87. [verse 7] 'He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches' signifies that he who understands those things obeys what the Divine Truth of the Word teaches those who will be of the New Church (e nova Ecclesia) that is the New Jerusalem. By 'to hear' is signified both to perceive and to obey, because one pays attention in order to perceive and obey. That the one and the other is signified by 'to hear', is plain from common parlance, in which to hear or heed anyone is said, also to hearken or give heed to anyone, the latter signifying to obey and the former to perceive. That 'to hear' signifies these two things results from Correspondence, for those who are at the same time in perception and obedience are in the province of the ears in heaven. Since the one and the other is signified by 'to hear', therefore the Lord so often said:-
He who has an ear to hear, let him hear Matt. xi 15; xiii 43; Mark iv 9, 23; vii 16; Luke viii 8; xiv 35;
and the like is also said to all the Churches, as is plain from verses 11, 17, and 29 of this chapter, and from verses 6, 13, and 22 of the one following. By 'the Spirit', however, 'that says to the Churches' is signified the Divine Truth of the Word, and by 'the Churches' the entire Church in Christendom. That by 'the Spirit of God', which is the Holy Spirit, is understood the Divine Truth (Veritas) proceeding from the Lord, may be seen in THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE LORD (n. 51); and since the entire Church is understood, it is not said what the Spirit says to the Church, but what the Spirit says to 'the Churches'.
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