Swedenborg Arcana Caelestia Vol. V (1750)

...into which Joseph was sent, signifies a state of temptation (see numbers 5036, 5037, 5039, 5044, 5045), a state which was discussed in Chapters 39 and 40. The reason a boy original: "puer" is called "guiltless" original: "infons" is because, in the internal sense The "internal sense" refers to the deeper spiritual meaning of the Bible beyond the literal words., an "infant" is "innocent." In the Word The "Word" refers to the Sacred Scriptures., mentions are made of a "suckling," an "infant," and a "boy," and these signify three degrees of innocence: the first degree by the suckling, the second by the infant, and the third by the boy. However, because innocence begins to be shed as a child grows into a "boy," that word signifies the kind of innocence called "guiltless." Because these three degrees of innocence are signified by them, the three degrees of love and charity are also signified by the same, for the reason that heavenly and spiritual love—that is, love for the Lord and charity toward the neighbor—cannot exist except within innocence.

But it should be known that the innocence of sucklings, infants, and boys is only external, and that internal innocence is not given to a person until after they have been born anew—that is, made anew as if they were a suckling, infant, and boy. These are the states signified by those terms in the Word; for in the internal sense of the Word, only what is spiritual is understood, and therefore a "spiritual birth," which is called "rebirth" and also regeneration. That "guiltless" (which is called "innocent") is signified by a "boy" is evident in Luke:

"Jesus said, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a boy original: "Puer", shall not enter into it" (18:17).

To receive the kingdom of God like a boy is to receive charity and faith out of a state of innocence. In Mark:

"Jesus took a boy, placed him in the midst of them, and took him into his arms; he said to them, whoever receives one of such boys in my Name, receives Me" (9:36–37; see also Luke 9:47–48).

Here, innocence was represented by the "boy"; whoever receives innocence receives the Lord, because He is the source of all innocence. Anyone can see that "receiving a boy in the Name of the Lord" does not literally mean receiving a child, but rather the heavenly quality represented by him. In Matthew:

"The boys in the temple cried out, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' They were indignant, so Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read, "Out of the mouth of infants and sucklings You have perfected praise"?'" (21:15–16; see also Psalm 8:3).

The reason the boys cried "Hosanna to the Son of David" was to represent that only innocence acknowledges and receives the Lord—that is, those people who possess innocence. By the phrase "out of the mouth of infants and sucklings You have perfected praise," it is signified that praise cannot come to the Lord by any other way than through innocence; for through innocence alone is all communication, all influence original: "influxus," referring to the flowing in of divine life, and therefore all access to Him. This is why the Lord says in the same book:

"Unless you are converted and become like boys, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven" (18:3).

In the following passages as well, "boy" signifies innocence; in Zechariah:

"The streets of the city were filled with boys and girls playing in its streets" (8:5).

This refers to the New Jerusalem, or the Lord’s Kingdom. In David:

"Praise Jehovah, young men and also virgins, old men with boys" (Psalm 148:12).

In the same:

"Jehovah renews your life from the pit, he satisfies your mouth with good, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s" (Psalm 103:4–5).

In Joel:

"Over my people they have cast lots, for they gave a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine that they might drink" (3:3). original: iv: 3

In Jeremiah:

"I will scatter by you man and woman, and I will scatter by you the old man and the boy, and I will scatter by you..."