2454、“他的妻子在他身后回头一看”表示真理背离良善，注视教义，这从“在他身后回头一看”和“妻子”的含义清楚可知。“在他身后回头一看”是指注视与真理有关的教义，而不注视与良善有关的遵行教义的生活，如前所述（2417节）。因为在后之物，或次要之物，或不那么重要的东西可以说在“他身后”；而在先之物，或首要之物，或更重要的东西可以说在“他前面”。前面频繁说明，真理是在后的，良善是在先的，或说真理是次要的，良善是首要的。事实上，真理属于良善，或说真理拥有与良善有关的一切，因为良善是真理的本质和生命。因此，“在他身后回头一看”是指注视构成教义的真理，而不注视构成遵行教义的生活的良善。
这层含义从主在路加福音中的话很清楚地看出来，在那里，祂也论到教会的末期或时代的完结：
当那日，那在屋顶上，而他的器具在屋里的，不要下来取它们；那在田里的，同样不要回到他身后。要记得罗得的妻子。（路加福音17:31-32）
没有内义，也就是说，如果我们不知道“在屋顶上”、“器具在屋里”、“下来取它们”、“在田里”，以及最后“回到他身后”表示什么，主的这些话一点也听不懂。根据内义，“在屋顶上”是指在良善中，或拥有良善，因为“屋（或房、家）”是指良善（参看710，2238，2234节）。“器具在屋里”是指属于良善或包含良善的真理，因为真理是良善的器皿（参看1496，1832，1900，2063，2269节）。“下来取它们”是指将人的自我从良善转向真理，如我们所看到的，因为良善是在先的，或首要的，或更重要的，故也是较高的；而真理是在后的，或次要的，或不那么重要的，故也是较低的。“田”是指教会（教会因播种在田里的种子而被称为一块田）；因此，那些处于教义之良善的人，或说那些行出教义所教导的良善之人就是“田”本身，这一点从圣言中的许多经文明显看出来。这一切表明“在他身后回头一看”表示什么，即：使人的自我背离良善，并注视教义。正因“罗得的妻子”表示这些事，所以经上补充说：“要记得罗得的妻子。”经上之所以不说她“在她自己身后”，而是说“在他身后”回头一看，是因为“罗得”表示良善（参看2324，2351，2370，2399节）。这解释了为何当罗得被告知要怎么做（19:17）时，经上说：“不要往你身后看。”
在路加福音，经上之所以说“不要回到他身后”，而不说“回到他身后的东西”，是因为属天人甚至不愿提与教义有关的任何事物（参看202，337节）。这就是为何在路加福音，经上不提这类事物，只说“他身后”。在马太福音，经上是这样描述这些事的：
你们看见先知但以理所预言的那行毁坏可憎的，那时，在犹太的，应当逃到山上；在屋顶上的，不要下来从屋里拿什么东西；在田里的，也不要回去取衣裳。（马太福音24:15-17）
此处“那行毁坏可憎的”是指当教会没有爱和仁时，它的状态，因为当爱和仁被毁时，可憎的事就占主导地位。“犹太”（即犹大）是指教会，事实上是指属天教会，这一点从整个旧约圣言，包括历史和先知书明显看出来。他们要逃到的“山”是指对主之爱，因而是指对邻之仁（参看795，1430，1691节）。“在屋顶上的”是指爱之良善，如刚才所述。“下来从屋里拿什么东西”是指将人的自我从良善转向真理，这一点刚才也说了。“在田里的”是指属灵教会成员，这一点从圣言中“田”的含义明显可知。“也不要回去取衣裳”是指不要从良善转向构成教义的真理，这是因为“衣裳”表示真理，真理就像衣服一样穿在良善身上（参看1073节）。谁都能看出，主在那里所说关于时代完结的一切话指的是完全不同的事物，并涉及奥秘，包括：在犹太的，应当逃到山上；在屋顶上的，不要下来从屋里拿什么东西；在田里的，也不要回去取衣裳。与此类似的是，经上说罗得不要往自己身后看（19:17），在此又说他的妻子“在他身后回头一看”，就变成了一根盐柱。此外，这个问题从“妻子”和“罗得”的含义清楚看出来：“妻子”是指真理（参看915，1468节）；“罗得”是指良善（参看2324，2351，2370，2399节）；这就是为何经上说“在他身后”。
当教会成员不再把他过的是哪种生活放在心上，只关心他拥有哪种教义时，就说真理背离良善，并注视教义。然而，使得一个人成为教会成员的，正是遵行教义的生活，而不是与生活分离的教义。当教义与生活分离时，由于构成生活的良善被荒废了，所以构成教义的真理也被荒废了，即变成了一根盐柱。凡只关注教义，不关注生活的人都能看到这一点，只要想一想，即便教义教导了这些事，他们是否真的相信复活、天堂、地狱，甚至相信主，以及教义教导的其它事。
Potts(1905-1910) 2454
2454. His wife looked back behind him. That this signifies that truth turned itself away from good, and looked to doctrinal things, is evident from the signification of "looking back behind him," and from the signification of a "wife." It has been already said (n. 2417) that to "look back behind him" is to look to doctrinal things, which are of truth, and not to a life according to doctrinal things, which is of good; for that is said to be "behind" him, which is posterior; and that is said to be "before" him, which is prior. It has been frequently shown that truth is posterior, and good prior; for truth is of good, because good is the essence and life of truth; and therefore to "look back behind him" is to look to truth, which is of doctrine, and not to good, which is of life according to doctrine. That this is the signification is very evident from the Lord's words (where also He is speaking of the last time of the church, or of the consummation of the age) in Luke:
In that day he that shall be upon the house, and his vessels in the house, let him not go down to take them away; and let him that is in the field likewise not turn back behind him: Remember Lot's wife (Luke 17:31-32). [2] These words of the Lord are not at all intelligible without the internal sense, thus unless it is known what is signified by being upon the house, what by the vessels in the house, what by going down to take them away, and what by the field, and lastly what by turning back behind him. According to the internal sense, to be "upon the house" is to be in good (that a "house" denotes