But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. But he giveth greater grace. The Holy Spirit which dwelleth in you, giveth you graces in proportion to your fidelity in complying with them, and according to your humility and the love which you bear to your neighbour. Calmet.—Saint James may also mean by these two verses, to exhort the Jews and Gentiles, who were rather jealous of each other, to nourish no jealousy against one another, nor be troubled at the blessing which their neighbour enjoyed from the bountiful hand of the Almighty. Then will God deal to us with a more liberal hand, and will bestow upon us greater graces in proportion as we lay aside all ill-will towards our neighbour. But that he will withhold his hand from the envious man, because he resists the proud, and gives his grace to the humble. Glory is the exclusive property of heaven; whoever, therefore assumes it to himself, makes God his enemy. There is nothing in man since his fall; there is nothing in holy writ which does not preach to us this truth.—N.B. These last words, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble,” are only in the Septuagint edition. Proverbs 3:34. The Hebrew and Vulg. read in this place, “He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.” Calmet.