Lesson # 2

Today’s Lesson is found in the Book of Matthew.

Please take out your Bible,.  and turn to the Book of Matthew.    Chapter #  2.      If you don’t have access to the Holy Bible in your language;.  you can access these passages on the website,.  https://www.biblegateway.com.

In the New English Translation Bible,  Matthew Chapter 2,.  verses 1-12,.  scripture tells us that Jesus Christ was born in the town of Bethlehem;.  in the mountainous southern part of the region of Israel,.  known as Judea.   Magi,.  or wise men,.  went on a pilgrimage from an Eastern country,.  to look for the newborn baby Jesus.   They followed a bright guiding star which led them to Bethlehem;.  where they found the newborn infant lying in a manger,.  wrapped in swaddling clothes.   Jesus Christ was born in a stable,.  and laid in a manger,.  which was a long,. open,. wooden or metal container,.  that was used to feed animals.   Joseph and Mary tried to secure a room at the inn;.  but there were none available.   Mary was about to give birth to Jesus;.  so the innkeeper let them use the stable for the night.   As the newborn baby Jesus lay in that manger,.  the bright guiding star above them shone brightly.   So on this joyful Christmas day,   a Savior was born.  All of Heaven was rejoicing!  (The Birth of Jesus – Christian Bible Reference Site – Christian BibleLesson # 2 – Reference.org).

At the time of Jesus’ birth,.  Israel was ruled by the Roman Empire.   A Roman king named Herod was placed in charge  of the region of Judea;.  and he had heard about the birth of Jesus from the chief priests and the scribes.   So he asked the three wise men to go to Bethlehem and find this baby Jesus;.  so that He too could worship Him.   But Herod really wanted to kill Jesus,.  because he feared that Jesus would someday become a King;.  who could rise up and take away all of his power and authority (Matthew Chapter 2,   verses 1-12),.   (Who were the Magi (Three Wise Men) that visited Christ? – Alfred Edersheim – April 12,  2010 – Christianity.com)

The wise men had followed the bright star that guided them from the East;.  and it led them to the exact place where Jesus was born.   Upon entering the stable,.  the magi were greeted by Mary;.  and then they looked down and saw the baby Jesus lying in the manger.   They knelt down in front of Him,.  and presented Him with gifts of gold,. frankincense,. and myrrh.   Before they left to go back to their country,.  all three of them were warned in a dream;.  to stay away from Herod,.  and to return home by a different route (Matthew Chapter 2,.  verses 1-12),  (The Birth of Jesus Christ:.  Bible Story Summary – Robert Driskell – What Christians  want to know.com).

Herod soon realized that he had been tricked.   So he ordered the execution of all male children two years and under,.  in Bethlehem.   So in order to get the infant Jesus out of harm’s way,.  Joseph is subsequently warned in a dream to flee to Egypt,.  with Mary and the baby Jesus.   They stayed there in Egypt until the death of Herod.   Joseph is then told in a dream that it is now safe to go back to Israel.   This was to fulfill the prophecy of the prophet Hosea,.  who wrote in the Book of Hosea,.  Chapter 11,.  verse 1:   when Israel was a young man,.  I loved Him like a Son,.  and I summoned my Son out of Egypt (Matthew Chapter 2,.  verses 13-18),   (The Birth of Jesus – Christian Bible Reference Site – Christian Bible Reference.org).

But just as Joseph was getting ready to depart for Israel,.  he was warned in another dream NOT to take  Mary and the baby Jesus back to Bethlehem;.  because Herod’s successor,.  Herod Archelaus;.  might still try to kill Jesus.   Instead,.  an angel of the Lord told Joseph to go on to Galilee;.  where He and Mary and the baby Jesus settled down in the town of Nazareth.   Matthew,.  one of Jesus’ twelve disciples;.  wrote in this chapter of the Book of Matthew:.  then what had been spoken by the prophets was fulfilled,.  that Jesus would be called a Nazarene!   (Matthew Chapter 2,.  verses 19-23),   (Wait.  Did the Holy Family go to Egypt or the Temple?   A quick survey of answers – Tom Hoopes- Dec. 28,  2020 – Ex Cords at Benedictine College).

          *******         Attention Students       *******

The multiple choice test for this chapter of the Bible,   and the answers to all of the questions;   are listed right below.   Feel free to take the test manually.   However,   if you would rather take it electronically,   simply click on the link below.  Then,  after you have completed the test;   hit the Submit button at the bottom,   and then click on the View Accuracy button;   to see how you did.  

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScW00SxcYMxAt1BXau33NGjoRQK3H_UTufEk8w_H_xwLOp9dw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Answers To Test Questions!

 1.    B.   2.   D.   3.   D.   4.   C.       5.   D.   6.   B.   7.   A.   8.   B.     9.   C.   10.   B.   11.   A.   12.   C.   13.   D.   14.   A.   15.   B.   16.     C.   17.   D.   18.   B.   19.   C.

Test Questions!

