James 3:3-4 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.… 1. It is good to illustrate Divine things by similitudes taken from earthly. (1) Our knowledge is by sense; by things known we the better apprehend those that are unknown: and by an earthly matter, with which we are acquainted, we conceive of the worth of that which is heavenly and spiritual. (2) In a similitude the thing is doubly represented, and with a sweet variety; though we know the man, we delight to view the picture. 2. Nature, art, and religion show that the smallest things, wisely ordered, may be of great use. Neglect not small things; we are often snared by saying, "Is it not a little one?" (Genesis 19:20). And we lose much advantage by "despising the day of small things" (Zechariah 4:10). 3. God's wisdom is much seen by endowing man with an ability of contrivance and rare invention. You must wait upon the Lord for skill and for success; He teacheth to tame the horse, to steer the ship. 4. From the first similitude you may observe that men, for their natural fierceness and wantonness, are like wild beasts (Psalm 32:19; 49:12; Deuteronomy 32:15). (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.WEB: Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. |
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