Spiritual Meaning of

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The signification of a lodger, is those who do what is good from mere natural disposition; the signification of a hireling, is those who do what is good for the sake of their own advantage. That a lodger denotes what is good from mere natural disposition, is because lodgers were those who came from other peoples, and were inhabitants, and dwelt with the Israelites and the Jews in one house; and to dwell together signifies to be together in good. But because, as before said, they were from peoples out of the church, the good which is signified is not the good of the church, but is a good not of the church. This good is called natural good, because it is hereditary from birth. Moreover some have such good in consequence of ill health and feebleness. This good is meant by the good which they do who are signified by lodgers.

[2] This good is utterly different from the good of the church, for by means of the good of the church conscience is formed in man, which is the plane into which the angels flow, and through which there is fellowship with them; whereas by natural good no plane for the angels can be formed. They who are in this good do good in the dark from blind instinct; not in the light of truth by virtue of influx from heaven; and therefore in the other life they are carried away, like chaff by the wind, by everyone, as much by an evil man as by a good one, and more by an evil one who knows how to join to reasonings something of affection and persuasion; nor can they then be withdrawn by the angels, for the angels operate through the truths and goods of faith, and flow into the plane which has been formed within the man from the truths and goods of faith. From all this it is evident that those who do what is good from mere natural disposition cannot be consociated with the angels. Concerning them and their lot in the other life, (AR 3470, 3471, 3518, 4988, 4992, 5032, 6208, 7197).

[3] That lodgers are those who do not stay in their own land or in their own house, but in a foreign land, is evident in the following passages:--

By a sojourner equally as by a lodger, is signified a comer and inhabitant from another land, but by a sojourner are signified those who were being instructed in the truths of the church and who received them; and by lodgers were signified those not instructed in the truths of the church, because they were not willing to receive them.

[4] As regards hirelings, they were such as labored for hire, being servants, but not bought; that these were called hirelings, (Lev. 19:13; 25:4-6; Deut. 24:14, 15). As hirelings were those who labored for hire, by them in the internal sense are meant those who do what is good for the sake of their own advantage in the world; and in a sense still more interior, those who do what is good for the sake of reward in the other life; thus who desire to merit by works.

[5] They who do what is good merely for the sake of their own advantage in the world, cannot possibly he consociated with angels, because the end regarded by them is the world, that is, wealth and eminence; and not heaven, that is, the blessedness and happiness of souls. The end is what determines the actions, and gives them their quality. Concerning those who do what is good merely for the sake of their own advantage, the Lord thus speaks:--

[6] That lodgers and hirelings were not to be consociated in respect to holy things with those who were of the church, is evident from this:--

And that from the sons of lodgers were to be bought servants who should serve forever, in the same:--

By the sons of the lodgers are signified memory-knowledges which are from mere natural light; that spiritual truths shall rule over these is signified by servants being bought of the sons of the lodgers for a perpetual possession.

[7] But they who do what is good for the sake of reward in the other life, who also are signified by hirelings, differ from those just now spoken of, in that they have as the end life and happiness in heaven. But as this end determines and converts their Divine worship from the Lord to themselves, and they consequently desire well to themselves alone, and to others only so far as these desire well to them, and accordingly the love of self is in every detail, and not the love of the neighbor, therefore they have no genuine charity. Neither can these be consociated with the angels, for the angels are utterly averse to both the name and the idea of reward or recompense. That benefits must be imparted without the end of reward, the Lord teaches in Luke:--

Concerning meritorious goods and their quality, see (AR 1110, 1111, 1774, 1835, 1877, 2027, 2273, 2340, 2373, 2400, 3816, 4007, 4174, 4943, 6388-6390, 6392, 6393, 6478).

[8] That it is so often said by the Lord that they who do what is good shall have their reward in heaven (Matt. 5:11, 12; 6:1, 2, 16; 10:41, 42; 20:1-16; Mark 9:41; Luke 6:23, 35; 14:14; John 4:36), is because before he is regenerated a man cannot but think of reward; but it is otherwise when he has been regenerated; he is then indignant if anyone thinks that he benefits his neighbor for the sake of reward, for he feels delight and blessedness in imparting benefits, and not in recompense. In the internal sense reward denotes the delight of the affection of charity, (AR 3816, 3956, 6388, 6478).

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