Verses 1-8. A General Summary.

Verses 9-18. The selection of right principles in the mind.

Verses 19-21. Invitation to enter upon the heavenly life.

Verses 22-25. A search into what constitutes the heavenly life.

Verses 26-40. The unwillingness of the unregenerate heart to enter upon it.

Verses 41-46. The attempt to do so from selfhood and defeat in temptation.

3247. 'And he sent them away from being with Isaac his son' means the distinguishing and separation of those who were spiritual from those who were celestial. This becomes clear from what has been stated immediately above - that the sons of Abraham by Keturah and by Hagar the Egyptian, who are called 'the concubines' sons' are those who are spiritual; that 'Isaac' in the relative sense means those who are celestial, 3245; and that they were separated.