Wisely Responding to God’s Greatest Gift

Wisely Responding to God’s Greatest Gift

Matthew 2:1-12

 

Intro: Sermon Series Recap/Consulting the experts!

 

Surely there are many responses we can give to gifts given in any season. But this morning I want to turn the attention for the rest of our time to wisely responding to the greatest gift God has given in this and every season! We will gain insights not by seeking wisdom from an etiquette consultant, but through study and consideration of the response of the wise men Matthew 2 when they realized a start in the sky meant that God’s greatest gift, the Savior, had been given.

 

Read: Matthew 2:1-12

 

From the response of the wise men to the arrival of God’s greatest gift, I want to consult the Scriptures that depict their journey to find Jesus and offer four ways we can wisely respond to God’s greatest gift.

 

1. Make Him the Center of Your Story

 

Matthew 2:1-2, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

 

• As we are introduced to the to the magi, also referred to as wise men (ESV) from the East, we understand that they embark on a journey to Jerusalem after they see a star in the sky.

 

• This star they understood to be a sign that would direct them to the newly born King of the Jews, the Messiah, Jesus.

 

• As the story unfolds we will see more of this story, but I would like to unpack some things scholars believe about these Wise Men, because their pursuit of the Gift God has given is insightful for you and me.

 

• That said, there are many misconceptions about the wise men, so I want to look specifically as their story and how it can apply to you and me.

 

Illus. We Three Kings?

 

Question 1: Were they Kings?

 

• From verse 1, we understand that the magi were wise men from “the East,” most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. This means the wise men likely traveled around 800 miles or more to see the Christ child.

 

• The wise men were men of prestige, power and wealth. While they were not kings, they would have certainly given an appearance of royalty to those who saw them.

 

• Their designation as “wise men” was not in Bible terms or understandings, though, we see great wisdom from them in their pursuit of Jesus.

 

• Their designation as wise men or magi meant they were educated men who specialized in astronomy, astrology, and natural science.

 

• As astrologers, they studied the stars to predict the future, or determine circumstances. They were also dream interpreters.

 

• In the midst of their study into dreams and astrology, despite the ancient near-eastern belief systems, where mysticism or the pagan gods may direct their attention…God’s light was undeniable.

 

Question 2: Were there three kings?

 

• As for the number, that is something many have assumed based upon the gifts given: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But we really do not know how many went on this journey to see Jesus. It could have been 3, could have been around 100 or more. We don’t know exactly.

 

• In verse 3 we see that the king Herod and the entire city of Jerusalem was troubled, or deeply disturbed when they heard about these magi who were looking for the Messiah, so, many scholars believe that there were much more than 3, they contend that it was a great company.

 

Question 3: Were they of orient?

 

• One Gospel coalition article dives into the story of the Wise Men in an article titled, “We Three Kings of Orient Aren’t.”

 

• They write, “Orient” is a largely outdated word for eastern Asia, and in the song, it probably derives from the Latin oriens, which means east, but the English word “Orient” confuses things.

 

• The Bible tells us they were wise men, or magi from “the East,” which was most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. This means the wise men likely traveled around 800 miles or more to see the Christ child.

 

Illus. Song change?

 

• The timing of their arrival is simply stated as “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” But it was likely sometime later as Jesus and His family are noted in verse 11 as being “in a house.”  We also learn later in the chapter that Herod will have all male children 2 years and younger slaughtered in Bethlehem, and he chose two years after asking the magi for the exact time the star appeared (Verses 7 and 16).

 

• There are many suggestions surrounding the specifics, but what we can know for certain is that the wise men, or magi, were guided to look for the King of the Jews by a miraculous stellar event, the “Star of Bethlehem,” which they called “His star” (Matthew 2:2).

 

Illus. Star Study.

 

Numbers 24:17, “A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter will rise from Israel.”

 

• This was widely regarded as a Messianic prediction and understood by the wise men. The King they were seeking, it was Jesus.

 

• Their response was not simply to understand or discern the reality of what had been reveal in their study, but rather, they had to do something about it.

 

• They realized the star was a sign that the Messiah, the savior had been born, and they made Him the center of their story and steps immediately.

 

Illus. Once Delivered.

 

Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

 

Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

 

1. Get To Him Personally

 

• As the wise men follow the star, they got closer each day to where Jesus was. Verse 2, Arriving in Jerusalem, they had an assumption that the birth of the Messiah was well known, asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”

 

• Their inquiry caused quite a stir. Herod, the king of Judea, along with all Jerusalem was troubled.

 

Illus. Herod.

