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LUKE

Luke Chapter 2

Chapter II. Extracts from the Theological Writings

OF

THE HON. EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.

VERSE 7. And she brought forth her first-born, [or first. - begotten] Son, etc. That the Lord, as to the Divine Human [principle], is the first-born [or first-begotten], is manifest from these words in David, "He shall call Me, You are My Father, My God, and the rock of my Salvation, also I will give Him the first-born [or first-begotten], high above the kings of the earth; My mercy will I keep for Him for ever more, and My covenant shall be fast to Him, His seed also will I place for ever; and His throne as the days of ages," Psalm 89:26, 27, 28,29, speaking of the Lord: And in the Revelation," From Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, the first-born [or first-begotten] of mortals, and the prince of the kings of the earth," Rev 1:5. That the things which were written, and represented-concerning Him, might also be fulfilled. He was likewise horn the first-barn [or first begotten], Luke 2:7, 22, 23, AC 3325.

Verse 11. For to you is horn today a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lard. The mysterious reasons why they, called Jehovah the Lord were these, that if it had been said at that time, that the Lord was the Jehovah so often named in the Old Testament, it would not, have been received, because it would not have been believed; and further, because the Lord was, nor made Jehovah as to His Human [principle] also, until He had altogether united the Divine Essence to the Human, and the Human to the Divine; this plenary unification was made after the last temptation, which was that of the cross, wherefore the disciples, after the resurrection, always called Him Lord, John 20:2, 13, 15, 18, 20, 25; John 21:7, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20; and Thomas said, "My Lord, and my God," John 20:28; and whereas the Lord was the Jehovah, who is so often named in the Old Testament, therefore also he said to the disciples, "You call me Master and Lord, and you say right for I am," John 13:13, 14, 16, by which words is signified, that He was Jehovah God; He is there called Lord as to good, but Master as to truth: That the Lord was Jehovah, is also understood by the words of the angels to the shepherds, "To you is born today a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord," where Christ denotes Messiah, Anointed, King: the Lord denotes Jehovah, the former as to truth, the latter as to good. He who does not examine the Word attentively cannot know this, because he believes that our Saviour, like others, was called Lord out of mere respect, when yet He was so called from His being Jehovah. AC 2921.

Verse 12. And this [shall be] a sign to you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Inasmuch as by a sign is understood testification, that the shepherds might believe that the Saviour of the world was born, therefore it is said, that they should find Him lying in a manger wrapped up in swaddling clothes; but that this was a testification, cannot be known to any one, unless he knows what is meant by a manger and what by swaddling clothes; by a manger is meant the doctrine of truth derived from the Word. since by horses is signified the understanding of the Word, as may be manifest from what was shown above, AE 355, 364, and in the little work concerning the white horse, 2, 3, 4; hence by a manger, in which horses feed, is signified the doctrine of truth derived from the Word. It is said also at verse 7 of that chapter, that this was done because there was no room in the inn, for by an inn is signified a place of instruction, as also in Luke 10:34, 22:11. Mark 14:14, and elsewhere; and this [inn] was amongst the Jews, who at that time were in mere falses by the adulteration of the Word; this therefore is what is signified by there being no room in the inn; for if it had pleased the Lord, He might have been born in the most splendid palace and have been laid in a bed adorned with precious stones; but this would have been amongst those, who were not principled in any doctrine of truth, and who were without any heavenly representation: It is said also that he was wrapped up in swaddling clothes, because swaddling clothes signify first truths, which are truths of Innocence, which also are truths of Divine Love; for nakedness, when predicated of an infant, signifies the deprivation of truth: From these considerations it may be manifest from what ground it was said by the angels," This shall be a sign to you; you shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger." AE 706.

Verse 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host. Inasmuch as by an army [or host] are signified truths, the sons of the kingdom and angels, from the truths in which they are principled, are called the host [or army] of the heavens as in Luke 2:13. AC 3448.

