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At sinabi sa kanila ni Lot, Huwag ganiyan, panginoon ko:
Arcana Coelestia # 2383
2383. That 'they struck with blindness' means that they were filled with falsities is clear from the meaning of 'blindness'. In the Word blindness is used in reference to people who are immersed in falsity, and also to people who have no knowledge of the truth. Both kinds of people are called blind, though who are meant in any one place becomes clear from the train of thought, especially that in the internal sense. That those immersed in falsity are called 'blind' is clear from the following places: In Isaiah,
His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark. Isaiah 56:10.
'Blind watchmen' stands for those who, because of reasoning, are immersed in falsity. In the same prophet,
We look for light, and, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in thick darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind. Isaiah 59:9-10,
In Jeremiah,
They went astray blind in the streets; they defiled themselves with blood. Things which have no power they touch with their garments. Lamentations 4:14.
This stands for the fact that all truths have been defiled, 'streets' standing for truths in which they have gone astray, 2336.
[2] In Zechariah,
On that day I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. Every horse of the peoples I will strike with blindness. Zechariah 12:4.
Here and elsewhere in the Word 'a horse' stands for what has to do with the understanding. This is why it is said that the horse would be struck with panic, and [every] horse of the peoples with blindness, that is, it would be filled with falsities.
[3] In John,
For judgement I came into the world, that those who do not see may see, but that those who see may become blind. Some of the Pharisees heard these words and said, Are we also blind? Jesus said to them, If you were blind you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see', therefore your sin remains. John 9:39-41.
Here the blind in both senses are referred to, that is to say, those who are immersed in falsity and those who have no knowledge of truth. With those inside the Church who know what the truth is, 'blindness' is falsity; but with those who do not know what the truth is, as with those outside the Church, 'blindness' is having no knowledge of the truth. The latter are blameless.
[4] In the same gospel,
He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart and I heal them. John 12:40; Isaiah 6:9-11.
The meaning here is that it would be better for falsities to exist with them than truths, for they lead a life of evil and if they received instruction in truths they would not only continue to falsify them but would also pollute them with evils. They would do so for the same reason that the men of Sodom were struck with blindness, that is, matters of doctrine were filled with falsities. Why this is done has been shown in 301-303, 593, 1008, 1010, 1059, 1327, 1328, 2426.
[5] Because 'blind' meant that which was false, therefore people were not allowed in the Jewish representative Church to sacrifice anything blind, Leviticus 22:22; Deuteronomy 15:21; Malachi 1:8. Also any priest who was blind was forbidden to approach and offer on the altar, Leviticus 21:18, 21.
[6] That 'blindness' is used in reference to those, like gentiles, who have no knowledge of the truth, is clear in Isaiah,
On that day the deaf will hear the words of the Book, and out of thick darkness and out of darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Isaiah 29:18.
'The blind' stands for people who have no knowledge of the truth, chiefly those who are outside the Church. In the same prophet,
Bring forth the blind people and they will have eyes; and the deaf, and they will have ears. Isaiah 43:8.
This refers to the Church of the gentiles. In the same prophet,
I will lead the blind in a way they do not know; I will turn the darkness before them into light. Isaiah 42:16.
[7] In the same prophet,
I will give You to be a light of the people, to open the blind eyes, to bring the bound out of the dungeon, from the prison-house those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7.
This refers to the Lord's Coming and the fact that at that time people who had no knowledge of truth were to receive instruction. For those immersed in falsity do not allow themselves to receive such instruction, for they know the truth but have set themselves against it and have turned the light of truth into darkness which is not dispelled. In Luke,
The householder said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, and the maimed, and the lame, and the blind. Luke 14:21.
This refers to the Lord's kingdom. Not those who are literally poor, maimed, lame, and blind are meant but those who are so in the spiritual sense.
[8] In the same gospel,
Jesus said that they were to report to John: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Luke 7:22.
According to the sense of the letter nobody else is meant by the blind, the lame, lepers, the deaf, the dead, and the poor than those who were so physically, for such cures did take place, that is to say, the blind received sight, the deaf hearing, lepers were restored to health, and the dead to life.
[9] But in the internal sense the same people are meant as are referred to in
Isaiah,
Then will be opened the eyes of the blind, and the ears of the deaf will be opened; then will the lame man leap like a hart, and the dumb man sing with his tongue. Isaiah 35:5-6.
This refers to the Lord's Coming and a new Church at that time called the Church of the gentiles who are described as being blind, deaf, lame, and dumb; they were so called as regards their doctrine and life. For it should be recognized that all the miracles which the Lord performed always embodied such matters and therefore meant the things which the blind, the lame, lepers, the deaf, the dead, and the poor are used to mean in the internal sense. Consequently the Lord's miracles were Divine, as also those performed in Egypt, in the wilderness, and all the rest described in the Word, had been. This is an arcanum.
John 8
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but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
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Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them.
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The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst,
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they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.
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Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?"
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They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
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But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."
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Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
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They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
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Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?"
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She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."
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Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."
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The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid."
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Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don't know where I came from, or where I am going.
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You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.
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Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.
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It's also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
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I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me."
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They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
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Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
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Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can't come."
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The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, 'Where I am going, you can't come?'"
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He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.
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I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."
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They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
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I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world."
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They didn't understand that he spoke to them about the Father.
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Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.
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He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn't left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."
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As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
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Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
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You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
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They answered him, "We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, 'You will be made free?'"
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Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.
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A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever.
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If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
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I know that you are Abraham's seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
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I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."
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They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
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But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this.
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You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God."
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Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me.
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Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word.
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You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.
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But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me.
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Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
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He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God."
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Then the Jews answered him, "Don't we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?"
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Jesus answered, "I don't have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
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But I don't seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
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Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death."
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Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'
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Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"
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Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
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You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, 'I don't know him,' I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.
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Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."
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The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
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Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."
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Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the midst of them, and so passed by.
