Middletown transcript., 1920-10-02
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 3
THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF
JESUS.

JESUS.
LESSON TEXT Matthew z: lis
GOLDEN TEXT Thou shalt call hi
name Jesus; for he shall save his peopl
from their SINS Matt. 1921.
ADDITIONAL M-irERIAL-Isa- 7:14-16
Micah. So; Luke ;.ad 2.
PRIMARY ToPIC-The Wise Men visi
the Child Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Child Jesus Es
capes From a Wicked King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Coming Of the King.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The King Comes as Little Child.
| Since we now have six months o1
study in the Gospel according to Mat
thew, every teacher should grasp the
book as whole and present each les
son in it's relation to the central pur.
pose of the book. The central theme
| of Matthew is Jesus Christ the King
the fulfiller of the Messianic hope.
]. The Birth Of the King Il 1929.
The Messiah was to be the seed of q
wonan-the son Of a virgin (Gen
3: 3:15; Isa. 7:14). This was fulfilled in
the birth Of Jesus. The genealogy as
given in Matthew 1:1-17 shows his
legal right to the throne; but had he
been that only, he could not have been
the Savior from sin. He must be both
human and divine Elsa. 9:7). The Mes
siah was begotten by the Holy Ghost
and born Of the Virgin Mary, thus be-
coming Emmanuel, which term means
in all its fulness, God for us; God with
us; God in us.
II. The Maoi Seek lsraeI's King (2:1,
p.
The King had a most heartless re-
ception. The kingdom was not ready
FOR him. His advent was heralded by
star which guided souls from for
eign nation to seek and worship him.
pouring out their gifts to him. These
wise men were either Arabian or Per-
sian astrOlOgers, students of the stars
The appearance of an unusual star
attracted their attention. Perhaps they
were acquainted with the famous
prophecy of Balaam (Num. PAID.
Doubtless through the influence of the
Jews who remained in Chaldea or the
direct influence of Daniel extending
to this time, they had become ac-
quainted with the hope of Messiah.
The light they had was dim, but they
lived up to the best they had. To
those who act upon the best light they
have, God always gives more. To those
who refuse to act upon the knowledge
given, God not only refuses to give
more, but brings into confusion that
which they already possess (Matt. 25:
2S).
III. Herod Seeking to Kill the King
(vv. 3-8).
The news brought by the Magi
struck terror to Herod's heart. He
was not alone in this, for all Jerusalem
was troubled with him. The news
ought to have brought joy. A glimpse
at the social customs in and about
Jerusalem ut that time, will enable us
to understand why this news brought
uneasiness to the people. They were
living in the greatest of luxury. Fine
dresses, sumptuous feasts, fine houses,
ETC., led to gross immortality. We can
thus readily see why Herod and all
Jerusalem should he troubled They
did not want Savior who would
save them from their sins; they want
ed to continue in them. HerOd de-
manded of the priests and scribes in
formation as to where Christ should be
born. They soon were able to tell
him, showing that they had techni-
cal knowledge of the Scriptures, but
no heart for the Savior set forth there
in. The luXuriousness Of the wealthy,
the frivolities of the fashion-loving,
and the gross immoralities to which
they lead, make Jesus Christ unwel-
come in many quarters today.
w. The King Found wv. 9-12).
The. Magi having obtained the de-
sired information, started Immediate
ly to find the King. AS soon as they
left the city. the star which had guild
ed them from the East appeared again
him, they worshiped him. Note Gods
overruling providence in all this. Hun
dreds of years before, the Prophet said
that Christ should come forth from |
Bethlehem (Micah 5 :2). God so order
ed that Mary should be brought to the |
city to give birth to Christ. God or
dered that the Magi should depart an
other way. thereby defeating Herod's |
wicked purpose. The gifts of these |
wise men, God put into the hands Of
Joseph and Mary before going to
Egypt. Doubtless they served a good
purpose in meeting their expenses dur
ing their stay there.
v. The King Protected wv. 13-15).
To escape Herod's wicked aim. God
Joseph to take Mary and the
child Jesus and flee to Egypt. In
obedience to the heavenly vision. he
went and remained until Herod's death.
In Giving Aims.
In giving Of thine aims inquire not