Verse 23. As it is written in the law of the Lord, that every male opening the womb shall be holy to the Lord. Inasmuch as the truth of doctrine or the doctrine of truth is signified by a male, therefore this law was enacted. Exod 13:12, 15, Deut 15:19. Luke 2:23, for from the marriage of truth and of good, which in the spiritual sense is meant by the marriage of a man and woman, are born truths and goods, which hence in that sense are signified by sons and daughters, truths by sons, and goods by daughters; and whereas every man is reformed and regenerated by truths (for without truths man does not know what and of what quality good is, thus does not know the way to heaven), hence it is that the truth first born from the marriage of truth and good, is sanctified to Jehovah; the truth first born is likewise the doctrine of truth, for that which is first is all in what follows, thus it is all truth, and all truth is doctrine: But it is well to be noted, that by the first begotten is signified the truth which is of the good of charity, consequently the good of charity in its form and in its quality, thus truth, for the form of good and the quality of good is truth; the reason why this is signified by the first begotten is, because from the good of love, which is signified by the womb and the infant therein, nothing else can be born but the good of charity, and this good does not become good, until it be formed and qualified, thus unless it be in a form in which it has its quality, and its form is called truth, but still it is good in form. AE 725

Verse 26. And Divine admonition was given him by the holy spirit, that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. The Lord's Christ is the Divine truth of the Divine good, for Christ is the same thing as Messiah, and Messiah is anointed or king; the Lord in this passage is Jehovah, for in the word of the New Testament no mention is made of Jehovah, but instead of Jehovah mention is made of the Lord and God. AC 4973. see also AE 684.

Verses 28, 30, 31. Simeon took up the infant Jesus into his arms, and blessed God, and said, mine eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people. In this passage to bless God manifestly denotes to glorify and to give thanks that the Lord was come into the world to save all who receive him; wherefore he calls the Lord the salvation which his eyes saw, which He prepares for all people; they are called His people who are principled in truths derived from good, thus who receive Him by those truths. AE 340.

Verses 31, 32. Which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for the illumination of the nations. That the Church is transferred to the nations, which acknowledge the Lord, is manifest from several passages in the Word, as from the following, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, they who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death on them has the light shined: You have multiplied the nation, you have restored to it great joy," Isa. ix. l,2. Again in the same prophet, "It shall come to pass in that day, from the root of Jesse, which stands for a sign of the people, the nations shall seek, and rest shall be His glory," Isa 11:10. And in the prophecy of Simeon concerning the Lord who was born, "Mine eyes have seen the salvation of God, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for the illumination of the nations," Luke 2:30, 31, 32. In all these passages the Lord is treated of, that the nations would come to Him; and they come to Him, when they acknowledge Him for their God; and what is wonderful, the nations adore the only God under a human form; wherefore when they hear of the Lord, they receive and acknowledge Him; nor can the New Church be established amongst others. AC 9257.

Verse 32. A light for the illumination of the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. These words were prophetically spoken by Simeon concerning the Lord who was born; a light far the illumination of the nations is the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord; and the glory of your people Israel is all that which was revealed by Hie Lord concerning Himself, and concerning faith and love to Him with those who receive; all this is called glory, because it appears in heaven in the light there, which light is the Divine Truth; by the sons of Israel are meant those who are in faith and love to the Lord. That light denotes the Lord as to Divine Truth, and also glory the things which are of light, is evident from the words of the Lord Himself in John, "They loved the glory of men more than the glory of God; I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes may not abide in darkness," (John 12:43, 46). And again, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word; this was the true light, which illuminates every man that comes into the world: And the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father," (John 1:9, 14); the Word is the Divine Truth, and also light; and glory denotes all that appears concerning the Lord in that light. These passages are quoted from the Word, because in them glory and light are named together, and they are quoted to the intent that it may be known, that light is Divine Truth from the Lord, thus the Lord Himself as to Divine Truth, and that glory is every thing which is of the light, consequently every thing which is of the Divine Truth, which makes intelligence and wisdom with the angels, and with the men who receive the Lord in faith and love. AC 10574.

