The comparisons, therefore, applied by Jesus Christ, differ from other comparisons principally in this respect, that they are comparisons, or agreements and correspondences, between things natural and things spiritual whereas other comparisons are comparisons only between things natural, which bear some kind of resemblance to each other. Thus hearing the sayings of Jesus Christ denotes their admission into the external man or mind only, by virtue of which the external thoughts, words, and works are in a measure directed and controlled whilst doing the sayings of Jesus Christ denotes their admission into the internal man or mind, by virtue of which admission, interior evils are seen and combatted, interior goods are manifested and exalted, and thus the whole man, both internal and external, is brought into submission to, and conformity with the divine love and wisdom.Īll the comparisons applied by Jesus Christ are to be regarded not as mere comparisons only, but as agreements or correspondences between the things compared which agreements or correspondences were established at creation, and are the results of the relationship subsisting between things spiritual and things natural, in consequence of the derivation of the latter from the former, and thus of their constant connection with each other. Let us examine the ground and meaning of this.īy hearing the sayings of Jesus Christ, is to be understood their reception in the memory and understanding, where they appear and are stored up under the form of truths but by doing them, is to be understood their reception in the will, or love, and their consequent operation on the thoughts, words, and works of the devout receiver of them. In this parable, Jesus makes a distinction between hearing and doing. They contain the complex of all divine good and divine truth, intending to form in man the divine image and likeness, by opening in him the kingdom of Heaven, by purifying him from all his natural evils, by restoring him to the form and order of Heaven, and by finally leading him to an eternal conjunction of love and of life with the God of Heaven. The "sayings of mine" - the words that Jesus Christ spoke - are to be understood as the words which he spoke, which contained the whole of his Divine Love and Wisdom in close conjunction.
And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house and it fell: and great was the fall of it." ( Matthew 7:24-27).
"Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
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