good may be seen above, n. 710, 2238, 2234). The "vessels" in a house denote the truths which are of good (that truths are the vessels of good, may be seen above, n. 1496, 1832, 1900, 2063, 2269). To "go down to take them away" denotes to turn one's self away from good to truth, as we can see; for as good is prior it is also higher; and as truth is posterior it is lower. That a "field" denotes the church, being so called from the seed which it receives into it, consequently that those are "fields" who are in the good of doctrine, is evident from many passages in the Word. This shows what is signified by "turning back behind him," namely, to turn one's self away from good, and to look to doctrinal things; wherefore, because these things are signified by Lot's wife, it is added, "Remember Lot's wife." It is not said that she "looked back behind herself," but "behind him;" because "Lot" signifies good (see n. 2324, 2351, 2370, 2399). Hence it is that when Lot was told what to do (verse 17), it was said, "Look not back behind thee." [3] The reason why it is said in Luke, "Let him not turn back behind him," and not "to the things that are behind him," is that the celestial are not willing even to mention anything of a doctrinal nature (see n. 202, 337); which is the reason why nothing specific is mentioned, but it is merely said "behind him." These same things are thus described in Matthew:
When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, foretold by Daniel the prophet, then let them that are in Judea flee into the mountains; let him that is upon the house not go down to take anything out of his house; and let him that is in the field not return back to take his garments (Matt. 24:15-17). [4] The "abomination of desolation" denotes the state of the church when there is no love and no charity, for when these are desolated, abominable things predominate. That "Judea" denotes the church, and indeed the celestial church, is evident from the Word of the Old Testament throughout, both the historic and the prophetic. That the "mountains" into which they shall flee, denote love to the Lord and the consequent charity toward the neighbor, may be seen above (n. 795, 1430, 1691). That "he who is upon the house," denotes the good of love, has just been stated. That to "go down to take anything out of his house," denotes to turn one's self away from good to truth, has also just been stated. That "they who are in the field" denote those who are in the spiritual church, is evident from the signification in the Word of a "field." That "let him not return back to take his garments," denotes that he should not turn himself away from good to the truth that is of doctrine, is because "garments" signify truths, for truths act as garments in clothing good (see n. 1073). Everyone can see that very different things are meant and that arcana are involved by all that the Lord there said concerning the consummation of the age, as that they who were in Judea should flee into the mountains, that they who were upon the house should not go down to take anything out of the house, and that they who were in the field should not return back to take their garments; and in like manner by its being said that Lot should not look back behind himself (verse 17), and here that his wife did look back behind him. This is further evident from the signification of a "wife," as being truth (see n. 915, 1468); and from the signification of "Lot," as being good (see n. 2324, 2351, 