Exploring the Meaning of Matthew 10
Por Ray and Star Silverman
Chapter 10.
Sending Out the Apostles
1. And calling for His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, so as to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every malady.
2. And the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the publican; James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Lebbeus, [also] called Thaddaeus;
4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
5. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, saying, “Into the way of the nations go ye not, and into a city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
6. But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7. And as you go, preach, saying that the kingdom of the heavens is near.
8. Cure the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give.
9. Possess not gold, nor silver, nor bronze for your belts,
10. Nor pack for a journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor a staff; for the worker is worthy of his food.”
In the previous chapter Jesus said that “the multitudes were weary and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.” These “multitudes” represent our innocent affections and tender thoughts, especially our earnest desires to lead a deeply spiritual life. But these thoughts, affections are disorganized. We may have fragments of truth in our mind that we picked up from time to time, but they are not in a coherent framework. We may attempt meditation, or prayer, or daily readings from time to time, but we have no fixed aim or plan.
There comes a time, however, in the course of our spiritual development, when these scattered thoughts and affections must be gathered together, organized and arranged in proper order so that they can be summoned up quickly and used when necessary. Haphazard, hit-or-miss, random spirituality will no longer suffice.
This is precisely where we are at this point in the gospel narrative.
The religious leaders have begun to openly accuse Jesus of blasphemy and of being in partnership with the devil. It is becoming increasingly clear that Jesus’ life is in danger. Similarly, the time comes when our spiritual life is in danger; it is a time when we must bring together and organize all things of goodness and truth within ourselves, and prepare for action. It is time to organize the twelve disciples and send them out as apostles. 1
Each of the twelve apostles represents an essential spiritual principle. Peter, for example, represents faith, and John represents charity (love). 2 While this is not the place to go into the spiritual representation of each apostle, it should be noted that in calling them together and then sending them out in pairs, Jesus begins the initial work of organizing them. The “scattered sheep” are about to become apostles — those who, having been instructed, carry the message to others. But first, these individuals must be organized.
Having arranged the disciples into pairs, Jesus now sends them out, commanding them “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (10:5). In other words, they should not get sidetracked by misleading emotions and false beliefs (represented by the Gentiles and Samaritans). 3 Instead they should first of all gather together the lost sheep of Israel — the tender affections and innocent thoughts — and then subordinate them to the more comprehensive spiritual principles represented by each disciple. In this way they will be protected from oncoming attacks.
As they go, they are to preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (10:7). Jesus is giving them essential instruction in the art of good preaching. They are to begin with the exciting news: the kingdom of heaven is rapidly approaching and could be right around the corner! Once the goal is announced (receiving heaven), Jesus explains the means for attaining the goal: “Heal the infirm,” He says, “cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons.” This is what first needs to happen before the kingdom of heaven can be received. The healing of every disease and the casting out of every demon represents the acknowledgement of our sins, and the work of removing them. In other words, it’s about repentance. This is why both John the Baptist and Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (3:1 and 4:17).
The main thing to remember, as the apostles begin their ministry, is that the power to heal and the power to be healed is from the Lord: “Freely you have received,” says Jesus. And because of this they should “freely give” (10:8). It is vital, therefore, that in this work they include nothing of themselves. Their work is for God, and their power is from God. They must trust completely in His power and His providence. “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs” (10:10). God will see to it that all their needs are provided: “For a worker is worthy of his food” (10:10). As long as they are doing the Lord’s work, the Lord will continually instruct them, and every spiritual need will be met. 4
Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves
11. “And into whatever city or village you enter, search [out] who in it is worthy, and there remain until you go out.
12. And when you come into the house, greet it.
13. And if indeed the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14. And if anyone shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you go out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15. Amen I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16. Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore prudent as serpents, and simple as doves.”
