The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-01-02
Lesson for January S
THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS

THE CHILDHOOD OF JEoOS
LESSON TEXT-Matthew 1:1-2:23
print Matt. 2:10-23).
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt call His
name Jesus for He shall save His peo-
pie from their sins.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Care Of Je-
sus When Child.
JUNIOR TOPIC-God's Care of Jesus
When a Child.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-How the Child-King Was Received.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Childhood of the Saviour-King.
The central theme of Matthew Is
Jesus Christ the King, the fultiller OF
the Messianic hope. In harmony with
, this pre-eminent theme, Matthew first
deals with the all important question
of His genealogy, for His right to oc-
cupy the throne of David must be es-
tablished
The royal covenant was made to
David I'll Sam. 7:S-16, CT. Acts 2 80
82). In harmony with this, the first
verse of Matthew's record constitutes
a key to the book.
I. The Birth of Jesus, the King Il :18-
25).
of a woman (Gen. 8 :15), the son Of
a virgin U.s. 7:14). This was fulfilled
in the birth of Jesus. The genealogy
(Matt. 1:1-17) shows His legal right
to the throne, but something more is
required in order to be the Saviour
from sin. He must be both human and
divine lis. 9:7). The Saviour was be-
gotten by the Holy Ghost and born
of the Virgin Mary, thus becoming
Emmanuel, which in it's fullness means,
"God with us, God for us, and God
in u.s."
II. The Childhood of Jesus, the King
(2:1-23).
1. Wise men from the East seeking
Israels King wv. 1,2).
The Kings reception was most
heartless. His own nation received
Him not. His advent was heralded by
a star which guided men of a foreign
nation to seek and worship Him, pour
ing out their gifts to Him. These men
were Persian or Arabian astrologers-
students of the stars. Their attention
was attracted by the appearance Of
an unusual star. Through the influ-
ence of the Jews who remained in
Chaldea, or the direct influence Of
m
had become acquainted with Israel's
hope as to the Messiah.
2. Herod seeking to kill the King
wv. 3-S; 1919.
The news brought by the wise men
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. but a
glimpse at the social customs in and
about Jerusalem Of that day enables
us to understand why this news
brought uneasiness to the people. They
were living in the greatest luxury.
Fine dress, sumptuOus feasts, fine
houses and other luxuries led to gross
immoralities. This is why Herod and
Jerusalem were troubled. A Saviour
who would save them from their sins
continue in them. Herod demanded Of
the priests and scribes information as
to where Christ should be born. The
fact that they were able to tell him
so promptly shows that they had a
technical knowledge of the Scriptures,
but not a heart for the Saviour set
forth therein. We face similar condi-
lions today. This all occurred in
Jerusalem, the city Of the King, the
place of all places where He should
have been welcome. When the wise
men returned to their country by an
other way, Herod slew all the male
children two years Of age and under
in Bethlehem and it's, coasts.
8. The King found by the wise men
wv. 9-12).
The wise men having obtained the
desired information, started immedi-
ately to find the King. AS soon as they
left the city, the star as it guided them
in the East appeared again to lead
them on. Not that it had disappeared
from the sky, but the dwellings of the
city no doubt shut out the sight of it.
Frequently, spiritual vision is OBJ
scured by the things Of this world.
4. The King protected wv. 1929.
O Flight to Egypt wv. 1870.
To escape Herod's wicked aim, God
directed Joseph to take Mary and the
child Jesus and flee to Egypt. In
obedience to the heavenly vision, he
went and remained there till Herod's
death.
(2) Return to Nazareth wv. 1929.
Upon the death of Herod, the angel
Of the Lord directed Joseph to take
Jesus and His mother and go into the
land of Israel. By divine direction, he
returned to Galilee and dwelt at Naz-
areth.
Kind Words