The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-12-15
The
unday=S SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM!
MENTS FOR DECEMBER 20.

MENTs FOR DECEMBER 28.
Subject: The Birth of Christ, Matt. "a
1.12-Golden Text: Matt. 1:21
Commit Verses II, 12-Com-
mentary on the Lesson.
TINE B. G.
PLACES.-Jerusalem, Bethlehem.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Wise Mem
Seeking Jesus to Worship Him, 1, 2.
The certainty of Gods Word comes
out remarkably in this passage. Seven
hundred years before Micah had prot
phesied that He that was ito be Ruler
in Israel, whose goings forth have
been from old, from everlasting" was
to come forth out Of Bethlehem Uni!
cab SGD. But she that was chosen
to be the mother of Jesus did not live
in Bethlehem, but far away Nazar.
eth. But men who were utterly un!
conscious of Gods purposes and pro-
phecies, by many DEGREES and ways
worked together SO that Mary was
brought to Bethlehem at the time OF
our Lords birth, and thus Gods
Word was fulfilled and His eternal
plan carried out (cf. Luke 2:1-6; PSI
1910. The sure word Of prophecy
spoken over seven centuries before
by a man who was borne along bN
the Holy Spirit" was thus fuIflledto
the very letter, in spite Of all the Guns
ming of great men. Through their
very w~fckedness, Gods purposes and
words were fulfilled. These wise men
from the East were the ancient magtl
They were students of the stars, as4
%trologers; they sought to live up to-
the best! light they had, and God met
them where they were. and gave them,
more light. 1t Is always SO; he that
lives up to the light that he has viii
get more tcf. Acts 10:1-5, 30-32)ss3
but the man who refuses to live up to-
the light that he has will lose even
that Matt. 1929; 2 Thess. 2:11.j
12). AS they studied the stars, God
led them by, a star. The bright light
that led them on was dim, only STAR
light, but it was the best they had;ts
and, as they followed 1t faithfully,
God gave them fuller light, that Of
His revealed Word, and following
that they find Him who is athe Light
of the world" Gohn 8:12). In their
earnestness to, find the King, they
took a long, weary journey, but their
labor was abundantly rewarded
They made a far better use Of their
little light than the chief priests and
Bcribes did of their fuller light.
III. Herod Seeking Jesus to XIII
Him, 3-S. The tidings that came to
Herod that the King, was come should
have brought him JOY, but In reality
they troubled him; for he wanted tot
be king himself. SO many 9 heart to-!
day that ought to welcome Christ as
King with Joy is troubled at the dec,
laration that Christ Is King, for We
wish to be king ourselves. But, not
only Herod was troubled, butea JeruI
salem, as we'll. Jerusalem, the city
of the great King, whose whole glory
was to centre In Him, was unwilling
to receive Him when He came; was
troubled about His coming. instead OF
rejoicing at 1t John 1:11). How
many in the church would be trou-
bled If they knew Jesus was coming
tomorrow. Herod thought the prof.
per place to go for information about
the Christ was, to the Scriptures. I'M
that, he was right (John 5:39). IL
he had studied the Bible as he ought
for himself it would not have BEEN
necessary for Him to go to the chief
priests and scribes to tell him; but
many kings and many common peoJ
pie instead of; searching the Scrtpd
lures for themselves, depend upon
the theologians for their information.
Herod was very thorough In his
search to. find out about the Christtt
he gathered all the chief priests and
all the scribes; he inquired diligently
of the wise men; he toldSthemftor go
and search diligently. He laid his
plans with great skill; he was bound
to make sure. He thought he had
left no loophole In his schemes, but
he had left God out Of his calculaS
tions, so in spite Of his thoroughnessj
they all came to nothing.
~ III. The Wise Men Finding Jesus,
Gle. As soon as the wise men have
received the desired information they
started Immediately to find the King
whom they sought. Again God leads
them by the star, and leads them to
the very spot where the young child
was. They were more accustomed td
being led by stars than any other
way, and God adapts His leading to
our necessity. While Herod and Jei
rusalem had been troubled at the
thought that Christ was come, the
wise men Of the East rejoiced with
exceeding great JOY to find Him.
Those who enjoy the largest. priv.l4
eyes, oftentimes least appreciate
them, and chose who have the least
light are most eager for more Get,
Matt. $40, III. There is an eager,
ness to hear about Christ to-day in
heather lands that is sometimes lack
ing in so-called Christian lands. There
is no greater joy to the true heart
than that of finding Jesus. When
they entered the house they fell down
and worshiped Jesus. They saw Mary,
His mother, but they did not worship
her. Worship may not have meant
to them all that it means to us, but II
is right to worship Jesus (Heb. 1914
When they had worshiped they pre-
sented unto Him their gifts. That is
the true order; first, worship, then
giving. They gave Him their very
best, gold. and frankincense and
myrrh (cf. Ps. 1910, 10. They
were wise men indeed. Many to-day
give Him only their poorest. Note
carefully the conduct of the wise
men: /. They sought Jesus. 2. They
found Jesus. 8. They rejoiced ovet
Jesus. 4. They worshiped Jesus. S.
They gave gifts to Jesus. God nov
guides them by still another method
q dream.