A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Read Chapter 18
Cyril of Alexandria
AD 444
Truly spiritual affection is a strong city not able to be overcome or besieged by the devil either by undermining or by scaling. For it does not give way to the siege machines of Satan because it is guarded by Christ, the Lord, by Christ who conquered the world and has prepared eternal blessings for you, by Christ, who said, “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Judgments of many are more deserving of credit. Hebrew, "a brother offended, is like a strong place, and their quarrels "They are not easily reconciled. Civil wars are most terrible. (Calmet)
“A brother helped by his brother is like a fortified and elevated city: and is as strong as a well fortified palace of kings.” The disciples of Christ were of the same mind, like brothers, and were fortified like a royal palace surrounded by many walls as they helped each other. They were firm in their unity, and their mutual aid made them stronger and stronger. Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon, Fragment
Do you see the great strength which comes from concord? And do you see the great harm caused by contentiousness? A kingdom in revolt destroys itself. When two brothers are bound together and united into one, they are more unbreakable than any wall. .
