his love, very many wonders occur there which are unknown to people in the world, such as,
1. People's presence with one another is always due to the likeness of their loves, and their absence from one another is always due to unlikeness.
2. All are brought into association with one another on the basis of their loves. Those governed by love to the Lord received from the Lord live in association with one another in the inmost heaven; those governed by love towards the neighbour received from the Lord live in association with one another in the middle heaven; and those governed by the obedience of faith, that is, those who do the truth for its own sake, live in association with one another in the lowest heaven. But those ruled by self-love and love of the world, that is, those who do what they do with selfish and worldly ends in view, live in association with one another in hell.
[4] 3. All turn their eyes towards those they love. Those who love the Lord turn their eyes towards the Lord as the Sun; those who love the neighbour with love received from the Lord turn their eyes towards the Lord as the Moon; and those who do the truth for its own sake act in a similar way. (Regarding the Lord as the Sun and as the Moon, see what has been shown in 1521, 1529-1531, 3636, 3643, 4060, 4321 (end), 5097, 5377, 7078, 7083, 7171, 7173, 8644, 8812.) And what is astonishing, whichever way they face, that is, whichever of the four quarters they turn towards, they still behold the Lord in front of them. The opposite is so with those in hell; the more they are ruled there by self-love and by love of the world, the more they turn from the Lord and have Him behind their back. And again this is so whichever way they face or whichever quarter they turn towards.
[5] 4. When an angel of heaven focuses his attention on others his inner feelings are imparted and conveyed to them, according to the amount and the essential nature of his love; and it is received by them according to the essential nature and the amount of their love. If therefore attention is focused by an angel of heaven on those who are good, it gives rise to gladness and joy; but if it is focused on the evil, it gives rise to pain and torment.
[6] But an imparting, conveying, and being received is also meant by touching with the hand because the whole body's capacity to act is concentrated in the arms and hands, and in the Word interior things are expressed by means of exterior ones. So it is that power is meant by 'the arms', by 'the hands', and especially by 'the right hand', see the places referred to in 10019, and what has been stated in 10023, 10076; and so it is that whatever resides with a person, thus the entire person in his capacity to act, is meant by 'the hands', see the places referred to in 10019. Furthermore all the outward senses of sight, hearing, taste, and smell are connected with touch, being varieties of touch, as is well known in the learned world.
[7] The meaning of 'touching' as an imparting, conveying, and being received is clear from a great number of places in the Word, of which let the following be brought to the fore: In Moses,
You shall anoint the tent of meeting, and the ark of the Testimony, and the table and all its vessels, and the lampstand and its vessels, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering and all its vessels, and the laver and its pedestal. Thus you shall sanctify them, that they may be the holy of holies. Everyone who touches them will be made holy. Exodus 30:26-29.
In the same author,
Everything that touches the remainder of the minchah and the remainder of the flesh from the sacrifices, which are for Aaron and his sons, will be made holy. Leviticus 6:18, 27.
In Daniel,
The angel touched Daniel 1 and raised him onto his knees; and he touched his lips and opened his mouth; and again he touched him and strengthened him. Daniel 10:10, 16, 18.
In Isaiah,
One of the seraphim touched my mouth with the burning coal; he said, Behold, this has touched your lips, therefore your iniquity has departed and your sin is expiated. Isaiah 6:7.
In Jeremiah,
Jehovah put out His hand and touched my mouth, and said, I am putting 2 My words into your mouth. Jeremiah 1:9.
In Matthew,
Jesus, stretching out a hand to the leper, touched him, saying, I am willing; be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3.
In the same gospel,
Jesus saw Peter's mother-in-law sick with a fever, and He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Matthew 8:14-15.
In the same gospel,
Jesus touched the eyes of the blind, and their eyes were opened. Matthew 9:29-30.
In the same gospel,
Jesus touched the eyes of the two blind men, and immediately they received sight. Matthew 20:34.
In Luke,
Jesus touched the servant's 3 ear and healed [him]. Luke 22:51.
In Mark,
They brought the sick to Jesus, that they might just touch the hem of His clothing; and as many as touched [Him] were made well. Mark 6:56; Matthew 14:36.
In Luke,
A woman suffering from a discharge of blood touched the hem of Jesus' garment; and immediately the flow of blood stopped. Jesus said, Who is it who touched Me? Someone touched Me; I perceived that power had gone out from Me. Luke 8:44-48.
In Mark,
They brought young children to Jesus, that He might touch them. And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13, 16.
[8] From these quotations it is evident that 'touching' means an imparting, conveying, and being received.
