Bibliorum

 

Jevanðelje po Mateju 16

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1 I pristupiše k Njemu fariseji i sadukeji, i kušajući Ga iskahu da im pokaže znak s neba.

2 A On odgovarajući reče im: Uveče govorite: Biće vedro; jer je nebo crveno.

3 I ujutru: Danas će biti vetar, jer je nebo crveno i mutno. Licemeri! Lice nebesko umete poznavati, a znake vremena ne možete poznati?

4 Rod zli i kurvarski traži znak, i znak neće mu se dati osim znaka Jone proroka. I ostavivši ih otide.

5 I polazeći učenici Njegovi na one strane zaboraviše uzeti hleba.

6 A Isus reče im: Čuvajte se kvasca farisejskog i sadukejskog.

7 A oni mišljahu u sebi govoreći: To je što nismo hleba uzeli.

8 A Isus razumevši reče im: Šta mislite u sebi, maloverni, što hleba niste uzeli?

9 Zar još ne razumete niti pamtite pet hlebova na pet hiljada, i koliko kotarica nakupiste?

10 Ni sedam hlebova na četiri hiljade, i koliko kotarica nakupiste?

11 Kako ne razumete da vam ne rekoh za hlebove da se čuvate kvasca farisejskog i sadukejskog?

12 Tada razumeše da ne reče kvasca hlebnog da se čuvaju, nego nauke farisejske i sadukejske.

13 A kad dođe Isus u okoline Ćesarije Filipove, pitaše učenike svoje govoreći: Ko govore ljudi da je Sin čovečiji?

14 A oni rekoše: Jedni govore da si Jovan krstitelj, drugi da si Ilija, a drugi Jeremija, ili koji od proroka.

15 Reče im Isus: A vi šta mislite ko sam ja?

16 A Simon Petar odgovori i reče: Ti si Hristos, Sin Boga Živoga.

17 I odgovarajući Isus reče mu: Blago tebi, Simone sine Jonin! Jer telo i krv nisu to tebi javili, nego Otac moj koji je na nebesima.

18 A i ja tebi kažem: ti si Petar, i na ovom kamenu sazidaću crkvu svoju, i vrata paklena neće je nadvladati.

19 I daću ti ključeve od carstva nebeskog: i šta svežeš na zemlji biće svezano na nebesima, i šta razrešiš na zemlji biće razrešeno na nebesima.

20 Tada zapreti Isus učenicima svojim da nikom ne kazuju da je On Hristos.

21 Otada poče Isus kazivati učenicima svojim da Njemu valja ići u Jerusalim, i mnogo postradati od starešina i od glavara svešteničkih i književnika, i da će Ga ubiti, i treći dan da će ustati.

22 I uzevši Ga Petar poče Ga odvraćati govoreći: Bože sačuvaj! Neće to biti od tebe.

23 A On obrnuvši se reče Petru: Idi od mene sotono; ti si mi sablazan; jer ne misliš šta je Božje nego ljudsko.

24 Tada Isus reče učenicima svojim: Ako ko hoće za mnom ići, neka se odrekne sebe, i uzme krst svoj i ide za mnom.

25 Jer ko hoće svoju dušu da sačuva, izgubiće je; a ako ko izgubi dušu svoju mene radi, naći će je.

26 Jer kakva je korist čoveku ako sav svet dobije a duši svojoj naudi? Ili kakav će otkup dati čovek za svoju dušu?

27 Jer će doći Sin čovečiji u slavi Oca svog s anđelima svojim, i tada će se vratiti svakome po delima njegovim.

28 Zaista vam kažem: imaju neki među ovima što stoje ovde koji neće okusiti smrt dok ne vide Sina čovečijeg gde ide u carstvu svom.

   

from the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

 

Apocalypse Explained #254

Studere hoc loco

  
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254. As I also have overcome, and sit with My Father in His throne, signifies comparatively as Divine good is united to Divine truth in heaven. This is evident from the signification of "overcoming," as being in reference to the Lord Himself, to unite Divine good to Divine truth. Because this was effected through temptations and victories, it is said, "as I also have overcome." (That the Lord united Divine good to Divine truth through temptations admitted into His Human, and then through continued victories, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 201, 293, 302.) "To sit with My Father in His throne" signifies Divine good united to Divine truth in heaven, because "Father," when said by the Lord, means the Divine good that was in Him from conception, and "Son" the Divine truth, both in heaven, "throne" meaning heaven (See above). This Divine of the Lord in the heavens is called Divine truth, but it is Divine good united to Divine truth. (That this is so, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 13, 133, 139-140.)

[2] There is a comparison made between the men of the church and the Lord Himself, in His saying, "He that overcometh I will give to him to sit with Me in My throne, as I also have overcome and sit with My Father in His throne," because the Lord's life in the world was an example according to which the men of the church are to live, as the Lord Himself teaches in John:

I have given unto you an example that ye also should do as I have done to you. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them (John 13:15, 13:17).

So in other places the Lord compares Himself with others; for example, in John:

Jesus said, Even as the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; abide ye in My love, as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love (John 15:9-10).

