5201. 'And they fed in the sedge' means instruction. This is clear from the meaning of 'feeding' as receiving instruction, dealt with below, and from the meaning of 'the sedge', or longer grass that grows near rivers, as facts known to the natural man. Since such factual knowledge is meant by 'grass or 'plant', as is plain from the Word, 'feeding in the sedge' therefore means receiving instruction in factual knowledge, and through this knowledge instruction regarding things that are true and good. For factual knowledge serves as a means. Indeed it is like a mirror in which an image of interior things reveals itself; and this image is like another mirror in which forms of the truth and the good of faith, and therefore things which belong to heaven and are called spiritual, reveal and represent themselves. But being an interior one, this image is seen by none but those who have faith that is rooted in charity. This is what is meant in the genuine sense by 'feeding in the sedge'.

[2] The meaning of 'feeding' as receiving instruction is evident from those places in the Word where one reads the expression, such as in Isaiah,

Then He will give rain for your seed with which you sow the land, and bread of the produce of the land; and there will be fatness and wealthiness. On that day, they will feed your cattle in a broad grassland. Isaiah 30:23.

'Cattle' stands for those in whom goodness and truth are present, 'feeding in a broad grassland' for receiving abundant instruction.

[3] In the same prophet,

I have given You as a covenant of the people - to restore the land; to share out the devastated inheritances; to say to the bound, Go out; to those who are in darkness, Reveal yourselves. They will feed along the ways, and on all slopes will their pasture be. Isaiah 49:8-9.

This refers to the Lord's Coming. 'Feeding along the ways' stands for receiving instruction in truths, 'the ways' being truths, 627, 2333. 'Pasture' stands for the actual instruction. In Jeremiah,

Woe to the shepherds destroying and scattering the flock of My pasture! Therefore said Jehovah God of Israel against the shepherds feeding My people..... Jeremiah 23:1-2.

'The shepherds' stands for those who give instruction, and 'the flock' for those who receive it, 347, 3795, so that 'feeding' means giving instruction.

[4] It has become customary to refer to those who teach as 'pastors' or 'shepherds' and to those who learn as 'the flock'. For this reason the use of the expression 'feeding' has become commonly accepted when talking about preaching or about instruction given in doctrine or the Word. But when the expression is used in this way it is only a comparison and not, as when it occurs in the Word, one that holds any spiritual meaning within it. The reason 'feeding', when used in the Word, has a spiritual meaning is that when instruction and doctrine based on the Word are being talked about in heaven, that discussion is represented in a visual way in the world of spirits, where spiritual realities make their appearance within natural images. That representation consists of grasslands that are lush with grass, plants, and flowers, and where also there are flocks; and every variation of this scene occurs, as determined by the nature of the discussion that is taking place in heaven regarding instruction and doctrine.

[5] In the same prophet,

I will bring back Israel to his habitation so that he may feed on Carmel and Bashan; and on mount Ephraim and in Gilead his soul will be satisfied. Jeremiah 50:19.

'Feeding on Carmel and Bashan' stands for receiving instruction in forms of the good of faith and charity. In the same prophet,

There has gone out from the daughter of Zion all her majesty; her princes have become like deer, they have not found pasture. Lamentations 1:6. In Ezekiel

I will feed them in a good pasture, and their fold will be on the mountains of the loftiness of Israel; and they will lie down in a good fold, and on fat pasture they will feed upon the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel 34:14.

[6] In Hosea,

Now Jehovah will feed them like a sheep in a broad place. Hosea 4:16.

'Feeding in a broad place' stands for giving instruction in truths, for 'a broad place' means truth, see 1613, 3473, 3434, 4482.

In Micah,

You, Bethlehem Ephrath, from you will come forth for Me one who will be Ruler in Israel. He will stand and feed [His flock] in the strength of Jehovah. Micah 5:2, 4.

In the same prophet,

Guide ¹ your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance which is dwelling alone. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. Micah 7:14.

In Zephaniah,

The remnant of Israel will feed and rest, with none making them afraid. Zephaniah 3:17.

[7] In David,

Jehovah is my Shepherd; He will make me lie down in green pastures; ² He will lead me away to still waters. Psalms 23:1-2.

In the same author,

He made us and not we ourselves, His people and the flock of His pasture; therefore we are His, His people and the flock of His pasture. ³ Psalms 100:3.

In the Book of Revelation,

The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them and will guide them to living springs of water. Revelation 7:17.

In John,

I am the door. If anyone enters through Me he will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9.

In the same gospel,

Jesus said to Peter, Feed My lambs; a second time, Feed My sheep; and a third time, Feed My sheep. John 21:15-17.

Mga talababa:

10675. 'And cause your borders to be enlarged' means the multiplication and increase in the range of truth that springs from good. This is clear from the meaning of 'enlarging the border' as the multiplication and increase in the range of truth springing from good, dealt with in 8063. The reason why 'enlarging the borders' has this meaning is that to the extent that evils and the falsities of evil are shifted away, the truths that spring from good are multiplied, because nothing except evils and the falsities arising from them stands in the way to stop truths from flowing in from the Lord and multiplying themselves with a person. To the extent therefore that those evils and falsities are shifted away, truths come in to replace them.

[2] The situation with the understanding part of the human mind is that it must consist either of truths that spring from good or of falsities that arise from evil; it cannot consist of both at one and the same time since they are opposites. The understanding part of the human mind is that which is receptive of and shaped by truths; for whatever is present in a person's understanding has connection with truth. From this it is evident that to the extent that falsities arising from evil are shifted away, truths springing from good are multiplied. This was represented by the expulsion of the nations from the land of Canaan; for the nations there represented evils and falsities, see in the places referred to in 10057(end), and the children of Israel forms of good and truths.

[3] The reason for saying that the understanding part of the human mind is that which is receptive of and shaped by truths is that, to be perfectly correct, nothing else ought to be called the understanding than that which consists of truths springing from good. That which consists of falsities arising from evil is not such, for it cannot possibly be said of falsities arising from evil that they have intelligence and wisdom within them. Falsities arising from evil completely destroy intelligence and wisdom, and replace them with stupidity and foolishness. Consequently the understanding part of a person's mind is undeveloped until the person perceives truths and loves them; and the perception and love of truth follow as a result of good. So it is that truths springing from good are what constitute the understanding.

[4] Anyone who thinks that the person who has developed his understanding because he is able to reason skillfully against the Church's truths is very much mistaken. For he does not see anything [from a source] within himself, only [from a source] outside himself. Seeing [from a source] within himself is doing so from heaven, seeing [from a source] outside himself is doing so from the world. And anyone who sees things solely from the world sees them in an illusory light, which becomes total darkness when the light from heaven enters it.