2370, 2399); hence it is said "behind him." [5] Truth is said to turn itself away from good, and to look to doctrinal things, when the man of the church no longer has at heart what kind of a life he lives, but what kind of a doctrine he possesses; when yet it is a life according to doctrine that makes a man of the church, but not doctrine separate from life; for when doctrine is separated from life, then because good, which is of the life, is laid waste, truth, which is of doctrine, is also laid waste, that is, becomes a pillar of salt; which everyone may know who looks only to doctrine and not to life, when he considers whether, although doctrine teaches them, he believes in the resurrection, in heaven, in hell, even in the Lord, and in the rest of the things that are of doctrine.
Elliott(1983-1999) 2454
2454. That 'his wife looked back behind him' means that truth turned away from good and looked towards matters of doctrine is clear from the meaning of 'looking back behind him' and from the meaning of 'a wife'. Looking back behind him means looking towards matters of doctrine, which have a relationship with truth, and not towards life in accordance with them, which has a relationship with good, as stated above in 2417. That which is secondary is referred to as 'behind him' and that which is primary as 'before him'. The fact that truth is secondary and good primary has been shown quite often. For truth belongs to good, since the essence and life of truth is good. 'Looking behind him' therefore means looking towards truth which constitutes doctrinal teaching, and not towards good which constitutes life in accordance with doctrinal teaching. That these points are what is meant becomes quite clear from the Lord's words, where also, referring to the final period of the Church or close of the age, He says in Luke,
On that day, whoever will be on the housetop with his vessels in the house, let him not come down to take them away; and whoever is in the field, let him likewise not turn back to behind him. Remember Lot's wife. Luke 17:-31, 32.
[2] These words of the Lord are by no means intelligible without the internal sense, and so are unintelligible unless one knows what is meant by 'being on the housetop', by 'vessels in the house', by 'coming down to take them away', by 'the field', and lastly by 'turning back to behind him'. According to the internal sense 'being on the housetop' means resting on good; for 'a house' means good, see 710, 2231, 2233. 'Vessels in the house' means truths which belong to good; for truths are the vessels for good, see 1496, 1832, 1900, 2063, 2269. 'Going down to take them away' means, as is evident, turning away from good towards truth, for since good is primary it is also higher, while truth, being secondary, is also lower. That 'the field' is the Church, so called from the seed which it receives, and consequently that those people are 'fields' in whom there is the good taught by doctrine, is clear from many places in the Word. These considerations show what 'turning back to behind him' means, namely turning away from good and looking towards matters of doctrine. And it is because these things are meant by the expression 'Lot's wife', that 'remember Lot's wife' is added. The reason it is not said that she looked 'behind herself' but 'behind him' is that 'Lot' means good, see 2324, 2351, 2371, 2399. This explains why, when Lot was told what to do, verse 17, the words used were, 'Do not look back behind you'.