In the same:

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. As Thou didst send Me into the world, even so sent I them into the world (John 17:16, 17:18).

In the same:

As the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you (John 20:21).

In the same:

The glory which Thou hast given Me I have given unto them; that they may be one even as We are one, I in them, Thou in Me. Father, those whom Thou hast given Me, I will that where I am they also may be with Me, that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me. I have made known unto them Thy name, and will make it known that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them (John 17:22-24, 17:26).

The Lord spoke of His conjunction with men in the same way as He spoke of His conjunction with the Father, that is, the conjunction of His Human with the Divine that was in Him, for the reason that the Lord is not conjoined with what is man's own [proprio], but with His own that is with man. The Lord removes what is man's own [proprium], and gives of His own, and dwells in that. That this is so is known in the church, as is clear from the customary prayer and exhortation to those who come to the sacrament of the Supper, in which are these words:

If with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy sacrament (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink His blood), then we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us; and we are one with Christ, and Christ with us. (See also John 6:56. But these things may be better understood from what is shown in the work on Heaven and Hell 11-12.) From this it follows that as the Divine of the Lord received by angels and by men makes heaven and the church with them, they are one with the Lord, as He and the Father are one.

[3] That the meaning of these words of the Lord, that "He sitteth with His Father in His throne," may be more clearly seen, it must be known that "God's throne" is heaven (as was shown in the preceding article), and that heaven is heaven from the Divine that proceeds from the Lord, and this Divine is called Divine truth, but is Divine good united to Divine truth (as was said above). The Lord Himself is not in heaven, but is above the heavens, and is seen by those who are in the heavens as a sun. He is seen as a sun because He is Divine love, and Divine love is seen by the angels as solar fire; this is why "sacred fire" in the Word signifies love Divine. From the Lord as a sun light and heat proceed: the light that proceeds, since it is spiritual light, is Divine truth; and the heat, since it is spiritual heat, is Divine good. This, namely, the Divine good, is what is meant by "the Father in the heavens." (That the Lord is the Sun of Heaven, and that the light and heat therefrom are Divine truth united to Divine good, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 116-125, 126-140; and that Heaven is Heaven from the Divine that proceeds from the Lord, n 7-12.) From this what is meant in the Word by "the Father in the heavens" and by "Heavenly Father" can be seen. Thus in Matthew:

Do good to your enemies, that ye may be sons of your Father who is in the heavens (Matthew 5:44, 45).

In the same:

Ye shall be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

In the same:

Ye who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your Father who is in the heavens give good things to them who ask Him (Matthew 7:11).

In the same:

He that doeth the will of the Father who is in the heavens shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 7:21).

In the same:

Every plant which the heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up (Matthew 15:13).

Also in other places (as in Matthew 5:16; 6:1, 6, 8; 12:50; 16:17, 18:14, 19, 35; Mark 11:25, 26; Luke 11:13).

[4] That "Father" means the Divine good can be seen also from this passage in Matthew:

Despise not one of these little ones; for their angels do always behold the face of My Father who is in the heavens (Matthew 18:10);

that "they behold the face of the Father who is in the heavens" signifies that they receive Divine good from the Lord; that they do not see His face is evident from the Lord's words in John:

That no one hath ever seen the Father (John 1:18; 5:37; 6:46).

The same can be seen from this passage in Matthew:

Call no man your Father on the earth, for one is your Father who is in the heavens (Matthew 23:9).

It is plain that no one is forbidden to call his father on the earth "father," nor is this here forbidden by the Lord; but this was said because "Father" means the Divine good, and:

No one is good except the one God (Matthew 19:17).

(The Lord spoke thus because "Father" in the Word of both Testaments means in the spiritual sense good, see Arcana Coelestia 3703[1-23], 5902, 6050, 7833, 7834; and also heaven and the church in respect to good, n. 2691, 2717, 3703, 5581, 8897; and "Father," when said by the Lord, means the Divine good of His Divine love, n. 2803, 3704, 7499, 8328, 8897)

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

Bibliorum

 

John 6

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1 After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias.

2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.

3 Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples.

4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?"

6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive a little."

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,

9 "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?"

10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired.

12 When they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost."

13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.

14 When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, "This is truly the prophet who comes into the world."

15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,

17 and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

18 The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing.

19 When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.

20 But he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid."

21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

22 On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn't entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone.

23 However boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

26 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him."

28 They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?"

29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

30 They said therefore to him, "What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do?

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.'"

32 Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn't Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven.

33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."

34 They said therefore to him, "Lord, always give us this bread."

35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

36 But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don't believe.

37 All those who the Father gives me will come to me. Him who comes to me I will in no way throw out.

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

39 This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.

40 This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

41 The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down out of heaven."

42 They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, 'I have come down out of heaven?'"

43 Therefore Jesus answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves.

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to me.

46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.

47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.

48 I am the bread of life.

49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

53 Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves.

54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me.

58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven--not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."

59 He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?"

61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?

62 Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

64 But there are some of you who don't believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray him.

65 He said, "For this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father."

66 At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?"

68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

70 Jesus answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"

71 Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.