Arcana Coelestia #2187
2187. 'And they ate' means communication in this manner. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'eating' as being communicated, and also being joined together, as is also evident from the Word. The injunction that Aaron, and his sons the Levites, and also the people were to eat the consecrated elements of the sacrifices in a holy place meant nothing other than the communication, conjunction, and making one's own, as stated above in 2177, at the point where Leviticus 6:16-17, is referred to. For it was celestial and spiritual food that was meant by the consecrated elements, and thus making that food their own by eating those elements. These consecrated elements were those parts of the sacrifices which were not burned on the altar but were eaten either by the priests or by the people who brought the offering, as becomes clear from very many places where the sacrifices are the subject. The consecrated elements that were to be eaten by the priests are referred to in Exodus 29:32-33; Leviticus 6:16, 26; 7:6, 15-16, 18; 8:31; 10:12-13; Numbers 18:9-11; and those to be eaten by the people, in Leviticus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 12:27; 27:7; and elsewhere. And that those who were unclean were not to eat of them is referred to in Leviticus 7:19-21; 22:4-7. These ritual feasts took place in a holy place near the altar, either at the gate or in the court outside the tent. And they meant nothing else than the communication, conjunction, and making of celestial goods one's own, for those feasts represented celestial food. For what celestial food is, see 56-58, 680, 681, 1480, 1695. And all those consecrated elements were called 'bread', for the meaning of which see above in 2165. Something similar was represented by Aaron and his sons eating the loaves of the presence, or the shewbread, in a holy place, Leviticus 24:9.
[2] The reason for the law given to the Nazirite that during the days of his Naziriteship he was forbidden to eat anything that is produced from the grape - from which wine is made - from pips even to skin, Numbers 6:4, is that the Nazirite represented the celestial man, and the celestial man is such as is not willing even to mention spiritual things, see Volume One, in 202, 337, 880 (end), 1647. And because 'wine' and 'the grape', and also whatever came from the grape, meant that which is spiritual, the Nazirite was therefore forbidden to eat of them, that is, to have any communication with spiritual things, to join himself to them, or to make them his own.
[3] Something similar is meant by 'eating' in Isaiah,
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money on that which is not bread, and your labour on that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight itself in fatness. Isaiah 55:1-2.
And also what is said in John,
To him who conquers I will grant to eat from the tree of life which is in the middle of the Paradise of God. Revelation 2:7.
'The tree of life' is the celestial itself, and in the highest sense it is the Lord Himself since He is the source of everything celestial, that is, of all love and charity. Thus 'eating from the tree of life' is the same as feeding on the Lord; and 'feeding on the Lord' is being endowed with love and charity, thus with those things that belong to heavenly life, as the Lord Himself declares in John,
I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live for ever. He who feeds on Me will live through Me. John 6:51, 57. But they said, This is a hard saying. Jesus said however, The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life. John 6:60, 63.
From this it is evident what is meant by 'eating' in the Holy Supper, Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-23; Luke 22:19-20 - having communication, being joined together, and making one's own.
[4] From this it is also plain what is meant by the Lord's statement that
Many will come from the east and from the west and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Matthew 8:11.
The Lord did not mean that they were going to feast with these three in the kingdom of God but that they were to enjoy the celestial goods meant by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is to say, they were to enjoy the inmost celestial goods of love, meant by -Abraham'; also a lower type of goods, which are intermediate, as those are which belong to the rational, meant by 'Isaac'; and a still lower type of goods which are celestial-natural, such as occur in the first heaven, meant by 'Jacob'. These are the things which constitute the internal sense of these words. That such things are meant by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, see 1893, and wherever else they are the subject. For whether one speaks of enjoying those celestial things, or whether one speaks of enjoying the Lord, whom they represent, it amounts to the same since the Lord is the source of all those things, and the Lord is their All in all.
Matthew 25
1
"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3
Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
4
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5
Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6
But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!'
7
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8
The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9
But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
10
While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
11
Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'
12
But he answered, 'Most certainly I tell you, I don't know you.'
13
Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14
"For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
15
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16
Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17
In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
18
But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19
"Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
20
He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.'
21
"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
22
"He also who got the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.'
23
"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
24
"He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
25
I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'
26
"But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.
27
You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28
Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29
For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away.
30
Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
31
"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32
Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33
He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34
Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35
for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
36
I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'
37
"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38
When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
39
When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'
40
"The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
41
Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
42
for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
43
I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'
44
"Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'
45
"Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'
46
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
