Arcana Coelestia #2838
2838. As it is said to this day. That this signifies what is perpetual, is evident from the signification of “today” in the Word explained in what follows. We read in several places in the Word, “even to this day,” or “to today;” as in what goes before, “He is the father of Moab even unto this day; and the father of Ammon unto this day” (Genesis 19:37-38); and later in the same book, “The name of the city is Beersheba, even to this day” (Genesis 26:33). Also this, “The sons of Israel eat not the sinew of the part put out of place, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, even to this day” (Genesis 32:32). And also this, “This is the pillar of Rachel’s grave even unto this day” (Genesis 35:20). “Joseph made it a statute even to this day” (Genesis 47:26). In the historical sense these things regard the time when Moses lived; but in the internal sense by “this day” and by “today” there is signified perpetuity and eternity of state. That “day” is state may be seen above (n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893); and thus “today” also, which is time present. That which is of time in the world, is eternal in heaven. That this might be signified, “today” is added, or “to this day,” although it appears to those who are in the historical sense as if it involved nothing further. The like is said elsewhere in the Word (as Josh. 4:9; 6:25; 7:26; Judges 1:21, 1:26; other places).
[2] That “today” signifies perpetuity and eternity may be seen in David:
I will tell of the decree: Jehovah hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee (Psalms 2:7); where “this day” manifestly denotes what is eternal. In the same:
Forever O Jehovah Thy Word is settled in the heavens, Thy truth is unto generation and generation; Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth; they abide this day according to Thy judgments (Psalms 119:89-91); where also “this day” manifestly denotes what is eternal.
In Jeremiah:
Before I formed Thee in the belly, I knew Thee; and before Thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified Thee; I gave Thee for a prophet unto the nations; I have set Thee this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, and I have made Thee this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and walls of brass (Jeremiah 1:5, 10, 18);
here in the sense of the letter Jeremiah is treated of, but in the internal sense the Lord is meant; “I have set Thee this day, or today, over the nations and over the kingdoms, and I have made Thee this day a defensed city” means that it was from eternity. Of the Lord nothing else than what is eternal can be predicated.
[3] In Moses:
Ye are standing this day all of you before Jehovah your God, to enter into the covenant of Jehovah thy God, and into His oath, which Jehovah thy God maketh with thee this day, that He may establish thee this day unto Himself for a people; and He will be a God unto thee; and not with you only, but with them who stand here with us this day before Jehovah our God, and with them who are not with us this day (Deuteronomy 29:10, 12-14).
In the sense of the letter here “this day” is the time present when Moses spoke to the people; but that it nevertheless involves the time to come and what is perpetual, is evident; for to make a covenant with anyone, and with those who were there, and not there, involves perpetuity, and the perpetuity itself is what is meant in the internal sense.
[4] That “daily” and “this day” signify what is perpetual, is also evident from the sacrifice which was made every day. This, on account of the signification of “day,” “daily,” and “this day,” was called the continual or perpetual sacrifice (Numbers 28:3, 23; Deuteronomy 8:13; 11:31; 12:11). This is still more plainly evident from the manna which rained from heaven, of which it is thus said in Moses:
Behold I will rain bread from heaven; and the people shall go out and gather a portion day by day; and let no man leave of it till the morning. What they left till the morning bred worms, and putrefied, except what was kept the day before the Sabbath (Exodus 16:4, 19-20, 23).
This was because the manna signified the Lord’s Divine Human (John 6:31-32, 49-50, 58). And because it signified the Lord’s Divine Human, it signified heavenly food, which is nothing else than love and charity together with the goods and truths of faith. This food is given by the Lord in the heavens to the angels every moment, and thus perpetually and to eternity (see n. 2493). This also is what is meant in the Lord’s Prayer by “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3); that is, every instant to eternity.
John 7
1
After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn't walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2
Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.
3
His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
4
For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world."
5
For even his brothers didn't believe in him.
6
Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
7
The world can't hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.
8
You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled."
9
Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.
10
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
11
The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?"
12
There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so, but he leads the multitude astray."
13
Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14
But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
15
The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?"
16
Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17
If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
18
He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19
Didn't Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?"
20
The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?"
21
Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it.
22
Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
23
If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?
24
Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
25
Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn't this he whom they seek to kill?
26
Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
27
However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from."
28
Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don't know.
29
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
30
They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
31
But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, he won't do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?"
32
The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
33
Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.
34
You will seek me, and won't find me; and where I am, you can't come."
35
The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we won't find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
36
What is this word that he said, 'You will seek me, and won't find me; and where I am, you can't come'?"
37
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
38
He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."
39
But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified.
40
Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet."
41
Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee?
42
Hasn't the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"
43
So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.
44
Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.
45
The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why didn't you bring him?"
46
The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!"
47
The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren't also led astray, are you?
48
Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
49
But this multitude that doesn't know the law is accursed."
50
Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them,
51
"Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?"
52
They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee."
