The Progress., 1893-12-16

L Visit Of the Shepherds .............. it, 15-41
+ Presented in the Temple ...........t - ~
= Visit Of Wise Men .......... Matt. H. lis
: Slaughter of Innocents ........ III l6-s,
Introductory. The incidents of this
lesson occurred several months, and
perhaps as much as year, after tho
birth of Jesus. In the meantime he
had been circumcised and presented in
the temple, and Joseph and Mary had
returned to Bethlehem, and were liv
'ng, not in stable, but in house.
IL Is important to bear these facts in
mind, as they give additional clear
ness to the story.
l. Herod Troubled, verses l-3. 1.
bethlehem" The birthplace of Da-
vid, five or six miles south of Jerusa-
lem. ''In the days of Hcrod" This
is Herod the Great All the other
Herods mentioned in the New Testa-
ment are his descendants. by the
consent of the Romans he began his
reign as subordinate king in III A.
I. c, and died $50 A. L. c., not long
after the birth of Jesus. Wise men"
Literally, "MagianS," men who
sought to foretcll future events by
studying the movements of the stars
"From the East" Probably from
Persia
?. Where is he that is born king
Of the jews" The fact of his birth
and the time of it they already knew.
and they asked only for the place.
I'VE have seen his star" This star
was miraculous appearance in the
heavens; more than that we do not
know about il.
3. 'llerod was troubled" Lest
his throne might be taken from him.
And all Jerusalem with him" Lest
in protecting his throne, he might be
guilty of new cruelties against the
people.
III. Herod Consults the Sanhcdrin
and the Wise Men, verses 4-s.
4. The chief priests" This
expression includes the actual high
priests, all ex-high priests, and possi-
bly, the priests who were the heads of
the twenty-four priestly courses
"Scribes Official eXpounders of the
law demanded of them where
Christ should be born" The two
classes just mentioned, together with
the elders, constituted the sanhedrin.
From them, as being the highest re-
ligious authority, Herod asked a
question of the highest religious inn
portance.
3. 8. They answer his question in
these verses, and confirm their an
swer by quoting the substance Of a
contained in Micah = 9
:. 'Privily." Wickedness loves to
be sly and secret. Inquire
Ascertained accurately. .
What time the star appeared" So
that in Staying the babes in Bethlehem
he might include all who had been
porn since that event or just before
it, and not miss the infant Jesus.
s. Herod covers up his base design
with pious fraud, and tries to make
the wise men his unconscious accom-
plices.
III. The Wise Men Find Jesus. VS..
9-11. Q. The star. which they saw
in the east, went before them" etc.
The plain inference is that it had not,
up to this time, been visible since it's
first appearance. They travelled by
night, as is common in the East.
10 They reioiced." The reappear-
ance of the star was a pledge to them
that they should not be disappointed
in the object Of their search.
IL. "When they were come into the
house" Where Joseph and Mary were
now living. "They saw the young
child with Mary" Whether Joseph
was present is not stated. though it is
likely that he was. "Worshiped him"
Frustrated themselves in reverence
before him. when they had opened
their treasures" The chests contain
ing their treasures. "rhey presented
gifts. In recognition of his
royalty. "Frankincense and myrrhL" a"
aromatic gums that exude
from certain trees in the East"
Things to be Remembered. /. Dill
gent seekers always find the truth.
2. No man is strong enough to fight
against God. B. The best gifts belong