The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-16
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOE
DECEMBER 20. @
Lesson Text: tThe Birth Of
Christi" Matt. H.. liz
Golden Text: Luke H., 10
-Commentary

commentary
I. "Now. when Jesus was born In Bethlc-
hem OF Judei in the days OF Herod the king,
behold. there came wise men from the east
to Jerusalem" He was foreordained before
the foundation Of the world q Pet. l., 20), [.
and when the fullness OF time was come God
sent forth His Son, made OF woman, made
under the law. to redeem them that were
under the law (Gal. iv., 4, 81. Not only Is
He the Son OF God, but, az in chapter l., l,
the Son Of David, the Son Of Abraham, and
therefore the one in whom all the promises
to David and Abraham will bs fulfilled, In
Him shall all Scripture be fulfilled, for Il all
birth in Bethlehem was but an event In life
without beginning or end John xvii, s;
Rev. 1xli., 1-5).
q. "Sayipg, Where is He that Is born King
OF the Jews, for we have seen His star In the
east and have come to worship Him2" They
had no doubt as to whom they wanted TO
see, nor as to what they wanted to do. They
came to see the newborn King Of the Jews
and to worship Him. It was long since the
Jews had a king, and they were now subject
to the Romans, of whom Herod was the rep
resentatiye. But in their heaven given book
1t was written that the throne of David
should be established forever and, the prom
ises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob fulfilled
Elsa. TX, 6, Z; Mic. vii, 19. 29). ~
g. "Wnen Herod, the king, hnd heard
these things, he was troubled, and all Jerrls-
alem with him." II he had known the
promises of God concerning the overthrow
of Isruel's enemies, and the future glory Of
Israel, he might well have been troubled.
not knowing the Scriptures, all he saw In the
words of wise men was probably the posi-
Utility ot q deliserer for Israel who would re-
deem them from the power Of Rome. The
redemption Of Israel will yet come. and the
signs Of its approach are not few luke XXI,
25.2s). u "A ~ !,
4. ::And when he had gathered oil the chief
priests and scribes Of the people together, he
demanded of them where Christ should be
born he would thus see il the leaders OF
the people were expecting king, and II
there was anything in this extraordinary
visit and question of these men from the
East. Christ is the Greek for the Hebrew
word Messiah, and the English Of each Is the )
hnointed. See the use Of the word In / Sam.
H., 10, IS; Ps. H., q, 6; Dan. *, Is, 26. Hear
also the chief priests moekingly call Him
"Christ the King OF Israel" Mark xv., 81, 32).
S. Sand they said unto him, In Bethlehem
Of JudBa, for thus It Is written by the
prophet" Herod would now see that there
must be something in 1t, for the prophets Of
Israel had foretold what the wise men from
the East indicated had now come to
pass. That there were those In Israel who
were patiently waiting for this great event Is
clear from the record concerning Simeon
and Anna (Luke H., as, 26, 3s). There were
those who looked Tor redemption In Israel
and expected Redeemer about thar time.
6. hAnd thou, Bethlehem, In the land OF
Juda, art not the least among the princes OF
Juda for out Of thee shalt come Governor,
that shall rule my people Israel" This Is
quoted from Mic. va. The rest OF the verse
Is most interesting and proof otthe divinity
Of this child. "Eis goings forth have been
from OF old, from everlasting" he appeared
Joshua, Gideon and Solomon. v Jesus, the
Son Of Mary. Is the Lord God of the holy
prophets. He sees the end from the begin
ming, and 700 years before the event foretold
His birth In Bethlehem. gies
Z. s'Then Herod, when he had priyily
called the wise men, inquired OF them dti-
gently what time the star appeared" The
devil, whose great weapon Is death, was
working in Herod to destroy this child
King. This Is evident from verse 16, for the
age Of the children slain Is associated with
the inquiry which he made Of the wise men.
What blessed little martyrs those: innocent
babes were! They died for Him, and He will
not forget 1t in that day. "They shal!
come again from the land OF the enemy"
(Jer. XXI, 16). Death, the5 enemy. took
their bodies for a time, but they shall rise
again.
8. sand he sent them to Bethlehem and
said, 60 and search diligently for the young
child, and when ye have found Him. bring
me word again. that I may come and wor-
ship Him also" The devil is q liar and
Toby x,fH kL0 bYt all ~ hfo pl0te
against God and His Christ shall come to
uaught BE seems successful for the pres
emit, but the end Is not yet.
9. "When they had heard the king they
departed, and, 10, the star which they saw
In the east went before them till 1t came and
stood over where the young child was
evidently guided them to the very house
Possibly an angel Of God guiding them oil
the way, for ordinary stars. while they guide
the mariner across the trackless sea, do not
stand over particular house in a town, as
called stars in Rev. L, 40; iI..1
'10.I"When they saw the star, they re.
joiced with exceeding great joy" It would
seem that they lost sight Of It for 3 time.
Was 1t because they stopped to inquire OF
Herod, or In order that they might inquire
OF Herodp It is not written, but this we
know, that God Hmselfis all sufficient fof
His people In all things. he does someumed
guide thus through people, but when He be-
gins to do supernatural thing, as In this
case, it Is not likely that he would have us
turn aside to man.
II. Sand when they were come unto the
house they saw the young child with Mary.
His mother. and they fell down ana wor.
SHIPPED them, and when they had opened
their treasures they presented unto Him
gifts-gold and franhnpense and myrrh.
Thus God provided beforehand for jour.
ney Of which as yet Joseph and Mary knew
nothing. he will provide for all the needs
of His people In His own wonderful way
even IL he has to use an angel or birds OF
even fishes. These men, how many we are
not told, believed that this child would. yet
be the king Of the Jews, and as sucn they
worshtped Him.
-. sand being warned OF God In dream
that they should not return to Herod. they
departed into their own country another
way" Notice in the rest Of this chapter the
other instances Of direct guidance from God
concerning this child, and II you are child
OF God by faith In Christ Jesus fear not to
believe that you are loved as He is loved and
will be equally cared for CJohn 1v., 9; xvii,
23.)-Lesson Helper. ''s
BRAMeELL SELLS HIS MACHINE.