AC 8902
Thou shalt not kill.
(Exodus 20:13)
That this signifies not to take away spiritual life from anyone,
also not to extinguish faith and charity,
as also not to hold the neighbor in hatred,
is evident from the signification of "killing,"
as being to deprive of spiritual life.
That "killing" means this in the internal sense,
is because in this sense
spiritual life, or the life of heaven with a person,
is treated of;
and spiritual life, or the life of heaven with a person,
is the life of faith and of charity;
therefore by "not to kill" is signified also
not to extinguish faith and charity in anyone.
The reason why "not to kill" is also in the internal sense
not to hold the neighbor in hatred,
is that he who holds in hatred
continually wishes to kill,
and also would kill in act
unless prevented by the fear of the penalty,
of the loss of life, of reputation, and the like.
For hatred is of evil,
is contrary to charity,
and breathes nothing but the murder of him whom it hates:
in the world the murder of his body;
in the other life the murder of his soul.
Sunday, December 08, 2013
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