The sending out of the twelve apostles represents the way in which God gathers together the more general principles of spiritual truth in us, so that we can better organize the details of our everyday life. Some of these more general principles might include teachings such as the ever-present reality of the spiritual world, the importance of keeping the Ten Commandments, the acknowledgment that without God we can do nothing, the joy of useful service, the necessity of temptation as a part of regeneration, and the belief that God can bring good out of everything that arises, no matter how difficult it may seem at the moment. These are some of the fundamental truths that will become organizing principles for everything else we learn and do. 5
Spiritually speaking, this kind of ordering and arrangement of the mind is called “putting our house in order.” This is because in sacred scripture a “house” represents the human mind — the place where our thoughts and feelings are “housed.” This is why we are told to build our “house” (our mind) upon a rock (God’s commandments), and why our state of mind (what we are thinking about or “dwelling” upon) can be called our spiritual “dwelling-place.” Ideally, our minds should be like the mind of God, furnished with the most loving emotions and noble thoughts. This is the spiritual significance of David’s words, “And I shall dwell in the house of Lord, forever” (Psalm 23:6). 6
With an understanding of the spiritual significance of the word “house” in mind, we can see greater meaning in Jesus’ next command to the apostles. “If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.” This means that if a worthy thought or emotion arises, we are encouraged to enter into it, to dwell upon it, and let it become part of our peace. But Jesus also adds, “If it is not worthy, let your peace return to you” (10:13). In other words, if a thought or emotion arises that is not worthy, we should not enter into it or dwell upon it. Instead we should return to our state of peace.
This is the work of the “twelve apostles” in us, Spiritually seen, the twelve apostles represent the most general principles of spiritual life. These are the principles that will help us determine what thoughts and feelings our minds should enter into, and what thoughts and feelings we should avoid. If something does not agree with a spiritual principle, we are not to dwell there — or even visit. And if we find that something within us arises to disagree with a God-given principle, something that refuses to accept a clear teaching from God’s Word — we should withdraw from that state of mind and “shake it off” like dust from our feet. As Jesus says, “Whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet” (10:12-14).
This means that we can live our lives in quiet assurance, trusting in the power and permanence of truth to guide and protect us. There will be times, however, when objections will arise — doubts about the most fundamental truths we know. But we are not to worry. If there is no goodness or truth in these objections, they have no power over us. They are like dust on our shoes, which can easily be brushed off as we continue our journey. Others might disagree with us; doubts and reservations might arise in our mind. But we are not the ones being judged. Rather, the judgment is upon those doubts and reservations. Jesus puts it like this: “Verily, I say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city” (10:15).
The task of spiritual discernment, however, is not an easy one. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves” says Jesus (10:16). The “wolves” are the evil desires and false beliefs that will consume our good impulses and noble ideals. Therefore, we must be “gentle as doves” — non-violent in our behavior, but “wise as serpents” — very careful about the feelings and thoughts we allow to enter our minds. 7 Like a serpent with eyes on both sides of its head, we need to have 360 degree spiritual vision; we need to remain vigilant, aware of evil desires and false thoughts — predators that might endeavor to silently creep into our minds unnoticed. And whenever the wolves come sniffing around, we must be like doves, able to gently take wing and rise above them.
Warnings about Coming Persecutions
17. “And beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and will scourge you in their synagogues.
18. And you shall be led before governors and also kings on account of Me, for a witness to them and to the nations.
19. But when they shall deliver you up, be not anxious [about] how or what you shall speak, for it shall be given to you in that hour what you shall speak.
20. For you are not they that speak, but the spirit of your Father [is] what speaks in you.
21. And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents, and put them to death.
22. And you shall be hated by all on account of My name; but he that endures to the end, he shall be saved.
23. And when they persecute you in this city, flee into the other; for amen I say to you, you shall not have finished the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
24. The disciple is not above the teacher, nor the servant above his lord.
25. It is sufficient for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the householder Beelzebub, how much more them of his household?
26. Fear them not therefore; for there is nothing covered, that shall not be uncovered, and secret, that shall not be known.
27. What I say to you in the darkness, say ye in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops.
28. And be not afraid of those that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29. Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion [penny]? And not one of them shall fall upon the earth without your Father.
30. And of you, even the hairs of the head are all numbered.
31. Fear not therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32. Whoever therefore shall profess Me before men, I also will profess him before My Father that [is] in the heavens.
33. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I also will deny him before My Father that [is] in the heavens.