1.   Jesus Christ was born in the town of

A.   Macedonia

B.   Bethlehem

C.   Damascus

D.   Jerusalem

2.   The 3 wise men who came from the East were looking for

A.   Joseph

B.   Mary

C.   Elizabeth

D.   the baby Jesus

3.    The 3 wise men were led in the right direction by

A.   using a compass

B.   looking at a map of the entire region

C.   asking directions from strangers

D.   following a bright guiding star

4.     Jesus Christ was born in

A.   a hospital

B.   a hotel room

C.   a stable

D.   a temple

5.     The 3 wise men brought Jesus gifts of

A.   money

B.   food

C.   candy

D.   gold,. frankincense,. and myrrh

6.     A manger is a long,. open,. wooden or metal container;    used to

A.   cook food

B.   feed animals

C.   store water

D.   grow exotic plants

7.     When Joseph and Mary tried to get a room for the night,   the innkeeper told them

A.   there were no vacancies

B.   their credit card was expired

C.   their reservation was for the following week

D.   they didn’t have enough money

8.     At the time of Jesus’  birth,.  Israel was ruled by

A.   King Solomon

B.   the Roman Empire

C.   the Russian Federation

D.   the Babylonian Empire

9.     King Herod learned about the birth of Jesus from

A.   A very close friend

B.   A dream that he had

C.   the chief priests and scribes

D.   an article in the newspaper

10.    King Herod had authority over

A.   all of Israel

B.   Judea

C.   Egypt

D.   Syria

11.     Where did the 3 wise men go to try to find the baby Jesus?

A.   Bethlehem

B.   Jerusalem

C.   Samaria

D.   Gaza

12.     King Herod wanted to know where Jesus was born,.  so that he could

A.   bring Jesus more gifts

B.   take pictures of the baby

C.   kill the baby

D.   help raise the baby

13.     Before the 3 wise men headed back to their own country,.  they were warned in a  dream to 

A.   pay their hotel bill in full

B.   eat a good meal

C.  get some good rest

D.  stay away from Herod

14.    King Herod ordered the execution of all male babies

A.   2 years old and under

B.   with deformities

C.   that were not of Roman descent

D.   that cried too much

15.    In order to get the baby Jesus out of harm’s way,.    Joseph and Mary fled to

A.   Jordan

B.   Egypt

C.   Lebanon

D.   the United States

16.    After the death of King Herod,.    Joseph was told in a dream to take Mary and the baby Jesus back to

A.   King David

B.   An Eastern country

C.   Israel

D.   the United States

17.    Thus fulfilled the prophecy of the prophet  ________,.   who wrote:.    I have  called my Son out of Egypt.

A.   Samuel

B.   Isaiah

C.   Moses

D.   Hosea

18.    But because King Herod’s successor might also have wanted to kill Jesus;.    Joseph was warned in a dream Not to take Mary and the baby Jesus back to Bethlehem,    but instead to go to 

A.   the chief priest at the Temple

B.   Nazareth

C.   Beersheba

D.   Jerusalem

19.     Matthew,.  one of the twelve disciples,.    wrote in this chapter of the Book of  Matthew;    that this was to fulfill a prophecy that says:

A.   His name shall be made great

B.   He will perform miracles

C.   He shall be called a Nazarene

D.   He will be a King

Jesus,.   I come to you today with a heavy and troubled heart.    My life right now is a total mess.    So many things in my life have gone wrong.    So many of my plans and projects have resulted in failure.    At one time in my life,.   I had high hopes for the future;.   but now I am very hurt and very upset about how things actually turned out. Jesus……Jesus…….,.  I need you right now.    I am disgusted with my life the way it is.    I have no real friends that I can count on,.   and I am depressed,.   disappointed,.  dejected,.   and sorrowful.    But I do believe with all my heart that you can help me.  Jesus,.   I know that you love me so much that you willingly died on a wooden cross at Calvary for the full remission of all my sins.    I know that I am a sinner,.   and that the punishment for sin is death;.   but that you took my place on that cross at Calvary,.   so that just by my believing in you,.   and that you died for me;.   that I can have new life now,.   and one day go to be with you in Heaven for all eternity.   Jesus,.   I love you.    I need you.    Please come into my heart,.   right here,.   right now.   and wash away all my sins with the very same blood that you shed for me;.   on that old wooden cross at Calvary.    Jesus Christ of Nazareth,.   I accept you today as my Lord and Savior,.   and I will profess and proclaim your mighty name to everyone whom I meet.    Please fill me with your Holy Spirit,.   and help me to turn my life around.    I am so happy that you came into my life today……..  and thank you so very much for saving me from my sins!  Amen. 

References        (How to Seek the Presence of Jesus Christ in your Life – Religion,.  Christianity – April 27,  2022 – wikihow.com),.   (32 Inspirational Bible Verses About God’s Unconditional Love – What the Bible says about  God’s love for you prove that His love never wavers – Christy Pina and Corinne Sullivan – Dec. 7,.  2021- womansday.com),.  (What Happened at Calvary? – Like 23:.  39-49. – Pastor Bill Parker – rofgrace.com),.   (4 Bible Promises For When You Just Need To Cry:.   Jesus Help Me! – Janet Thompson – Jun. 25,   2020 – crosswalk.com),.  (What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior? – Your Questions,.  Biblical Answers – gotquestions.org)

 ©  2022  Charles Spratt