Chapter XI.—When Praying the Father, You are Not to Be Angry with a Brother.

That we may not be as far from the ears of God as we are from His precepts,67    Oehler divides these two chapters as above. The generally adopted division unites this sentence to the preceding chapter, and begins the new chapter with, “The memory of His precepts;” and perhaps this is the preferable division. the memory of His precepts paves for our prayers a way unto heaven; of which precepts the chief is, that we go not up unto God’s altar68    altare. [Heb. xiii. 10.] before we compose whatever of discord or offence we have contracted with our brethren.69    Matt. v. 22, 23. For what sort of deed is it to approach the peace of God70    Perhaps there may be an allusion to Phil. iv. 6, 7. without peace? the remission of debts71    See chap. vii. above, and compare Matt. vi. 14, 15. while you retain them? How will he appease his Father who is angry with his brother, when from the beginning “all anger” is forbidden us?72    “Ab initio” probably refers to the book of Genesis, the initium, or beginning of Scripture, to which he is about to refer. But see likewise Eph. iv. 31, Matt. v. 21, 22.  [Gen. iv. 6, 7.] For even Joseph, when dismissing his brethren for the purpose of fetching their father, said, “And be not angry in the way.”73    Gen. xlv. 24: so the LXX. He warned us, to be sure, at that time (for elsewhere our Discipline is called “the Way”74    See Acts ix. 2; xix. 9, 23, in the Greek.), that when, set in “the way” of prayer, we go not unto “the Father” with anger. After that, the Lord, “amplifying the Law,”75    See Matt. v. 17. openly adds the prohibition of anger against a brother to that of murder.76    Matt. v. 21, 22. Not even by an evil word does He permit it to be vented.77    Matt. v. 21, 22; 1 Pet. iii. 9, etc. Ever if we must be angry, our anger must not be maintained beyond sunset, as the apostle admonishes.78    Eph. iv. 26. But how rash is it either to pass a day without prayer, while you refuse to make satisfaction to your brother; or else, by perseverance in anger, to lose your prayer?

CAPUT XI .

Memoria praeceptorum viam orationibus sternit ad coelum, quorum praecipuum est, ne prius ascendamus ad Dei altare, quam si quid discordiae vel offensae cum fratribus contraxerimus, resolvamus (Matth., V, 23). Quid est enim ad pacem Dei recedere sine pace? ad remissionem debitorum cum retentione? Quomodo placabit Patrem iratus in fratrem, cum omnis ira ab initio interdicta sit nobis? nam et Joseph dimittens fratres suos ad perducendum patrem, Et ne, inquit , irascimini in via (Gen., XLV, 24): nos scilicet monuit. Alias enim via cognominatur disciplina nostra. Tum ne in via orationis constituti, ad Patrem cum ira incedamus. Exinde aperte Dominus 1166B amplians legem, iram in fratrem homicidio superponit , ne verbo quidem malo permittit expungi etiamsi irascendum est, non ultra solis receptum (Ephes., 1167A IV, 26), ut Apostolus admonet. Quam autem temerarium est, aut diem sine oratione transigere, dum cessas fratri satisfacere, aut orationem perseverante iracundia perdere.