The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-12-13
BIBLE SCHOOL LESSON FOR DEC. Fl.
The Second Chapter of Matthew.
(By Apostle Willis F. Jordan)
THE CHRISTMAS LESSON
THE CHRISTMAS LIE

THE CHRISTMAS LESSON
I. THE NEWBORN KING AND HIS
ASCENDING STAR = Verses One to
lie Jesus. as human, Son of man, was born
in Bethlehem of Judea in the days OF Herod
the Idumean king. ;,
This was the so-called "Herod the Great,
the son of Antipater and an Arabian woman.
The Roman senate confirmed the emperor
appointment of Herod as King OF Judea IN
r c. 40 He was an able but cruel man.
The report of the Kings birth excited
the East Certain wise men" (names I'M
known. Notwithstanding legends and tradl-
tions) set out to visit Jerusalem. to see the
newborn King.
The East always has been proverbal as the
seat of wisdom, worship and astronomy, the
study of the stars :
3 Their great question in the streets OF
Jerusalem, and the reason they gave Tor ask
ing it - Verse Two.
Iesus was born king of the Jews" He was
rejected as king of the Jews" He is coming
back to reign first as King OF the Jews: e
A. His Star in the East = Star IS one Oh
His titles.
Cd Baaam gave 1t to him IN prophecy
Numbers 24:15-lo. -
(2) To the Church in the Rapture, re VIII
be the Bright and Millennial Morning Star -
Revelation 2:25-29; 22:l6. He
CD The stars were in commoton at I IIis
First Coming They will be again at Ills
Second Coming = Luke 2l:25-27. i,
The inquiry of the wise men greatly
troubled Herod and all Jerusalem with him.
The Second Coming OF Jesus will greatly
trouble" ALL kings, rulers, cities natlonS
the whole world 1t will affect the dead, eN-
citing the Heavens, earth and aades' = Bee
Revelation 6:l2-17 and ll:l5-l8:
& Herod's inquiry: "Where is the Christ
to be born" 1o,os
7. The unerring prophetic answer: verses
Five and Six with Micah ST., z ,cr
wv lteTallV
in connection with the First Advent. Mat
thew, the writer of our Lesson, frequently uses
the phrase. THAT it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the prophet, saying : Co1n-
Every word of prophecy will be made more
sure by fulhllment at the Second Advent
Compare Luke 1878 own.
s. Herod's inquiry Of the wise men, What
time did His Star appear! -
In Verse Eight Herod was a lying, Ola
hvnocrite. He never intended to worship the
Christ but to kill Him if possible
Q Coming from their interview with Herod'
the wise men follow the Star once more =
Verses Nine to Eleven. a..
people" guided Herod, but Christ's Star guided
the wise men.
Priests scribes and stars are not sufficient
guides. The Scriptures must be needed ana
obeyed = Verses -Four to Six
H. Jesus was born in a stable, Dut W tli7
the wise men found Him He was IN the
b r = Verse Eleven. How old was he?
Herod estimated Him to be about two years
old" - Verse Sixteen.
r. The alteration and gifts OF the WIS.,
men = Verse Eleven. God knew how to get
the expenses for the flight and stay in Egypt.
Il God warns the wise men not to go
back to Herod = Verse Twelve. -,,,
ii. THE FLIG H AM HE
SLAUGHTER-Ner Verses Thirteen 70 Ea :; l.
/. The wise men are warned of God IN a
dream not to go back to Herod, and an anger
of the Lord (probably Gabriel = Luke l:l9'-
%: 2:o) warns Joseph and Mary to tie flee INTO
Egypt with the child Jesus. = Verses thirteen
The same angel would bring them the
word Of God when to return from Egypt =
Verse Thirteen.
3 God knows all things. He knew what
Herod intended to do = Verse thirteen.
T. The stay in Egypt was not SO much 10
save Tesus from Herod Qor God could nave
preserved Him in Bethlehem as it was to tul-
I'LL prophecy = Verse Fifteen with Hosea Il
5 Herod, set at nought by the wise men
becomes incarnate of the Devil, who, through
him. sought to destroy the Son OF GOD.
He slays all the boy children up to two
wears of age Verse Sixteen) SO did another
king whom the Devil used. = See Exodus
1:15-2:1O, compare Hebrews II - vo..oe
g. Prophecy again literally tulhlled-Verses
H. 10 and Jeremiah 3l:l5-H.
III THE RETURN AND THE RESl-
DENCE = Verses Nineteen to Iwenty-three
l. The angel of the Lord (GaDr1eD Keeps
his word = compare Verses Nineteen and
Thirteen.
2. The angels message (Verse Twenty
"Thev (others with Herod) are dead who
sought the young child's life"
3. The return journey Verse twenty
one. <11.oo
a Archelaus, son of Herod the Great (Verse
Twenty-two) was deposed and degraded IN
A. D. g. The stay in Egypt therefore could not
have been over three or four years at the
most.
5. "Ie turned aside into Galilee" - SO
Jesus became "the Galilean"
6 The residence at Nazareth gave Him the
distinguished title, "the Nazarene" Verse
Twentv-three) - all in fulhllment of prophecy.
Y. Concluding General Thought: GOD
KNOWS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIS
OWN = whether it be His Son, Israel or the
Church.
His Plan will work itself out in spite of men,
kings, antichrists, demons, Hades and He'll
Let all in Zion trust God, do right and be
READY WHEN JESUS COMES.
He was here then; He will SOON be here
again
He came to suffer then; He will come now
to reign. ,r,,1,
will YOU BE READY WHEN THE
BRIDEGROOM COMES"
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8 LOCAL ITEMS