145. (Verse 17) He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. That this signifies that he who understands should hearken to what Divine truth proceeding from the Lord teaches and says to those who belong to His church is evident from what was said and shown above (n. 14 and 108), where similar words are explained.

14.And they that hear the words of the prophecy. That this signifies that those live according to the doctrine of heaven, is evident from the signification of hearing, as denoting to perceive and obey (concerning which see Arcana Coelestia 2542, 3869, 4653, 5017, 7216, 8361, 8990, 9311, 9397, 10061), thus also to live according thereto; for those who perceive and obey the doctrine of heaven, live according to it; and from the signification of the words of the prophecy, as denoting the truths of the doctrine of heaven; for words are truths, (n. 4692, 5075), and prophecy is doctrine (n. 2534, 7269); in the present case, the doctrine of heaven, because it is the prophecy of the Word, which is from heaven. The reason why to hear is to obey and live is, because with the celestial angels, the things that are heard enter into the life; but as this is unknown, I will briefly illustrate it. There are two senses given to man, which serve as means of receiving those things by which the Rational is formed, and also those things by which the man is reformed, these are, the sense of seeing and the sense of hearing; the other senses are for other uses. The things that enter by the sense of sight, enter into his understanding and enlighten it; therefore by sight is signified the understanding enlightened; for the understanding corresponds to the sight of the eye as the light of heaven does to the light of the world; but the things that enter by the sense of hearing, enter into the understanding and at the same time into the will, therefore the hearing signifies perception and obedience. This is the reason why, in human languages, it is customary to speak of hearing any one, and also of giving ear to any one; similarly, of being a hearer, and of hearkening; and by hearing any one is meant to perceive, and by giving ear to any one is meant to obey; as also by being a hearer; and both are signified by hearkening. This characteristic dwells in human languages, from the spiritual world, in which a man's spirit is; but the origin of this in the spiritual world shall also be stated.

[2] Those in the spiritual world who are in the province of the ear, are forms of obedience from perception (that all who are in the spiritual world are in some province which is named from the members, organs, or internal parts of man, because they correspond thereto, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 87-102); and the province of the ear is in the axis of heaven, and therefore into it, or into those who are there, the whole spiritual world inflows, with the perception that the thing is to be done; for this is the ruling perception in heaven; hence it is that those who are in that province, are forms of obedience from perception. That the things which enter by hearing, enter directly by the understanding into the will, may be further illustrated from the instruction of the angels of the celestial kingdom, who are the wisest; these receive all their wisdom by hearing and not by sight; for whatever they hear of Divine things, they receive in the will from veneration and love, and make a part of their life; and because they receive it directly in the life, and not first in the memory, therefore they do not talk about matters of faith, but when told of them by others, they answer only, "Yea, Yea," or "Nay, nay," according to the Lord's words in Matthew (5:37). From these things it is manifest, that man is endowed with the sense of hearing chiefly for the reception of wisdom, but sight for the reception of intelligence. Wisdom consists in perceiving, willing, and doing; intelligence, in knowing and perceiving. (That the celestial angels drink in wisdom by hearing, and not by sight, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 270, 271; and more concerning those angels, n. 20-28.)