34. Suppose not that I am come to cast peace upon earth; I am not come to cast peace, but a sword.
35. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36. And the man’s enemies [shall be] they of his own house.
37. He that loves father or mother above Me is not worthy of Me, and he that loves son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me.
38. And whoever does not take his cross, and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me.
39. He that finds his soul shall lose it, and he that loses his soul for My sake shall find it.
40. He that receives you, receives Me, and he that receives Me, receives Him that sent Me.
41. He that accepts a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive the reward of a prophet; and he that accepts [someone] just in the name of [someone] just shall receive the reward of [someone] just.
42. And whoever shall give a cup of cold [water] to one of these little ones to drink in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
As the apostles are being prepared for their mission, Jesus tells them to be wary of human reasoning. This is the tendency to twist and pervert spiritual truths so as to make them subordinate to one’s own will: “Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues” (10:17). Evil desires and false ideas will invade our minds attacking the good emotions and true thoughts that proceed from God just as mercilessly as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day attacked and persecuted Him. In other words, Jesus warns them in advance that whatever is good and true in them will be tested. In fact, they will be delivered up to councils and scourged.
The news is not pleasant. It will be rough going. Nevertheless, Jesus offers His disciples the greatest encouragement: “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how, or what you should speak. For it will be given you in that hour what you should speak, for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (10:19-20).
In terms of the continuous internal sense of this gospel, it is important to recall the final miracle in the previous episode: a mute man was given the gift of speech. We too shall be given the gift of speech; we shall speak from love, for that is what is meant by the words, it is “the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” 8
Jesus continues to balance bad news with good news: “And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (10:22). Such words are to be read simultaneously on two different levels. On one level Jesus is forewarning His disciples of the persecutions they will face as they go forth to proclaim and live His message. On a more interior level, these apostles represent spiritual principles in ourselves that will meet with one form of opposition or another. Nevertheless, we should not worry about these inevitable attacks, for no matter what happens to us, these principles — which are the very soul of our life — cannot be harmed. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (10:28).
In truth, spiritual life — the life that endures forever — is the only real life; it is the only life that really matters. What is the loss of a few earthly years compared to the gain of eternal life? In giving up ego concerns, which seem to be our very life, God flows in with spiritual blessings beyond number. If we willingly surrender the old life and its selfish ways, we gain an entirely new life. Therefore, Jesus says, “He who loses his life for My sake will find it” (10:39).
In asking His apostles to give up everything, even their very lives, in order to faithfully follow Him, Jesus takes another step in revealing His Divine identity. It is here that Jesus confesses that He has been sent by the Father: “He who receives you receives Me,” He says. “And he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (10:40). Jesus’ promise is unmistakable and profound. His words add up to this: Whoever receives Me, receives God. Surely, Jesus is gradually manifesting His divinity.
This chapter closes with a final word of encouragement to the disciples: “Whoever gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (10:42). Here Jesus assures His disciples that even the least effort to share truth (“cup of cold water”) with others or to perform an act of kindness will be rewarded — provided that it is done “in the name of a disciple.” That is, as long as God is acknowledged as the source of all goodness and truth, it matters not how little or how much we accomplish. Even “a cup of cold water,” given in the right spirit, will suffice.
It’s a powerful lesson, and one that is given to inspire and encourage the disciples who are about to face persecution. In brief, Jesus is assuring them that whatever they say or do, no matter how small or great, if done in the right spirit, will have the blessings of heaven within it — inner peace and limitless joy. This is what Jesus means when He says, “Whoever shall give to one of these little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple shall not lose his reward” (10:42).
Notas de rodapé:
1. The Greek word ἀπόστολος (apóstolos) means “one who is sent” or “messenger.” We are “disciples” when being instructed by the Lord, and we are “apostles” when we are being sent off to carry His message to others. See Arcana Coelestia 10490: “To be a disciple of the Lord is to be led by Him and not by self, thus by the goods and truths which are from the Lord, and not by the evils and falsities which are from one’s self.” Also, Apocalypse Revealed 79: “The term ‘apostles’ signifies all who teach the goods and truths of the church, and in the abstract sense, this term refers to the goods and truths doctrine.”
