That we may not be as far from the ears of God as we are from His precepts, [8826] 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 altar [8827] before we compose whatever of discord or offence we have contracted with our brethren. [8828] For what sort of deed is it to approach the peace of God [8829] without peace? the remission of debts [8830] 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? [8831] For even Joseph, when dismissing his brethren for the purpose of fetching their father, said, "And be not angry in the way." [8832] He warned us, to be sure, at that time (for elsewhere our Discipline is called "the Way" [8833] ), that when, set in "the way" of prayer, we go not unto "the Father" with anger. After that, the Lord, "amplifying the Law," [8834] openly adds the prohibition of anger against a brother to that of murder. [8835] Not even by an evil word does He permit it to be vented. [8836] Ever if we must be angry, our anger must not be maintained beyond sunset, as the apostle admonishes. [8837] 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? Footnotes: [8826] 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. [8827] altare. [Hebrews 13:10.] [8828] Matthew 5:22, 23. [8829] Perhaps there may be an allusion to Philippians 4:6, 7. [8830] See chap. vii. above, and compare Matthew 6:14, 15. [8831] "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 Ephesians 4:31, Matthew 5:21, 22. [Genesis 4:6, 7.] [8832] Genesis 45:24: so the LXX. [8833] See Acts 9:2; xix. 9, 23, in the Greek. [8834] See Matthew 5:17. [8835] Matthew 5:21, 22. [8836] Matthew 5:21, 22; 1 Pet. iii. 9, etc. [8837] Ephesians 4:26. |
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