But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Ver. 6. But he giveth] Or, "it," that is, the Scripture "giveth," &c., transforming us into the same image, and conforming us to the heavenly pattern by the Spirit that breatheth in it.
God resisteth the proud] Gr. αντιτασσεται, "setteth himself in battle array against such," above all other sorts of sinners, as invaders of his territories, and foragers or plunderers of his chief treasures. Pray therefore to be preserved from the perilous pinnacle of self-exaltation. God defieth such as deify themselves; he knoweth them afar off, Psalms 138:6, he cannot abide the sight of them. Neither need we wonder, since (as Boetius well observeth) whereas all other vices fly from God, pride lets fly at him; yea, flies in his face, and seeks to dethrone him; as we see in that proud prince of Tyre, Ezekiel 28:2, who thought himself first wiser than Daniel, Ezekiel 28:3; then, that he exceeded the high priest in all his ornaments,Ezekiel 28:13; then, he thought himself to be above Adam, Ezekiel 28:13; then above the cherubims, Ezekiel 28:14; and lastly, he said he was God himself, and sat in the seat of God. So the pope, 2 Thessalonians 2:4 .
But giveth grace to the humble] Humility is both a grace, and a vessel to receive grace. God poureth the oil of his grace into broken vessels, contrite spirits.