AC 2815-2816 - The Lord's Temptations

AC 2815

And Abraham put forth his hand,
and took the knife to slay his son.
(Genesis 22:10)

"Abraham put forth his hand,"
means temptation even to the utmost of power;
"and took the knife,"
means as to truth;
"to slay his son,"
means until
whatever was from the merely human was dead.

AC 2816

Abraham put forth his hand.
That this means temptation
even to the utmost of power,
is evident from the series of things;
for the Lord's most grievous
and inmost temptations are treated of.
The verses which precede
treat of the preparation of the Human Divine
for admitting and enduring them:
here the act is treated of,
which is expressed in the sense of the letter
by "Abraham put forth his hand."