From Swedenborg's Works

 

Scriptural Confirmations #9

  
/ 101  
  

9. 7. The Lord who is a living stone, rejected by men, chosen of God, precious, that ye also as living stones may be built up into a spiritual house, to the unbelieving He is a stone of stumbling (1 Peter 2:4-8).

Acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). He is called the Shepherd and Bishop of souls (1 Peter 2:25).

Jesus Christ, after He went into heaven was on the right hand of God; angels, authorities, and powers being subject unto Him (1 Peter 3:22).

That God may be glorified by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11). God and Jesus our Lord (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:1; James 1:1). The eternal kingdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:11; 3:2).

The knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8; 2:20).

Of the glorification of the Lord seen by the three disciples upon the mount (2 Peter 1:17-18).

  
/ 101  
  

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

Commentary

 

Touch

  

Imagine having your mother touch your cheek. Then imagine having your spouse or someone you love romantically touch your cheek. Then imagine having a baby touch your cheek. Then imagine having someone you hate and fear touch your cheek. They're very different feelings, aren't they? They all involve the same nerve endings, stimulated in basically the same ways, but with emotional content that varies to every point of the compass. This is because the sense of touch communicates and actually conveys emotion, communicates and conveys love (both good and bad) between people. That's why the Lord so often touched people as a way of healing them; through touch he could convey His love, which is life itself, to the people he touched. It's also why the people of Israel were not to touch the Ark of the Covenant -- their base loves would be conveyed to the holiness represented by the Ark.