2. Apocalypse Revealed 17: “John represents the good of life, and Peter the truth of faith.” See also Apocalypse Explained 821: “The twelve apostles, like the twelve tribes of Israel, represented all things of truth and good. Also, Peter, James, and John, signified faith, charity, and the works of charity, in their order. It follows, therefore, that when they were together they represented these as one. It is said, as one, because the faith that is a faith without charity has no existence; and the charity that is a charity without works has no existence.”
3. Arcana Coelestia 4169: “The ‘Gentiles’ to whom they should not go, denote those who are in evils. The ‘cities of the Samaritans’ denote those who are in falsities; and ‘sheep,’ those who are in goods.”
4. Apocalypse Explained 242[22] “Jesus said to His disciples, whom He sent forth to preach the gospel, that they should possess no gold, nor silver, nor brass in their purses. By this was represented that they should have nothing of good and truth from themselves, but only from the Lord, and that all things would be given them freely. ‘Gold’ signifies the good of love.” See also Apocalypse Explained 827[6]: “Gold and silver, signify the knowledges of good and truth from the Word.”
5. Apocalypse Explained 904: “It is according to Divine order for what is general to precede, in order that particulars may be introduced into them, rightly arranged, made homogeneous, and joined together in close connection.”
6. Arcana Coelestia 7353: “The ancients compared the mind of a person to a house, and those things which are within a person to chambers. The human mind is indeed like this; for the things therein are distinct, scarcely otherwise than as a house is divided into its chambers; those things which are in the middle are like the inmost parts; those which are at the sides are like the outer parts, these being compared to the courts; and those which while outside are connected with the inside parts, being compared to the porches.”
7. Arcana Coelestia 197 “To the earliest people a ‘serpent’ signified circumspection, lest they be hurt by evil.”
8. Arcana Coelestia 10265: “Divine Love, called the Father, exists within the Lord’s Divine Human, called the Son.” When Jesus speaks from this love, the influence it has upon us is called the “Holy Spirit.” See also True Christian Religion 167: “The Holy Spirit is the Divine that goes forth out of the Lord from the Father” This is analogous to a person who has an inmost soul, visible body, and an influence on others. These are three aspects of the same person. Similarly, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three separate persons, but three aspects of One God. See also Athanasian Creed 4: “The Father signifies the Divine Itself, the Son the Divine Human, and the Holy Spirit, the Divine proceeding.”
Arcana Coelestia # 9396
9396. 'And he took the book of the covenant' means the Word in the letter to which the Word in heaven was joined. This is clear from the meaning of 'the book' as the Word in its entirety, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'the covenant' as a joining together, dealt with in 665, 666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021, 6804, 8767, 8778. 'The book of the covenant' is used here to mean everything the Lord spoke from Mount Sinai, for verse 4 just above says, And Moses wrote all Jehovah's words. In a restricted sense therefore 'the book of the covenant' is used to mean the Word revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai, and in a broad sense to mean the Word in its entirety since this is the Divine Truth revealed by the Lord. And since it is through this Truth that the Lord joins Himself to a member of the Church, that Truth too is meant by 'the book of the covenant'; for 'a covenant' is a joining together.
[2] But the nature of the Lord's being joined to a member of the Church through the Word is unknown at the present day because heaven at the present day is closed. Scarcely anyone today talks to angels or spirits and therefore knows the way in which they understand the Word. But this was well known to the ancients, and especially to the most ancients; for talking to spirits and angels was common among them. The reason for this was that people in ancient and especially in most ancient times were more internal, for they thought in the spirit virtually separated from the body, whereas people today are more external and think in the body virtually separated from the spirit. So it is that heaven has seemingly forsaken mankind, for heaven's contact is with the internal man when this can be unshackled from the body, but not directly with the external man. This explains why the nature of the Lord's being joined to a person through the Word is unknown at the present day.