Verses 40. 52. But the child grew, and became strong in spirit, etc. In the paragraph concerning Divine Omnipotence and Omniscience it was shown, that God together with creation introduced order both into the universe and into all and singular the things thereof, and that therefore the omnipotence of God in the universe and in all and singular its parts proceeds and operates according to the laws of His own order. Now whereas God descended, and is Himself order, as has been already demonstrated, it must of necessity be to the intent that He might actually become a man, that He should be conceived, carried in the womb, born, educated, and successively learn the sciences, and by them be introduced into intelligence and wisdom; wherefore as to His human [principle]. He was an infant like an infant, a boy like a boy, and so forth, with this only difference, that He perfected that progression more quickly, more fully, and more perfectly, than others: That He thus advanced according to order, is manifest from these words in Luke, "The child grew and became strong in spirit, and advanced in wisdom and age, and in favour with God and men," Luke 2:40, 52; that He did this more quickly, more fully and more perfectly than others, is evident from what is said of Him in the same Evangelist, as that when He was a. Boy of twelve years old, He sat and taught in the Temple in the midst of Doctors, and that all who heard him were astonished at His understanding and answers. This was done because Divine Order requires that man should prepare himself for the reception of God, and as lie prepares himself. God should thus enter into him, as into His own habitation and house, and this preparation is effected by knowledges concerning God, and concerning the spiritual things which are of the Church, and thus by intelligence and wisdom; for it is a law of order that so far us man agrees and approaches to God, which he ought to do altogether as from himself, so far God agrees and approaches to man, and conjoins Himself with him in the midst of him: That the Lord advanced according to this order even to union with His Father, will be further demonstrated in what follows. TCR 89. see also AC 2551, 1457.

When it is known what spirit belonging to man signifies, it may be known what it signifies when predicated of Jehovah or the Lord, to whom are attributed all things which belong to man, as a face, eyes, ears, arms, hands, and also heart and soul, thus likewise spirit, which in the Word is called the spirit of God, the spirit of Jehovah, the spirit of His nostrils, the spirit of His mouth, the spirit of truth, the spirit of holiness, and the holy spirit; that by it is meant the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord, is manifest from several passages in the Word: The reason why the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord is the spirit of God is, because men derive thence the all of life, and they, who receive that Divine Truth in faith and life, derive heavenly life. AE 183.

Verse 42. And when He was twelve years old, etc. Inasmuch as twelve signify all things, and are predicated of truths derived from good which make the Church, therefore the Lord, when He was twelve years old, left father and mother, and remained in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions, by which words is meant the initiation and introduction of His human [principle] into all things of heaven and the Church; wherefore also He said, when He was found, "Knew you not that I must be about My Father's concerns?" verse 49. AE 430.

VERSE 15. The men the shepherds said one to another, etc. The term men, in this passage, is omitted in the common version of the New Testament, and inserted only in the margin, when yet there is every reason to suppose that it constitutes a part of the Word, and affects the internal sense, the term men having relation to the principle of good, and the term shepherds to the principle of truth, thus both together marking the heavenly marriage.

Verse 20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, etc. The intelligent attentive reader, who is grounded in the doctrine of the heavenly marriage of the good and the true, which pervades every part; of the Divine Word, will not fail to note an instance of such marriage in the above words, in which glorifying God has more respect to truth manifested and operative in the understanding, whilst praising God has more respect to good manifested and operative in the will. It therefore follows, "For all things which they had heard and seen," because the things heard have reference to the goods of love and charity enlivening the will, whilst the things seen have reference to the truths of faith enlightening the understanding.

Verse 25. The same man was just and circumspect, etc. What is here rendered circumspect, is expressed in the common version of the New Testament by the term devout, but the original Greek signifies one who is cautious and circumspect, especially in the concerns of religion, and therefore the two terms just and circumspect, when joined together, mark again the heavenly marriage, the term just having relation to the principle of heavenly good in the will, whilst the term circumspect has relation to the principle of heavenly truth in the understanding.

Verse 29. Master, now let You your servant depart in peace, etc. The original Greek term here rendered master properly signifies a sovereign, or one who has rule or dominion, and is therefore here applied to the sovereign of the universe. In the common version of the New Testament this term is rendered Lord, as if it had been the expression usually rendered by the English term Lord in the New Testament. It is of importance however that the two terms should be kept distinct, inasmuch as there is every reason to believe they express distinct ideas, which ought not to be confounded, on account of the internal sense. And here it may not be impertinent to observe, that in the evangelical history there are several other names applied to the great saviour, or teacher, or Learned Instructor, or Leader, and Overseer, and yet in the common version of the New Testament, they are all of them generally rendered by the English term Master, when nevertheless there is every reason to believe, that they were intended, each of them, to designate some distinct character, quality, or attribute of the incarnate god, and thus to mark the greater fullness of His perfections.