[9] This is similarly evident in places where uncleannesses are the subject, by which evils and falsities that come from the hells are meant in the internal sense, as in Moses,
Whoever touches the dead body of any person 4 will be unclean for seven days. Whoever touches a dead body, that of a person who has died 5 , and has not expiated himself, defiles Jehovah's dwelling-place; therefore this soul shall be cut off from Israel. Everyone who has touched on the surface of the field one slain with the sword, or one dead, or a human bone, or a sepulchre will be unclean for seven days. Whoever touches the water of separation will be unclean until the evening. Everything that the unclean person has touched will become unclean; and the soul who has touched it will be unclean until the evening. Numbers 19:11, 13, 16, 21-22.
In the same author,
He who touches unclean beasts, unclean creeping things, will be unclean until the evening. Everything onto which [any of them] falls will be unclean; whether it is a wooden vessel, a garment, water, an earthenware vessel, food, drink, an oven, a spring, a cistern, [or] a water-tank, it will be unclean. Leviticus 11:31-36.
The like occurs at Leviticus 5:2-3; 7:21.
In the same book,
[A person] who has a discharge is unclean. A man (vir) who touches that person's bed ..., if he sits on a vessel on which the person has sat ..., whoever touches that person's flesh [or] his garments ..., if someone suffering from a discharge spits on one who is clean ..., a seat 6 on which he rides ..., an earthenware vessel ..., a wooden vessel ..., he will be unclean. Leviticus 15:1-end.
So too one who touches a leper, Leviticus 22:4. In the same book,
If any of the carcass falls onto any sowing seed which is sown, it will be clean. But if water is put onto the seed, and the carcass falls onto it, it will be unclean. Leviticus 11:37-38.
[10] By these uncleannesses are meant various kinds of evils and consequent falsities coming from hell, which have been imparted, conveyed, and received. Each particular uncleanness means some specific evil; for evils are what render a person unclean, because they infect his soul. Also the evils in their hearts gush out of evil spirits and genii, and - depending on how convincing the false ideas accompanying evil are - they infect those who are present. This contagious influence is what is meant by touching uncleannesses.
[11] In Moses,
Of the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden you shall not eat, nor shall you touch it, or else you will die. Genesis 3:3.
In the same book,
The angel who wrestled with Jacob, seeing that he did not prevail against him, touched the socket of his thigh, and the socket of the thigh was out of joint. Genesis 32:25.
In the same author,
Moses said that they should not touch anything that belonged to Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, lest they be consumed on account of all their sins. Numbers 16:26.
In Isaiah,
Depart, depart. Do not touch the unclean thing. Go out from the midst of her; be purified, bearers of Jehovah's vessels. Isaiah 52:11.
In Jeremiah,
They went astray blind in the streets, they are defiled with blood. Things which have no power they touch with their garments. Depart; he is unclean. They cry out to them, Depart, do not touch [us]. Lamentations 4:14-15.
In Haggai,
Behold, if a man carries 7 holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and his skirt touches bread, or wine, or oil, or any food whatever, still it will not be made holy. If one who is unclean from a dead body 8 touches any of them whatever still he will be unclean. Haggai 2:12-14.
In Hosea,
Perjuring, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they commit robbery, and blood touches blood 9 . Therefore the land will mourn. Hosea 4:2-3.
Note a piè di pagina:
1. Swedenborg adds five words here meaning literally and restored onto his station i.e. stood him on his feet again. They appear in Daniel 8:18 but are echoed in the angel's command to Daniel in Daniel 10:11 to stand up, which comes after the words and raised him onto his knees.
2. literally, I am giving
3. Reading servi (the servant's) for surdi (the deaf man's)
4. literally, the dead, as to every soul of man (homo)
5. literally, Whoever touches the dead, as to the soul of a man (homo) who dies
6. literally, chariot or carriage
7. literally, Behold, a man (vir) will carry
8. literally, from a soul
9. literally, bloods touch bloods i.e. bloodshed comes on top of bloodshed
Mark 6
1
He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.
2
When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?" and, "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands?
3
Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" They were offended at him.
4
Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."
5
He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.
6
He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
7
He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
8
He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,
9
but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.
10
He said to them, "Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
11
Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"
12
They went out and preached that people should repent.
13
They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.
14
King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, "John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
15
But others said, "He is Elijah." Others said, "He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets."
16
But Herod, when he heard this, said, "This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."
17
For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her.
18
For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
19
Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't,
20
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
21
Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
22
When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you."
23
He swore to her, "Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."
24
She went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" She said, "The head of John the Baptizer."
25
She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter."
26
The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn't wish to refuse her.
27
Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28
and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
29
When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
30
The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.
31
He said to them, "You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32
They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
33
They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
34
Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
35
When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, "This place is deserted, and it is late in the day.
36
Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat."
37
But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?"
38
He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go see." When they knew, they said, "Five, and two fish."
39
He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
40
They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
41
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.
42
They all ate, and were filled.
43
They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.
44
Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
45
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.
46
After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
47
When evening had come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48
Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them,
49
but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
50
for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."
51
He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;
52
for they hadn't understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
54
When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,
55
and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where they heard he was.
56
Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch just the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.
