Lessons Learned From Wise Men

Lessons Learned From Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-23

Often you will hear me quote other men of God that I have a great deal of respect for. (Ex. Spurgeon, D.L Moody, Matthew Henry, David Jeremiah, J Vernon McGee, Charles Stanley, Alan Carr and especially Adrian Rogers) Why do I do this? Because these men have proved to be very wise men. Many of the men I have mention have spent many years studying the Word of God and I have benefited greatly from their ministry.There are also many wise men that I have met throughout my life & ministry that have invested in me and have been a great influence and example.

We can learn much from the wisdom, experience and life lessons of others. The Word of God is full of men and women that we can learn from. Tonight I want to examine the Wise men mentioned here in Matthew 2:1-12. Last week we saw where Mary & Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem to dedicate Him to the Lord at the Temple. Afterwards they returned to Nazareth - Luke 2:39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

After the journey to Nazareth there is a period of time that passes before the events that are recorded in our text for today. As we arrive at Matthew chapter 2 we read of a group of men who are described as “Wise men”. Let’s look at their story and consider the thought “ Lessons Learned Form Wise Men”

Matthew 2:1 ¶Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

After the birth of Christ these “wise men” entered Jerusalem

Wise Men {G} - (Magos) (mag'-os) Oriental scientist.

Many times you will hear these men referred to a “The Three Wise Men” There is actually no evidence to support this assumption. There were 3 gifts that were offered but there could have been 2, 20 or 200 wise men. Some believe that the “Wise men” were a group of astronomers from the Mesopotamia area.They approached Herod and asked for information concerning another King …”The King of the Jews” There is another misconception about this story and it is concerning the timeline of this event. These men did not find “the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes” In these verses, Jesus is referred to as “the young child”

v9 ¶When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

V11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child

v¶And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

v14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

There is also more evidence of the timeline found in Herod’s attempt to destroy Christ. Herod had all children in Bethlehem under 2 years old destroyed. - v16 ¶Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Let’s transition for a moment from the seekers to the vicious King who would destroy all of these children. v3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.