John Trapp on Matthew 23:12

Verse 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself, &c.] Loe here a great miracle, saith Augustin. God is on high, and yet the higher thou liftest up thy self, the farther thou art from him: Videte magnum miraculum: Altus est Deus, &c. the lower thou humblest thy self, the nearer he draweth to thee. Low things he looketh close upon, that he may raise them: proud things he knows. afarre off, that he may depresse them. The proud Pharisee pressed as [illegible: 1 word] God as he could: the poor Publican,Aug. de temp. not daring to do so, stood aloof off: yet was God far from the Pharisee, near to the Publican.