[3] The reason why in Luke it is said 'let him not turn back to behind him' and not 'to the things behind him' is that celestial people are unwilling even to mention anything that is a matter of doctrine, see 202, 337. This is why no such thing is mentioned in Luke, only the words 'to behind him'.
[4] These same matters are described in Matthew as follows,
When you see the abomination of desolation, foretold by the prophet Daniel, then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything away out of his house; and let him who is in the field not return back to take his clothes. Matt 24: 15-17.
Here 'the abomination of desolation' is the state of the Church when there is no love and no charity. When these have been destroyed abominable things predominate. 'Judea' means the Church, and in particular the celestial Church, as is evident from both the historical and prophetical sections throughout the Old Testament Word, while 'the mountains into which they were to flee' means love to the Lord and consequent charity towards the neighbour, see 795, 1430, 1691. 'He who is on the housetop' means good flowing from love, as stated just above. 'Going down to take anything away out of his house' means turning away from good towards truth, as has also been stated above, while 'he who is in the field' means members of the spiritual Church, as is evident from the meaning of 'field' in the Word. 'Let him not return back to take his clothes' means not turning away from good towards truth that constitutes doctrinal teaching - 'clothes' meaning truths, for truths clothe good like garments, see 1073. Anyone may see that all those things which the Lord has said in that section about the close of the age mean things altogether different and embody arcana, such as that those in Judea were to flee into the mountains, that the one on the housetop was not to go down and bring anything out of the house, and that the one in the field was not to return back to take his clothes. Similar to this is the statement in verse 17 that Lot was not to look back behind him, and that made here that his wife did look back behind him and became a pillar of salt. In addition this matter is clear from the meaning of 'a wife' as truth, dealt with in 915, 1468, and from the meaning of 'Lot' as good, dealt with in 2324, 2351, 2371, 2399; hence the words 'after him'.
[5] Truth is said to turn away from good and look towards matters of doctrine when the member of the Church no longer takes to heart what kind of life he leads, only what kind of doctrine he possesses. Yet it is life according to doctrine, not doctrine separate from life, that makes anyone a member of the Church; for when doctrine is separated from life, then because good, in which life consists, has been vastated, truth as well, in which doctrine consists, is vastated, that is, it becomes 'a pillar of salt'. This is something anyone who looks to doctrine alone and not to life may know, by considering whether, even though doctrine teaches such things, he in fact believes in the resurrection, heaven, hell, and indeed the Lord, and so in everything else which doctrine teaches.
Latin(1748-1756) 2454
2454. Quod `respexit uxor ejus post eum' significet quod verum averterit se a bono et spectaverit ad doctrinalia, constat a significatione `respicere post eum,' et a significatione `uxoris'; respicere post eum quod sit ad doctrinalia, quae sunt veri, non autem ad vitam secundum doctrinalia, quae est boni, supra n. 2417 dictum est; id enim dicitur `post eum' quod posterius (o)est, et id ante eum quod prius; quod verum sit posterius et bonum prius, saepius ostensum est; verum enim est boni, nam essentia et vita veri est bonum; quare `respicere post eum' est ad verum quod est doctrinalis, non autem ad bonum quod est vitae secundum doctrinale: quod haec significentur, constat manifeste a Domini verbis, ubi etiam, de ultimo tempore Ecclesiae seu consummatione saeculi loquitur, apud