 

• We know a lot about Herod. He was given the title “Herod the Great” , also “King of the Jews,” but that was an interesting title because he himself wasn’t a Jew.

 

• His father was personal friends with Julius Caesar and because of his family’s personal relationship he was given the title of King of the Jews. But the Jews wouldn’t let him into the Jewish portion of the Temple, even though he was the one who had rebuilt it.

 

• We also know that he was driven by fear and insecurity. He had his own mother and mother-in-law killed, he had his eldest son and two other sons killed.

 

• In fact, Caesar Augustus said of him, “it’s safer to be Herod’s pig than his son.”

 

• In verse 4, Herod called in Chief Priests and Scribes (experts in the Old Testament) and they were able to provide information that based on Scripture, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

 

• The scribes quoted Micah 5:2, which revealed that is was out of Bethlehem the Messiah would come.

 

Matthew 2:6, And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.  

 

Matthew 2:7-9, Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found.

 

• What strikes me about the scene in Jerusalem is that Bethlehem is 5 to 6 miles away from Jerusalem and the Chief Priests and Scribes hearing about the star, and seeing these men who traveled from afar, are not at all interested in going to see Jesus personally.

James 1:22, But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.

 

Illus. Seek and find.

 

• In Luke 14:28, Jesus points the people in the crowd who were following Him to the importance of counting the cost. He said this because the multitudes following Him were amazed by His gifts, miracles, and healing power, and in so doing they were blind to the life He was calling them to.

 

• The Magi remained in pursuit of Christ, despite the cost. It was not about what He could give to them, but what they were prepared to give Him!

 

• I contrast that with many in our day, who recognize the cost, and are unwilling to give up anything for Jesus and get lost counting the cost associated with coming to the one whom these Magi called King.

 

• The Magi were not satisfied simply being in the know, they understood who had been born and they were willing to go.

 

• May being those “in the know” never be enough for us, let us be those who are willing to go because of what we know.

 

III.       Worship Him Sincerely

 

Matthew 2:7-10, Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the East, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

• The Wise Men were on a journey to see the Messiah. Their expressed purpose was to worship Him.

 

• And upon their arrival, that is exactly what they do.

 

• The word translated “worship” is proskyneo, it is a word that means to bow to the ground in humility, submission, and adoration. It also pictures a bowed down person kissing the hand of another in reverence.

 

• In Old Testament, the word often translated “worship” is saha, , similarly it means to humble oneself before…to bow before, to revere.

 

Illus. Praise and worship.

• When the magi arrive, they immediately worship Jesus. They bowed down and worshipped Him sincerely. It wasn’t just something they spoke about; they attached their action to their words.

 

• Herod said he wanted them to come let him know once they found Jesus so that he too could go worship. But in no way was Herod willing to worship Jesus, he was more concerned about worshipping the start of self.

 

• Herod would not sincerely bow down to Jesus, rather, he wanted Jesus gone so that people would bow down to him.

 

John 4:23, A time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

Illus. In spirit and in truth.

The word “imitate” in the Greek is “mimic.”

• Upon It must have been an impressive sight to see these Magi, these wise men, bowing before a young child.

 

• The Magi, or Wise Men, were men of prestige, power, and wealth, and here they were bowing down to a toddler.

 

• They were not concerned with how it looked. They knew whom they had found.

 

• Here they were, in His midst, they were not interested what others thought, or how things looked, they were interested in worshipping Him, they weren’t going to wait, they were willing now, not later.

 

Illus. In John 12, a woman comes before Jesus with a pound of very expensive perfume. Pouring it out on the feet of Jesus. But Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, calls it waste. Jesus said she had done a beautiful thing for Him.

 

• The Magi came worshipping with costly gifts.

 

• They hadn’t come to get something from Jesus. They weren’t coming because of what He had done; at that point He had done nothing.

 

Illus. Preparing for a child.

 

• We should worship the Lord because He is King of kings, creator of all, the reason for life, the destiny of our lives, the One who upon coming to Him, welcomes all in as sons and daughters.

 

Revelation 4:11, Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.

 

• These wise men brought Gold: which was given to Kings.

 

• Frankincense: Which was an expensive element of the High Priests incense and anointing oil. And

 

• Myrrh, which was used in embalming at death. Myrrh was used to anoint Jesus body after death.

 

• Gold for a mighty king, frankincense for a ministering priest, myrrh for a martyred prophet.

 

• These Magi gave great gifts, the best they could bring, and were overjoyed to worship Him, stopping at nothing.

 

1. Let His Presence Change You Presently

 

Matthew 2:12, And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

 

Illus. Change course!

 

Matthew 2:1-12