[3] Those whose thought is based on what the body perceives with the senses and not on what the spirit perceives with the senses cannot possibly do other than think that the meaning the Word has in heaven is like the meaning it has in the world, that is, in the letter. If it were said that the meaning the Word has in heaven is like the thought of the internal man, which is free from material ideas, that is, from worldly, bodily, and earthly ideas, this would be considered an absurdity at the present day, especially if it were said that the meaning the Word has in heaven is as different from the meaning it has in the world or in the letter as a heavenly paradise is from an earthly paradise, or as heavenly food and drink are from earthly food and drink. How great that difference is may be seen from the consideration that the heavenly paradise consists in intelligence and wisdom, heavenly food in every good of love and charity, and heavenly drink in every truth of faith rooted in that good. Is there anyone at the present day who would not be astounded to hear that when a paradise, garden, or vineyard is mentioned in the Word those in heaven do not perceive a paradise, garden, or vineyard but instead such things as are attributes of intelligence and wisdom coming from the Lord? Or that when food and drink are mentioned, for instance bread, flesh, wine, or water, those in heaven perceive instead such things as are aspects of the good of love and the truth of faith received from the Lord? Or that this perception of the Word comes about not as a result of interpretations of its statements nor by seeing them as comparisons, but that it is due to correspondences and is their actual and real perception of it? For the heavenly virtues of wisdom, intelligence, the good of love, and the truth of faith correspond in actual reality to those worldly objects. In the same way the internal man has been created to correspond to the external man, and so therefore has heaven, which resides in the internal man, to correspond to the world, which resides in the external man. The same is so with everything generally. The truth that the Word is understood and perceived in heaven according to correspondences, and that this level of meaning is the internal sense, has been shown everywhere in the explanations prior to this.
[4] Anyone who grasps what has just been stated is capable of knowing and in some manner perceiving that a person is joined by means of the Word to heaven and through heaven to the Lord, and that without the Word no such joining together would be possible. See what has been shown many times about these matters, in 2143, 7153, 7381, 8920, 9094 (end), 9212 (end), 9216 (end), 9357, and elsewhere. From all this it is now clear why Moses took the book of the covenant and read it in front of the people, and then sprinkled the blood over the people and said, Behold, the blood of the covenant. And the reason why all this was done was that in heaven 'the blood of a sacrifice' is Divine Truth emanating from the Lord, which on our planet is the Word, see 9393. Since 'the covenant' means a joining together, and since Divine Truth emanating from the Lord, that is, the Word, is the means by which the joining together is accomplished, everything that belongs to Divine Truth from the Lord or belongs to the Word is called 'the covenant', such as the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written, also the judgements, statutes, and all else that is contained in the Books of Moses, and in general that is contained both in the Old Testament Word and in the New.
[5] The Tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written [were called the Covenant].
This may be seen in Moses,
Jehovah wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words. Exodus 34:28.
In the same author,
I went up into the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which Jehovah made with you. Jehovah gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. I came down from the mountain, when the mountain was burning with fire; the two tablets of the covenant however were on my two hands. Deuteronomy 9:9, 11, 15.
And in the same author,
Jehovah declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the ten words which He wrote on tablets of stone. Take care, lest you forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which He made with you. Deuteronomy 4:13, 23.
Because the two tablets had been laid up in the ark, which was in the middle or inmost part of the tabernacle, the ark was called the ark of the covenant, Numbers 10:33; 14:44; Deuteronomy 10:8, 31:9, 25-26; Joshua 3:3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17; 4:7, 9, 18; 6:6, 8; 8:33; Judges 20:27; 1 Samuel 4:3-5; 2 Samuel 15:24; 1 Kings 3:15; 6:19; 8:1, 6; Jeremiah 3:16.
[6] The Books of Moses were called the Book of the Covenant
This is clear from the ones found in the temple by Hilkiah the [high] priest, about which the following things are said in the second Book of Kings,
Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah.
And they read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant found in the house of Jehovah. 2 Kings 22:8; 23:2.
[7] The Old Testament Word was called the Covenant
This may be seen in Isaiah,
To those holding fast to My covenant I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than sons and daughters. Isaiah 56:4-5.
In Jeremiah,
Hear the words of this covenant. Cursed is the man who will not hear the words of this covenant which I commanded your fathers. Obey My voice, and do those things, according to all that I command you. Jeremiah 11:2-4.
In David,
All the ways of Jehovah are mercy and truth to those keeping His covenant and His testimonies. Psalms 25:10.
