|
AC 9013. To kill him with
deceit. That this signifies the consequent malice of depriving the neighbor of
eternal life, is evident from the signification of "to kill," as being to take
away faith and charity from the neighbor, and thus to deprive him of spiritual
life, which is eternal life (see n. 6767, 8902); and from the signification of
"deceit," as being malice from the will with forethought or premeditation, thus
from set purpose. Evils are done either from enmity, or from hatred, or from
revenge, and either with deceit or without it. But evils done with deceit are
the worst, because deceit is like a poison which infects and destroys with
infernal venom, for it goes through the whole mind even to its interiors. The
reason is that he who is in deceit meditates evil, and feeds his understanding
with it, and takes delight in it, and thus destroys everything therein that
belongs to man, that is, which belongs to life from the good of faith and of
charity.
[2] They who in the world have
ensnared the neighbor with deceit in respect to worldly and earthly things, in
the other life ensnare the neighbor with deceit in respect to spiritual and
heavenly things; and because they do this in secret, they are dispatched to the
hells behind the back, deep down according to the malignity and hurtfulness of
the deceit, and in this way are separated from those who are in front; the
latter being called "spirits," but the former, "genii" (n. 5035, 5977, 8593,
8622, 8625). Genii are not admitted to men as spirits are, because they flow
into the affections of the will, by acting against the good of love and charity
so secretly that it cannot possibly be perceived; and in this way they destroy
the truth of faith. In their own hell they render themselves invisible before
their companions; for they who have acted secretly in the world can render
themselves invisible in the other life; but when they appear, they appear among
themselves like men; whereas when they are looked at by the angels they appear
like serpents, for they have the nature of serpents, and that which goes forth
from them is like poison, and indeed is spiritual poison.
[3] Wherefore in the Word
"poison" signifies deceit, and poisonous serpents, such as "asps,"
"cockatrices," and "vipers," signify the deceitful; as in the following
passages:
In heart ye work
perversities, their poison is like the poison of a serpent; like that of the
deaf asp (Ps. 58:2, 4).
They cogitate evils in the
heart, they sharpen their tongue like a serpent; the poison of the asp is under
their lips (Ps. 140:2, 3).
They lay eggs of the asp,
and weave the spider's webs, he that eateth of their eggs dieth (Isa. 59:5).
He shall suck the poison of
asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him (Job 20:16).
Their wine is the poison of
dragons, and the cruel gall of asps (Deut. 32:33).
Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape
the judgment of Gehenna (Matt. 22:29, 33).
[4] Deceit is called "hypocrisy"
when there is piety in the mouth, and impiety in the heart; or when there is
charity in the mouth, but hatred in the heart; or when there is innocence in the
face and gesture, but cruelty in the soul and breast; consequently when they
deceive by a show of innocence, charity, and piety. Such are "serpents" and
"vipers" in the internal sense, because, as before said, when such are looked at
by the angels in the light of heaven, they appear like serpents and like vipers,
who hide evils under truths; that is, who deceitfully bend truths to the doing
of evils; for such hide poison as it were under the teeth, and thus kill.
[5] But they who are in the
faith of truth and in the life of good from the Lord, cannot be injured by the
poisons of such, for they are in light from the Lord, in which the deceitful
appear like serpents, and their deceits like poisons. That these are kept in
safety by the Lord is meant by His words to the disciples:
Behold I give unto you
power to tread upon serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19).
These signs shall follow
them that believe; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not harm them (Mark 16:17, 18).
The suckling shall play on
the hole of the viper (Isa. 11:8).
[6] Those who have been
interiorly infected with spiritual deceit, that is, with hypocrisy, are they who
are meant by those who speak against the Holy Spirit, for whom there is no
forgiveness, in Matthew:
I say unto you, All sin and
blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy of the spirit shall not
be forgiven unto men. Nay, if anyone shall say a word against the Son of man, it
shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it
shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad and its
fruit bad. O offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak what is good
(Matt. 12:31-34).
By "saying a word against the
Holy Spirit" is meant to speak well and think evil, and to do well and will
evil, respecting those things which are of the Lord, of His kingdom, and of His
church, also which are of the Word; for thus falsity lies inwardly hidden in the
truths which they speak; and evil, which is hidden poison, in the goods which
they do; consequently they are called "an offspring of vipers."
[7] In the other life an evil
person is allowed to speak evil and also falsity; but not good and truth,
because there all are compelled to speak from the heart, and are not allowed to
be of a divided mind. They who do otherwise are separated from the rest, and are
hidden in hells from which they cannot possibly go forth. That such are they who
are meant by "those who say a word against the Holy Spirit" is evident from the
above words of the Lord, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make
the tree bad, and its fruit bad; how can ye, being evil, speak what is good?"
The "Holy Spirit" denotes the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, thus the
Holy Divine Itself, which is thereby interiorly blasphemed and profaned.
[8] That it will not be forgiven
them is because hypocrisy or deceit in connection with Holy Divine things
infects the interiors of man, and destroys everything of spiritual life in him,
as was said above, insomuch that at last there is nothing sound in any part of
him. For the forgiveness of sins is the separation of evil from good, and the
rejection of evil to the sides (n. 8393), which cannot be done with him in whom
all good has been destroyed. Therefore it is said "It shall not be forgiven him,
neither in this age nor in that which is to come." Of this character also are
those who are meant by "him that had not on a wedding garment," who was bound
hand and foot and cast out into outer darkness (Matt. 22:11-13, see n. 2132).
[9] That "deceit" in the Word
denotes hypocrisy is evident from the following passages:
Beware ye every man of his
companion, and put ye not your trust upon any brother; for every brother
supplanteth. They mock, a man with his companion, and speak not the truth; they
have taught their tongue to speak a lie. Thy dwelling is in the midst of deceit;
through deceit they have refused to know Me, said Jehovah (Jer. 9:4-6).
Thou shalt destroy them
that speak a lie; Jehovah abhorreth the man of bloods and deceit (Ps. 5:6).
Blessed is the man unto
whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, provided in his spirit there is no deceit
(Ps. 32:2).
Deliver my soul from the
lip of a lie, from a tongue of deceit (Ps. 120:2).
In like manner Ps. 52:4;
109:2. |
