Not Keeping Anger Even for a Moment

Or how can we think the Lord would have anger kept even for a moment, when he does not allow us to offer the spiritual sacrifices of our prayers if we know that another has any bitterness against us? For he says, “If, then, you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” How, then, may we keep up our displeasure against our brother, I will not say for several days, but even until the going down of the sun, if we are not allowed to offer our prayers to God while he has anything against us? And yet the apostle commands us, “Pray without ceasing,” and to pray “in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger and disputing.” [a]

It follows, then, that either we never pray at all, keeping this poison in our hearts, and become guilty with regard to this charge of the apostle and of the gospel, in which we are bidden to pray everywhere and without ceasing; or else, if we deceive ourselves and venture to pour out our prayers against his command, we must know that we are offering God no prayer at all, but an obstinate temper and a rebellious spirit.