9180. 'He shall come in his hire' means being submissive and subservient. This is clear from the meaning of 'coming in one's hire' as submitting oneself and being subservient. The implications of this are as follows: There are people who learn and absorb truths from the Word, or from the teachings of the Church, or else from others whoever they may be, even from themselves by drawing their own conclusions. But these people do so for the sake of gain, that is, to earn important positions or wealth, or else to merit heaven. Such people are meant in the internal sense by 'hired servants who shall come in their hire', that is, who must submit themselves and serve. So far as one who belongs to the Church is concerned, forms of gain occupy the last place, not the first; and when they occupy the last place they are servants, but if they occupy the first they are masters. The person who sees gain as that which occupies first place is someone turned upside down, and is also represented in the next life as someone turned upside down with his head in hell. But the person who sees charity and faith, thus the Lord and the neighbour, as that which occupies first place is someone who is the right way up and stands the right way up in the next life with his head in heaven. This shows what is meant by good that is done for the sake of reward, and that this good must be submissive and subservient, meant by 'If he is a hired servant he shall come in his hire'.