Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-07-14
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON 10, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, July is.

DRY Verses. 0-11-Goiden Text. Mafh. Il.
II Commentary by the Rev. D. NJ.
stearnS.
/. ssNow when Jesus was born in Beth
iehem Of Jutlaa, in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from
the east TO Jerusalem. = Matthew gives US
what is specially known as the gospel of
the kingdom. Here only DO we find the ex-
preston kingdom of heaven, At His
birth Jezss is called King of the Jews. ,
and at the beginning and end of this gos-
pei other rulers are troubled because Of
Him. See Herod and plate. 1t is suggest
i've OF the time when Heshall come in gIo-
ry, and the nations shall be angry, and I'LL
kindreds of the earth wall (Rev. xi. is. i.
y. He was called Jesus before He was
born fMath. /, ail. At least five others are
mentioned by name before their birth, Ish-
mael. Isaac, Josiah, Cyrus and John the
Baptist. Note the lesson in lisa. Xvi, 0, 10:
Eph. ii, 10. ana apply it believingiy to
yourself.
2. Saying, Where is He that is born
king of the Jewss for we have seen Ills
star in the east and nre come to worship
Film" We shall have to wait until 1.-THE
morning. to know all we would like to
about these wise men. who they were, how
many they were, what they knew about the
king OF the Jews and how, what land they
came FROM what was the effect of their
tidings upon their countrymen when they
returned, etc. Bat they make us think
of Ps. Xxi. 10, II; lisa. TX, l-S; Zech xiv.
&c; Jer. iii, Ia, when all nations shall
have their representatives in Jerusalem to
worship the King.
8. "When Eerod, the king, had heard
these things, he was troubled aud ell .Je-
rusalem with him. II is not stran = that
the enemies of God should be t a.. bled
by the presence of Him against whom ,hey
are in rebellion. Some day they shall DO
SO troubled that they win want rocks and
mountains TO fall upon them and hide
them from His face Rev. vi, l5-ls).
4. And when be had gathered all the
chief priests and scribes of the people to-
gother he demanded of them where Christ
should be born" Literally it IL ''the
Christi the wise men asked for the Kiag
of the Jews, hut Herod asks for the Christ,
which in Hebrew would be the Messiah,
and in English the Amounted. See how
vi titc tiSSS tnc ttiiti priests FlechcA ltlfn
with the title "Christ, the king OF Israeli
Mark XIV, 32). 1t looks as il Herod had
heard some talk of a coming kin CT Isra-
el, just cs today many hear of the possible
| return in an unexpected hour of this same
Jesus.
5. 'sAnd they said unto him. In Bethle-
hem Of ,JudRa, for thus it is written by the
prophet They do not seem to have asked
time to look it up, as many teachers would
need to do now ii asked concerning the re-
turn Of Christ. They seem to have been
familiar with this prophecy and 10 have
answered promptly, and yet they were not
personally interested; their knowledge did
not draw them TO Him.
6. "And thou. Bethlehem, in the land Of
Juda, art not the least among the princes
of Juda, for ont Of thee shall come gov
ernor that shall rule my people Israel. =
This is quoted from Mic. V, ., the last
clause of which says that His goings forth
have been from the days Of eternity omar
GIN. The ruler of Israel was TO be "a
son born, child given, but lie WAS also
''the Mighty God" lisa. tx, g. y. AS
truly MS He has fulfilled part of the proph-
ecy, He will fulfill the rest and sit on Da-
vidis throne at His second coming.
z. "'rhen IIerod, when he had rrivily
called the wise men, inquired of them dill
igently what time the star appeared -
He Is getting interested in the child, but
II is the interest OF satan TO destroy. not
the interest of the wise men who came to
worship.
s. "And be sent them TO bethlehem
and said, Go and search diligently for the
I young child, and when We have found him
bring me word again, that | may come
and worship Him also. !" We may rejoice,
the wise men might have said, for we have
gained q convert, but God was reading
Herod's heart, aud perhaps the wise men
could read him too. Ever since sin made
Adam and Eve foolish enough TO try to
hide from God behind the trees, in the
garden Gen. iii, 81, man has been plotting
and planning and acting as II God could
not see nor read the heart, not knowing
that all is open to Him (ileb w, 49,
.. "When they had heard the king, they
departed. And 10, the star which they
saw in the east went before them till il
came and stood over where the young child
was. - Is it possible that they lost the
star when they turned aside to see Herod
and might have been guided by the star
only without any help from Herod or the
I WIFI pEttStSf 1t l'phH luub way, ibf as
soon as they left IIerod then so, the start
once more guides them. When we trust
God alone to guide Us, it viii be well, but
turning aside to man brings trouble.
10. "When they saw the ,star. they re.
joiced with exceeding great joy" 1t Is
SO restful and joyful to be led by God
only. They had been evidently i'll at ease
in the presence Of the king aud during
the probable long delay % his gathering
the priests to get their answer, but now
they are once more dealing with God only,
and they doubtless felt like saying, "God,
my exceeding joy FPS. xiii, ~. Many
Christian workers. are much bindered by
the wisdom of seemingly good men, but
to step out and follow "Jesus only is
! JOY indeed.
II. "And when they were come into the
house they saw the young child with Ma.
ry, his mother, and fell down and wor-
SHIPPED Him, and when they had opened
their treasures they presented unto Him
gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. y
The star had guided them to the very
house where the child was verse %, for
God leaves nothing half done, and now
they are face to face with Him whom they
have journeyed so far 10 see. According
TO the custom of our day. they should have
made each other present about this
time. but all Is given to the child Jesus
1t will be good day for churches and
Sunday schools when the Christmas time
sees pastors and people, teachers and schol-
ars, vying with each other in loving gifts
to Jesus to hasten the time Of His king
dom.
IL. "And being warned of God In a
dream that they should not return to Her
cd they departed into their own country
another way God knew what Herod' 4
wos ship meant, and He knowetb how to
deliver. He can guide us by His word and
spirit, or by a dream, or star, or an an
gel, ana in some way He will surely guide
us if we will only let Him. His word Is
generally sufficient, but IL aught else is
needed it shall be given, yet never in con
fiiet with His word, which is supreme, for
His word is Himself. Il Is always safe to
disobey Herod in order TO obey God.