1946 Bible Studies - page 3

BIBLE STUDIES.

" N o w these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they

received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures

daily, whether these things were s o " (Acts 17. I I ) .

VOLUME 14.

JANUARY, 1946.

CONTENTS.

Page

Christ, the King of the Jews 1

Questions and Answers CHRIST, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

From Bradford, Leeds and Halifax. --How appropriate it is that the Gospel according to Matthew should be the first in the canon of the New Testament!

This book, with its emphasis upon Christ’s office and character as King, is a fitting commencement to the newer revelation.  For long the prophets had been silent, and now at last their prophecies have been fulfilled; the King, the Messiah has come ! But not to the palace has he come. No, the new-born King is found in a stable, with a manger for His resting place; and yet He is of the royal line. His genealogy is traced down from Abraham to David and we see that David received assurance that the throne of his kingdom would be established for ever (2 Samuel 7. 16).  And so from David to Joseph the royal line descends, each father, no doubt, indicating which of his sons was to be his successor to the legal right of kingship.

Thus the newborn child of Mary legally regarded as (though not actually) the son of Joseph, was the rightful King of the Jews.

In studying His genealogy we observed the difficulty which occurs in the second of the three series, that of David to the Captivity.  Here it seems that only thirteen generations are given. It was suggested, however, that the clue to this discrepancy is given in verse 1 1 : " Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren. "

Josiah was of course the grandfather of Jechoniah, and further, Jechoniah had but one recorded brother. Perhaps, therefore, the term " brethren " is used in the wider sense not uncommon in scripture, and may include Jechoniah’s father, Jehoiakim. Thus a generation is recognized, but not specifically named.

Amidst the humble circumstances of the Lord’s birth, it is touching to note the adoration and costly tributes which the Magi bring to the infant King.  From far in the east these wise men (the scientists and astronomers of their day) come as guided by the star to lay their homage at His feet.  How remarkable it is that whilst the multitudes of Israel were in ignorance of the glorious fact of Messiah’s birth, these oriental strangers had received a revelation from God Himself!

The envy of Herod, his fear of losing his power, and the persecution which these actuated, are typical of the treatment which the King received at the hands of those who should have been ready to welcome Him.  At every phase of His life, from the manger to the cross, the civil and religious authorities sought to oppose Him.