The Bible

 

Luke 7:1-10 : Faith of the Roman Centurion

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1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

True Christian Religion #676

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676. There were many among the Children of Israel, and there are many among the Jews at the present time, who believe that they are specially chosen, because they are circumcised. There are also many Christians who think the same because they are baptised. Yet both these rites, circumcision and baptism, were only given as a sign and memorial that they should be purified from evils, and so become the chosen people. What in the case of a person is the external without the internal, except like a church building without services, a useless structure unless it can serve as a stable? Or again, what is the external without the internal but like a field of nothing but reeds and stalks without a crop of grain? Or like a vineyard with nothing but branches and leaves without any grapes? Or like a fig tree with no fruit, such as the Lord cursed (Matthew 21:19)? Or like lamps in the hands of the foolish virgins with no oil (Matthew 25:3)? Or rather like living in a mausoleum, where there are corpses underfoot, bones around the walls and midnight apparitions flying beneath the roof? Or like a chariot pulled by leopards, with a wolf in it as charioteer, and a fool as passenger? The external man is not a man, but only the figure of a man; for it is the internal, the power to be wise which comes from God, which makes the man. It is much the same with the circumcised and the baptised, unless each circumcises or washes his heart.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.