The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 75

Ood lellds e.'\ch one in his own way, but the way he chooses is the precisely appropriate way for <>nch one. Simple shepherds, with Scripture associations, are led by angel- testimony and angel-song from the night-skies. Wise Magi, with the astrological associations, are led by the varying appea.rances of planets and stare in the clear Ea.stem heavens. Angels, or stars, they do but fit to the differing needs of men. And so is suggested to us the important truth that, while God's saving dealings with men are always one, their forms are variously adapted to the ~ondition and disposition and abilit~· of each. And the exceeding grace of God is seen in that adaptation. . I. DrVIXE LEA DINGS. Two things: 1. 'l'hey are direct Divine operations. W11ether we see the Land in them or not, the hand is there. 2. They employ instrumentalities; but, in the very simplicity and naturalness of them, we often miss the Divine working that is at the heart of them. It is easy to see nature-forces making conjunctions of stars to guide Magi, and miss seeing the Divine overrulings that make nature-forces work the Divine will. Whether it be shepherds, Magi, or pious Simeons, the Divine leading of men is to Christ their Saviour. What God is doing with men ie bringing them to Jesus. II. THE n.-nrvrnuALITY OF DIVINE LEA.DINGS. No one else was led just as the -shepherds were, and none just as the Magi were. God knows each one, reckons for each one, and deals with each one. There is no being lost in a crowd. There is no fear of unskilful dealing because our case is not precisely understood. We come into the world one by one; we go out one by one; and all the while we are in the world we are simple units before God. Illustrate this individuality of Divine dealings from Bible cases of conversion, such as (1) Jacob; (2) Manasseh the king; (3) Nicodemus; '(4) the Woman of Samaria; (5) Paul; (6) Eunuch of Queen Candace; (7) Lydia; (8) Jailor at Philippi. Each a typical, perhaps, but certainly an individual, case. III. THE GRACE -OF THE INDIVIDUA.LITY OJ!' DIVINE LEA.DINGS. It secures fittings and iitness. In ea.eh of the above cases show how precise the adaptation was. ,Show the grace which is al ways displayed in having things to fit. Show that the grace is proved by the tender consideration for the individual which such adaptation involves. Appeal to our experience of grace adapted to us.-R. T. Vers. 5, 6.-The hono= of a city. "Out of thee shall come a Governor." It is not its architecture, or its situation, or its history, or its polity, or its wealth. It is its men. A city is ennobled by the heroes, the poets, the race-leaders, who are born in it. This lellds some seven distinct cities to lay cle.im to be the birthplace of Homer. One of the later psalmists giveR expression to this truth, when he says," Glorious things are spoken of thee, 0 city of God . . . . Of Zion it shall be said, This man and that man wa.s born in her; and the Highest himself shall establish her" (Ps. lxxxvii. 3-5). Bethlehem was but a little and insignificant town, scarcely more than what we should call a village; not even important for its situation, since it was not on any of the main -caravan-routes. And yet it stands out most prominently of all cities in Palestine, save Jerusalem, the capital Everybody knows Bethlehem. Every traveller must go and see Bethlehem. We should smile at the woeful ignorance of a traveller who did not know enough to compel him to go to Bethlehem. Both the Old Testament and the New give prominence to it, and we may properly call it the twice-honoured city. Descriptions of it, as it was in our Lord's time and now, are at very easy command in modern 'Lives of Christ' and :..ooks of travel I. HONOURED A.B THE BIBTHPLA.CE OF DAVID. David is the hero of Old Testament history. He is the proper founder of the Jewish monarchy; and is specially co~ mended because he founded it on strictly theocratical lines. He is worthy of honour (1) for his pereonal character on the whole; (2) for his kingly rule, with some marked -exceptions; (3) and he is specially interesting because his reign waA distinctly typical -of the Messianic reign. Jerusalem gained honour as the "city of David," Bethlehem as his birthplace. Showing interest in a birthplace is a common sign of our interest in him who was born there. And we even expect to find relations between the genius of the man and the genius of the place. II. Hm,ounED AS THE BIBTHPLA.CE OF DA.VID'R GREATER SoN. Trace the orderings -of Divine providence which brouuht Mary to Bethlehflm. Martin Luther was born unexpectedly at an inn, when bf:i parents were journeying from home. Talk, how  <in. n. 1-23.] THE GOSPEL .ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. G3