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MARCH 25

12:14 fruit of his mouth. This deals with the 2:11 city of David. I.e., Bethlehem, the town
power of words; the reward of wise words is where David was born—not the City of David,
like the reward for physical labor (10:11; 15:4; which was on the southern slope of Mt. Zion
18:4). (2 Sam.5:7–9).a Savior. This is one of only two
places in the Gospels where Christ is referred
to as “Savior”—the other being John 4:42,
Luke 2:1–24 where the men of Sychar confessed Him as
“Savior of the world.” Christ. ”Christ” is the
And it came to pass in those days that a Greek equivalent of “Messiah” Lord.The Greek
.
2 decree went out from Caesar Augustus word can mean “master”—but it is also the
that all the world should be registered. This word used to translate the covenant name of
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census first took place while Quirinius was God. Here (and in most of its New Testament
governing Syria. So all went to be registered, occurrences), it is used in the latter sense, as a
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everyone to his own city. title of Deity.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the
city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of Da-
vid, which is called Bethlehem, because he 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away
was of the house and lineage of David, to be from them into heaven, that the shepherds said
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registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem
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was with child. So it was, that while they were and see this thing that has come to pass, which
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there, the days were completed for her to be the Lord has made known to us.” And they
delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn came with haste and found Mary and Joseph,
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Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when
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and laid Him in a manger, because there was they had seen Him, they made widely known
no room for them in the inn. the saying which was told them concerning this
8 Now there were in the same country shep- Child. And all those who heard it marveled at
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herds living out in the fields, keeping watch those things which were told them by the shep-
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over their flock by night. And behold, an herds. But Mary kept all these things and pon-
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angel of the Lord stood before them, and the dered them in her heart. Then the shepherds
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glory of the Lord shone around them, and returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
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they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said things that they had heard and seen, as it was
to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring told them.
you good tidings of great joy which will be to 21 And when eight days were completed for
all people. For there is born to you this day in the circumcision of the Child, His name was
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the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the called JESUS, the name given by the angel be-
Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will fore He was conceived in the womb.
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find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying 22 Now when the days of her purification
in a manger.” according to the law of Moses were completed,
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him
multitude of the heavenly host praising God to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the
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and saying: Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall
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be called holy to the LORD”), and to offer a sac-
14 “Glory to God in the highest, rifice according to what is said in the law of the
And on earth peace, goodwill toward Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young
men!” pigeons.”
DAY 25:Why was there an emphasis on prescribed places of worship in the Old Testament?
In Deuteronomy 12:1–32, Moses begins by repeating his instructions concerning what to do
with the false worship centers after Israel had taken possession of the land of the Canaanites (see
7:1–6). They were to destroy them completely. In v. 2, he speaks about “the high mountains…
hills…every green tree.”The Canaanite sanctuaries to be destroyed were located in places believed
to have particular religious significance.The mountain or hill was thought to be the home of a god;
and by ascending the mountain, the worshiper was in some symbolic sense closer to the deity.
Certain trees were considered to be sacred and symbolized fertility,a dominant theme in Canaanite
religion. And in v. 3, Moses addresses “their altars,…pillars,…wooden images…carved images.”
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