Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-10-01
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 3
THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF
JESUS.
N TEXT-Matthew 2: lie.

LESSON TEXT-Matthew 2: LIS
GOLDEN. TEXT-Thou shalt call his
aame Jesus; for he shall save his people
from their sins.-Matt. 1:21.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Isa- 7:14-16;
Micah, So; Luke and ?.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Wise Men Visit
the Child Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Child Jesus Es-
capes From 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 of
study in the Gospel according to Mat
thew, every teacher should grasp the
book as whole and present each les
son in its 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 Q:1S-25).
The Messiah was to be the seed of
Woman-the son of a virgin (Gen.
3:15; Isa. I'D. This was fulfilled in
the birth of Jesus. The genealogy as
given in Matthew 1 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. go. The Mes
slah 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 Magi Seek IsraePs King (2:1,
y.
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 a 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 stal
attracted their attention. Perhaps they
were acquainted with the famous
prophecy of Balaam (Num. "a 10
| 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 a 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 tina
which they already possess Matt. 25
28).
III. Herod Seeking to Kill the King
wv. 3-S).
The news brought by the Mag
struck terror to Herod's heart. II,
was not alone in this, for all Jerusalem
was troubled with him. The new
ought to have brought joy. A glimps
at the social customs in and abou
Jerusalem at that time, will enable u
to understand why this news brough
uneasiness to the people. They wer
living in the greatest of luxury. Fin
dresses, sumptuous feasts, fine houses
etc., led to gross immortality. We cal
thus readily see why Herod and al
Jerusalem should be troubled. The
did not want a Savior who woult
save them from their sins; they want
ed to continue in them. Herod de
manded Of the priests and scribes ir
formation as to where Christ should
born. They soon were able to te
him, showing that they had techn
cal knowledge of the Scriptures, bu
no heart for the Savior set forth there
In. The luxuriousness Of the wealth.
the frivolities of the fashion-lovins
and the gross immoralities to whic
they lead, make Jesus Christ unwe
come in many quarters today.
Nv. The King Found (vv. 9-12).
The Magi having obtained the d,
sired information, started immediat,
ly to find the King. AS soon as the
left the city, the star which had quit
ed them from the East appeared agai
to lead them on. When they foun
him, they worshiped him. Note God
overruling providence in all this. HUI
dreds Of years before, the Prophet sal
that Christ should come forth fro
Bethlehem (Micah 5: :2). God so ordel
ed that Mary should be brought to tt
city to give birth to Christ. God o
dered that the Magi should depart al
other way, thereby defeating Herod
wicked purpose. The gifts of the:
wise men, God put into the hands I
Joseph and Mary before going
Egypt. Doubtless they served a goc
purpose in meeting their expenses du
ing their stay there.
, v. The King Protected wv. 13-15).
To escape Herod's wicked aim, &c
directed Joseph to take Mary and Il
child Jesus and flee to Egypt.
obedience to the heavenly vision,
went and remained until Herod's deaf