Lucam, In ista die, quicumque erit super domo, et vasa illius in domo, ne descendito ad tollendum ea: et quicumque in agro, similiter ne revertatur ad post eum: mementote uxoris Loti, xvii 31, 32;[2] haec Domini verba nusquam intelligibilia sunt absque sensu interno, ita nisi sciatur quid significant `esse super domo,' quid `vasa in domo,' quid `descendere ad tollendum ea,' et quid `ager,' et demum quid `reverti ad post eum'; secundum sensum internum, `esse super domo' est esse in bono; quod `domus' sit bonum, videatur n. 710, (x)2231, 2233; `vasa in domo' sunt vera quae sunt boni; quod vera sint vasa boni, videatur n. 1496, 1832, 1900, 2063, 2269; `descendere ad tollendum ea' est se avertere a bono ad verum, quod patet, bonum enim sicut est prius etiam est superius, et verum sicut est posterius etiam est inferius; quod `ager' sit Ecclesia, ita dicta a semine quod recipit, proinde quod illi sint `agri' qui in bono doctrinae sunt, ex multis in Verbo locis constat; inde patet quid significat `reverti ad post eum,' nempe avertere se a bono, et spectare ad doctrinalia, quare quia illa significantur per `uxorem Loti,' additur `mementote uxoris Loti'; non dicitur respexit `post se,' sed `post eum,' quia `Lot' significat bonum, videatur n. 2324, 2351, 2371, 2399, inde est cum dicebatur ad Lotum, vers. 17 quod dictum `ne respicias post te'; [3] (m)quod apud Lucam dicatur `ne revertatur ad post cum,' non `ad illa quae post eum,' est quia caeleste ne quidem nominare volunt aliquid quod est doctrinalis, videatur n. 202, 337, quae causa est quod nec nominatum, sed dictum `ad post eum.' [4] Eadem haec ita describuntur apud Matthaeum, Cum videritis abominationem desolationis, praedictam a Daniele propheta;... tunc qui in Judaea sunt, fugiant in monte: qui super domo est, ne descendat ad tollendum quid e domo sua; et qui in agro, ne revertatur retro ad tollendum vestimenta sua, xxiv 15-17;
ubi `abominatio desolationis' est status Ecclesiae cum nullus amor et nulla charitas, quibus desolatis regnant abominabilia; quod `Judaea' sit Ecclesia, et quidem caelestis, a Verbo tam historico quam prophetico Veteris Testamenti ubivis patet; quod `montes' in {1} quos fugerent, sint amor in Dominum et inde charitas erga proximum, videatur n. 795, 1430, 1691; `qui super domo' quod sit bonum amoris, mox supra dictum; `descendere ad tollendum quid e domo sua' quod sit se avertere a bono ad verum, etiam supra dictum; `qui in agro' quod sint illi qui in Ecclesia spirituali, patet a significatione `agri' in Verbo; `ne revertatur retro ad tollendum vestimenta' quod sit ne avertat se a bono ad verum quod doctrinalis; quod `vestimenta' significent vera, quia vera induunt bonum ut {2} vestes, videatur n. 1073 quisque videre potest quod omnia illa quae Dominus de consummatione saeculi ibi locutus est, significent prorsus alia, ac involvant arcana, ut quod `qui in Judaea fugerent montes,' quod `qui super domo non descenderet ad tollendum quid domo,' et quod `qui in agro non reverteretur retro ad tollendum vestimenta sua'; similiter quod `Lot non respiceret post se,' vers. 17, et hic quod `uxor ejus respexerit post eum {3}.' Porro constat hoc significatione `uxoris' quod sit verum, de qua n. 915, 1468; et a significatione `Loti' quod sit bonum, de qua n. 2324, 2351, 2371, 2399; inde dicitur `post eum.' [5] Verum dicitur avertere se a bono et spectare doctrinalia, cum non amplius cordi est quali vita sit {4} homo Ecclesiae, sed quali doctrina, cum tamen vita secundum doctrinam faciat homini Ecclesiae, non autem doctrina separata a vita; cum enim doctrina separatur a vita, tunc quia vastatum est bonum quod est vitae, etiam vastatur verum quod est doctrinae, hoc est, fit `statua salis'; quod quisque scire potest qui solum doctrinam spectat non vitam, num, tametsi doctrina docet, credat resurrectionem, caelum, infernum, immo Dominum, ita reliqua quae sunt doctrinae. @1 ad.$ @2 sicut.$ @3 i et facta statu salis.$ @4 fit I.$