In the same author,
The mercy of Jehovah is from eternity to eternity on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those keeping His covenant, and to those remembering His commandments. Psalms 103:17-18.
And in the same author,
They did not keep God's covenant and refused to walk in His law. Psalms 78:10.
Here 'God's covenant' is called God's law. 'The law' is used in a broad sense to mean the whole Word, in a narrower sense to mean the historical section of the Word, in a restricted sense the Word that was written through Moses, and in a very restricted sense the Ten Commandments, see 6752.
[8] The New Testament Word too is the Covenant
This may be seen in Jeremiah,
Behold, the days are coming in which I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant. This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days: I will put My law in the midst of them, and will write it on their heart. Jeremiah 31:31-33.
'The house of Israel' stands for the spiritual Church, and 'the house of Judah' for the celestial Church. And in David,
I will also make Him the Firstborn, supreme over the kings of the earth; and My covenant will stand fast with Him. I will not profane 1 My covenant, and the utterance of My lips I will not alter. Psalms 89:27-28, 34.
This refers to the Lord. 'My covenant will stand fast with Him' stands for the union of the Divine Himself and the Divine Human, thus also for the Word since the Lord's Divine Human was the Word made flesh, that is, made man (homo), John 1:1-3, 14.
[9] The reason why Divine Truth or the Word is a covenant or joining together is that the Word is the Divine from the Lord, thus is the Lord Himself; and this being so, when the Word is received by a person the Lord Himself is received. From this it is evident that it is through the Word that the Lord is joined to a person; and since the Lord is joined to the person, so too is heaven joined to that person. For heaven is called heaven by virtue of the Divine Truth emanating from the Lord and therefore from the Divine. This explains why those in heaven are said to be 'in the Lord'. Regarding the truth that the Divine joins Himself to those who love the Lord and keep His Word, see John 14:23.
[10] From all this it becomes clear that 'the blood of the covenant' means the Lord joined through heaven to a person by means of the Word, as also in Zechariah,
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be cut off; on the other hand He will speak peace to the nations; His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, through the blood of your covenant I will let out your bound ones from the pit in which there is no water. Zechariah 9:10-11.
[11] A person with no knowledge at all of the internal sense cannot see in these verses anything other than such things as are implied in their literal meaning, that is to say, that the chariot from Ephraim, horse from Jerusalem, and battle bow were going to be cut off, and in the final words that through 'the blood of the covenant' - meaning the Lord's blood - those buried in sins were going to be delivered, various ways being used to explain who exactly are meant by 'bound ones in the pit in which there is no water'. But a person who knows the internal sense of the Word sees that these verses refer to Divine Truth, and that after it has been laid waste, that is, is no longer received in belief and heart by anyone, it will be restored through God's truth emanating from the Lord's Divine Human, and that those who believe and do it will be joined by means of it to the Lord Himself. All this becomes clearer still from the inner meaning of individual words in these verses, for example from the meaning of 'chariot' as doctrine taught by the Church, 2760, 5321, 5945, 8215, and of 'Ephraim' as the Church's enlightened understanding, 5354, 6222, 6238; from the meaning of 'horse' as an understanding of the Word, 2760-2762, 3217, 5321, 6125, 6534, 8029, 8146, 8148, 2 and of 'Jerusalem' as the spiritual Church, 2117, 3654, 9166; from the meaning of 'bow' as the doctrine of truth, 2686, 2709, and of 'battle' or 'war' as conflict involving truths, 1664, 2686, 8295.
[12] From these meanings it is evident that 'cutting off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow' means God's truth laid waste so far as any understanding of it in the Church is concerned, and that 'through the blood of the covenant those bound in the pit in which there is no water were going to be let out' means a restoration effected through Divine Truth emanating from the Lord's Divine Human. The meaning of 'blood' as Divine Truth and of 'the covenant' as a joining together has been shown above; and for the meaning of 'those bound in the pit' as members of the spiritual Church who were saved by the Lord's Coming into the world, see 6854. The description 'pit where there is no water' is used because 'water' means truth, 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, 7307, 8137, 8138, 8568, 9323.
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