Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ver. 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God] Gr. υποταγητε, set yourselves under him, not above him; as the proud person doth, James 4:6. Sit at his feet to receive his law, as scholars sat at the feet of their teachers, Deu 33:3 See Trapp on " Deu 33:3 " obey him as your superior in all things; say to him, Iussa sequi tam velle mihi quam posse necesse est.
Resist the devil] i.e. Worldly and fleshly lusts stirred up by the devil, Ephesians 4:26. Lust resisted is sin materially, not formally; for the guilt is done away, in that we do not allow it, but abhor it, as some are of the opinion. (Mr Capell on Tempt.)
And he will flee from you] He is but a coward therefore; for like the crocodile, if you follow him he fleeth, if you flee from him he followeth you. In all other fights, the first encounter is sharpest, but here, essiest; for the old serpent having his head bruised and crushed, cannot now so easily thrust in his mortal sting, unless we dally with him, and so lay ourselves open. Est Leo si fugias: si stas, quasi musca recedit.