_THE GOODNESS OF CHRIST_ ‘Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.’ Matthew 2:1 Let us try to see what the Story of the Magi is meant to teach us. I. CHRIST’S CONDESCENSION.—In the largeness of the plan of His salvation, Christ not only breaks over all the narrow notions of nation... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE KING AND HIS CROWN_ ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews?’ Matthew 2:2 He of whom our hearts are full was born a King, but wants to have His royalty acknowledged by each one of us, waits to have us crown Him as _ our King_. I. THE ROYALTIES OF JESUS.—There are other kinds of kings be... [ Continue Reading ]
_LITTLE KNOWLEDGE, MUCH FAITH_ ‘We have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.’ Matthew 2:2 The Wise Men offered to the Lord Jesus Christ the very best they possibly could; they gave Him the homage of their hearts. They were sincere in worshipping Him, and they also offered gold,... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GUIDING STAR_ ‘The Star … went before them.’ Matthew 2:9 When God would make an Epiphany of His Son to the Gentiles, there were evidently two ways in which He might do it. He might send Him to them, or draw them to Him. He chose the latter. I. THE GUIDING STAR.—Many persons are waiting and... [ Continue Reading ]
_STARS AS TYPES_ ‘When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.’ Matthew 2:10 A great many theories have been advanced to account for the appearance of the star, but what God tells us in the Bible is all that we need to know. I. THE LEADING OF THE STAR.—The star led the Wise Me... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST IN COMMON LIFE_ ‘When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him.’ Matthew 2:11 Think of those Magi, great men in their own land, rich men, powerful men,—men who could undertake a long journey, and bring great wealth wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE THREEFOLD GIFT_ ‘And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.’ Matthew 2:11 Let us put ourselves in the place of the Magi. What gold have we to give? What frankincense? What myrrh? Of these shall our offerings be. I. THE OFFERI... [ Continue Reading ]
_CALLED OUT OF EGYPT_ ‘Out of Egypt have I called My Son.’ Matthew 2:15 At first we are surprised at the use to which the Evangelist puts these words of the prophet. We turn to Hosea 2:1, and it is evident that in their primary intention they do not refer to the child Jesus, but to the children o... [ Continue Reading ]
_SLAIN FOR CHRIST’S SAKE_ ‘Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth.’ Matthew 2:16 The Festival of the Innocents dates as far back as the third century. Its celebration has been universally observed from the first. Dying so early, these little ones are calle... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN_ ‘In Rama was there a voice heard.’ Matthew 2:18 These little victims were but the first sacrificed by the powers of evil to retard the progress of the kingdom of light. Cruelty and hatred compassed the death of the King Himself, and since then saints have suffered, blood... [ Continue Reading ]