Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 254reformed by means of truths in the understanding, see above (n.112, 126).[12] In Matthew:If thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast itfrom thee; for it is better for thee to enter life with one eye, rather thanhaving two eyes to be cast into hell fire (Matt. 5:29; 18:9; Mark 9:47).Here also, by “eye” is not meant the eye, but the understandingthinking; by “the right eye causing to stumble” the understandingthinking evil; “plucking it out and casting it away” is not admittingsuch evil, but rejecting it; “having one eye” is the understandingthinking not evil, but truth only, for the understanding can thinkthe truth; if it thinks evil it is from the will of evil. It is said “theright eye,” because “the right eye” signifies the understanding ofgood, and the “left eye” the understanding of truth (see ArcanaCoelestia, n. 4410, 6923).[13] In Isaiah:In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyesof the blind shall see out of thick darkness and out of darkness (Isa.29:18).Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf(Isa. 35:5).I will give thee for a light of the nations, to open the eyes of theblind, to lead him that is bound out of the dungeon, and them that sitin darkness out of the house of prison (Isa. 42:6, 7).Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that haveears (Isa. 43:8).“To open the eyes of the blind” is to instruct those who as yet areignorant of truths, but nevertheless have a longing for them, that is,the Gentiles. The like is signified by: