891. [verse 8] 'But as for the fearful and the untrustworthy and the abominable' signifies those who are in no faith, and in no charity, and consequently in all kinds of evils. By 'the fearful' are signified those who are in no faith, concerning which [something] follows. By 'the untrustworthy' are signified those who are in no charity towards the neighbour, for they are insincere and fraudulent, thus untrustworthy. By 'the abominable' are signified those who are in all kinds of evils, for 'abominations' in the Word signify in general the evils that are named in the last six precepts of the Decalogue, as can be established in Jeremiah:-
Do not put your trust in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah are these: will you with stealing, killing, and committing adultery and swearing by a lie, at length come and stand before Me in this house, while you are doing these abominations? Jer. vii 2-4, 9-11;
and so in all other places. That by 'the fearful' are signified those who are in no faith, is established from these passages:-
Jesus said to the disciples, Why are you fearful, O men of little faith? Matt. viii 26; Mark iv 39, 40; Luke viii 25.
Jesus said unto the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be afraid, believe only, then [thy] daughter shall be preserved Luke viii 49, 50; Mark v 36.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom Luke xii 32.
Likewise by 'Do not be afraid' (Matt. xvii 6, 7; xxviii 3-5, 10; Luke i 12, 13, 30; ii 9, 10; v 8-10; and elsewhere). From all these passages (ex his et illis) it can be established that by 'but the fearful and the untrustworthy and the abominable' are signified those who are in no faith, and in no charity, and consequently in all kinds of evils.
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