952. Verse 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and doeth a lie, signifies that no one is received into the New Jerusalem, who makes no account of the commandments of the Decalogue, and does not shun any evils there enumerated as sins, and therefore lives in them. This is, in general, what is signified by all the particulars in the above passage, because the commandments of the Decalogue are what are there meant, as may be seen above from the explanation (n. 892), where similar words occur, except that here "dogs" are also named, by which are signified they who are in lusts, which are also treated of in the ninth and tenth commandments of the Decalogue. [2] By "dogs" in general are signified they who are in all kinds of lusts, and indulge them, particularly they who are in pleasures merely corporeal, especially in the pleasure of eating and drinking, in which alone they take delight; for which reason dogs, in the spiritual world, appear from those who have indulged their appetite and palate, and are there called corporeal appetites; such, because they are gross in mind, make no account of the things which are of the church; therefore it is said that they shall stand without, that is, shall not be received into the Lord's New Church. [3] "Dogs" have a similar signification in the following passages in the Word:
His watchmen are blind; they are all dumb dogs; gazing, lying down, loving to slumber, dogs hardened in soul, they know not satiety (Isa. 56:10-11). They make a noise like dogs, and go round about the city. They wander for food, and if they be not satisfied, they thus pass the night (Ps. 59:6, 14-15). By "dogs" are meant the vilest men (Job 30:1; 1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam 9:8; 2 Kings 8:13), and also the unclean; therefore it is said in Moses:
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot and the price of a dog, into the house of Jehovah for any vow; because both are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God (Deut. 23:18).
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