THE INFANT JESUS. -- Matthew 2:1-12. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins._ -- Matthew 1:21. TIME. --About B. C. 4. (It is now conceded that the Savior was born about four years before the date assigned at the time our chronology was adopted.)... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS HE THAT IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS? Their question shows two things. 1. That they partook of the general expectation that about this time there would appear in the East. Ruler divinely appointed to his mission. The works of profane writers of this period show that this expectation was by no m... [ Continue Reading ]
HEROD... HE WAS TROUBLED. The trouble of Herod is easily accounted for. He was. usurper, not of the royal line, hated by the Jewish nation, near the close of his reign and anxious to continue the royal title in his own dynasty. This news seemed to portend. legitimate king,. rival for the throne, ar... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE PRIESTS AND RULERS IN COUNCIL. 4. AND WHEN HE HAD GATHERED ALL THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES TOGETHER. Literally, "high priests." The high priests and perhaps the heads of the twenty-four courses of priests are included. If there were any ex-high priests, as occurred frequently under the R... [ Continue Reading ]
IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA; FOR THUS IT IS WRITTEN BY THE PROPHET. The prophet here referred to is Micah, who lived about seven centuries before Christ. (See Micah 5:1-2.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU BETHLEHEM. The quotation is made freely from the Septuagint version (Greek) which was in common use, and from which the Savior and his apostles constantly quoted. The Hebrew is literally, "But thou Bethlehem Ephrata, too small to be among the thousands of Judah (_i. e.,_ the towns where th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HEROD PRIVILY CALLED THE WISE MEN. The crafty and cruel king had gained one point; he now knew where the Christ was to be born. In order to compass his murderous design, and get out of the way one whom he feared might be. rival for his throne, he must learn more. He therefore asks another ques... [ Continue Reading ]
III. THE VISIT AT BETHLEHEM. 8. AND HE SENT THEM TO BETHLEHEM. Herod was not yet satisfied. He had found Bethlehem to be the place and the future king to be. small child, but he desired to have him pointed out. Therefore he deceitfully proposed to have the wise men accomplish his purpose. He comma... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WENT THEIR WAY. They probably departed immediately after their interview with king Herod, and as the appearance of the star as soon as they started indicates that it was night, they probably saw Herod in the evening. Night traveling has always been customary in the East, especially during the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR. This language shows that for some time, at least, they had not seen the star until they left Jerusalem for Bethlehem. Its reappearance caused them great rejoicing, because it showed them that their quest was not in vain. Their joy was not at the standing of the star over... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CAME INTO THE HOUSE. Not, probably, the stable where the Lord was born, but. temporary home obtained after the crowd had left Jerusalem. Many commentators suppose that Joseph and Mary remained at Bethlehem until the forty days of purification were passed; that the young child was presented... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING WARNED OF GOD IN. DREAM. Probably they were suspicious of Herod, for they could not fail to know his character, and asked God to guide them. He did so by. dream, and hence they avoided Jerusalem on their return. PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE. The visit of the Magi is profoundly significant. They... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. -- Matthew 2:13-23. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ He delivered me because he delighted in me._ -- Psalms 18:19. TIME. --B. C. 4. PLACES. --Bethlehem of Judea; Egypt; Nazareth in Galilee. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Luke 2:22-38; Psalms 2:1-12; Isaiah 53:1-12. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. _The Flight to... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE AROSE, HE TOOK THE YOUNG CHILD. The message came while he was sleeping; as soon as he arose from his bed he took the Child and his mother and departed at once. There was prompt obedience, as there should always be, to the divine commands. It was also important that he should flee at once to... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED,... OUT OF EGYPT HAVE. CALLED MY SON. The prophecy here quoted is found in Hosea 11:1. It was stated of the Israel which was called out of Egypt and who is spoken of as. son. Israel, however, was. type, and the events portrayed in Israelitish history were typical propheci... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENTS. 16. THEN HEROD, WHEN HE SAW THAT HE WAS MOCKED. He had directed the wise men to report to him after their visit to Bethlehem. Their return to their own country without complying with his wishes seemed to Herod. mockery of his authority and excited his rage. As they... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WAS FULFILLED THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY JEREMY THE PROPHET. The saying is found in Jeremiah 31:15, and was first spoken with reference to the desolation of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar. The survivors of the Israelites were gathered by their conquerors as captives at Ramah. There the voice of lamenta... [ Continue Reading ]
IN RAMAH WAS. VOICE HEARD. Ramah was. border fortress of Judah where the captives were collected by the the generals of Nebuchadnezzar after the fall of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
III. THE RETURN TO NAZARETH. 19. BUT WHEN HEROD WAS DEAD. This event was the signal for the return to Judea. He died in the spring of the year 750, after the building of Rome, just before the passover. This would place his death nearly four years before the Christian era, the date from whence we r... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE... GO INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL. Notice that Joseph is not required to return to Bethlehem or to Judea, but simply to the land of Israel. As he advances upon his journey he will be informed where he must go. THEY ARE DEAD WHO SOUGHT THE YOUNG CHILD'S LIFE. As "they" is plural there must have... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AROSE AND TOOK THE YOUNG CHILD. He obeyed as promptly as before, waiting obediently upon the Divine will. Come into the land of Israel. This included not only Judea, but Samaria, Galilee, and the country beyond the Jordan. The part first reached by Joseph on his return would be Judea.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HEARD THAT ARCHELAUS DID REIGN IN JUDEA. Archelaus is one of the four sons of Herod who are named in the New Testament. He was excluded by will from any part in the kingdom, but subsequently, shortly before Herod's death, was made his heir. He was removed. few years later by the Romans, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAME AND DWELT IN. CITY CALLED NAZARETH. Matthew makes no mention of the previous residence at Nazareth, for that did not harmonize with his purpose, which was especially to point out to the Jew the fulfillment of prophecy, and he now names it first when it becomes the home of Christ. It was... [ Continue Reading ]