The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-01-12
The Wise Mem
Find Jesus
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. IA. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

verse. ~. Read also Luke 2.2l-3S
GOLDEN TEXT.-"My son give Me thine
heart"-Prov 1926
T1ME.-Probably February. b. c. T. when
Jesus was six or eight weeks old.
PLACE.-Bethlehem of Judea.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Th in
fancy OF Jesus: l. His birth. the shep-
herds and the angels song duke 2:7-2O;
His naming and His conservation in the
temple at Jerusalem duke 2:2l-2s); g. ST.
moons hymn. The Nunc Dimittis duke
2:z9-S2) 4 Simeon's prophecy and Anna's
thanksgiving Qu':e 2:33-39) g. The wise
men from the east Matt. 2:l-R); g. The
flight into Egypt Matt. 2:1S-l0; T. The
massacre of the innocents Matt 2:l6-lS):
Return to Nazareth Matt. 2:19-2S; Luke
2:39-40).
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. l. There came" arrived in Pales-
tine. 1t must have been been after
the presentation in the Temple, for the
family left Bethlehem Immediately
after the visit of the wise men, and
before April, for Herod died April /.
1t was probably in February. "Wise
men from the east" Magi, sages.
V. 2. Saying, Where is He that is
born King of the Jews?" where is
the newly-born King?" For we have
seen His star in the east" Seen by
them in the eastern countries, or seen
in the eastern sky, or both. And are
come to worship Him." To acknowl-
edge His worship; to do homage to
Him.
Y. g. when Herod the king had
heard these things" Eager to find
the object of their search. they would
go through the streets asking:
Where is He?" at the same time tell
ing the story Of the star. ct is sim
pie question, but the quiet voice gath
ers velocity and volume until 1t
sweeps over Jerusalem like a cyclone
or a rushing wind of Pentecost. "He
was troubled" agitated. "And all Je-
rusalem with him" A new king
might involve the nation In a conflict
with Rome. 1t might interfere with
their luxuries, their tyrannies, their
schemes of greedy gain.
V. 4. Gathered all the chief priests
and scribes" The authoritative
teachers and students of the law.
HE demanded (rather inquired1 Of
them where Christ" in the original,
"the Christ" not the proper name, but
the Messiah. the official title of the
promised Delivel~r. should be born"
What do your Scriptures say? What
Is your belief!
V. 5. ut is written" (Mic. 5:2).
V. 6. "And thou Bethlehem" This
is quoted freely from the Septuagint
(the Greek version of the Old Tes-
tament) just as such quotations were
popularity made at that time, for there
were no Bibles in circulation. and
quotations must be made chiefly as
remembered from hearing them read.
Bethlehem, In the land OF Judea."
Distinguishing it from Bethlehem in
Zebulon.
" 7. Then Herod privily
(privately) called the wise men,"
Privately, for he was already hatch.
ing, still more privately, his malicious
plot to destroy Jesus. "EEquired
diligently" Greek, accurate
", to the finest point referring to the
information rather than diligence Of
peared." How long ago, within what
time. was the birth of the king made
known by the appearing of the star.
" g. He sent Cor directed) them
to Bethlehem" short six miles from
Jerusalem. Search diligently"
Better, as before, accurately, carefully.
Bring me word worship
Him" He lied, because if ne had told
his real object, they would, of course.
not report to him. -
V. 9. And 10, the star which they
saw In the east, the same distin.
guished star, but now in the south.
V. - when they saw the star"
guiding them. and pointing out the
place "They rejoiced" Because their
journey was now ended, their search
was successful.
V. IL They saw the youne
child" The wonder is that in a little
child, in a small village, in humble
circumstances. they could see the
King. And fell down." in the oren.
tai manner of showing homage. and
worshiped Him" Three acts are here
falling down. worshiping and offer.
ing the first, the worship of the body;
the second, of the soul; the third, of
our goods With these three our
bodies. our souls, our goods. we are
to worship Him. Without them all
worship is but lame and manned
sacrifice, neither fit for wise men to
give nor Christ to receive. DR. Mark
Frank. "Opened their treasures. ="
The caskets or chests in which the
gifts were brought. "They presented
unto Him gifts" According to the
oriental custom in paying visits to
royalty"
V. II. Being warned Of God" In
a dream, In the same manner as God
may have spoken to them before.
1.-THE verb means, to give response
to one who asks or consults The
word therefore implies that the wise
men had sought counsel of God.
Religious Thought.
The best way to drive your children
to sin is to keep your religion for com.
pany.-Ram's Horn.