Introduction: The outline for this sermon was obtained from “The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible,” Leadership Ministries World Wide.
Anxious to include as many minorities, religions and disabilities as possible, the human resources department of the University of Alberta has put up a Braille poster outside its main office. The poster has been placed inside a display case with a glass front. This is brought to you by the same geniuses who put Braille instructions on the drive up window at the bank.
Lets start off by reading Matthew 2:1-12.
Matthew 2:1-12 (NKJV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, {2} saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." {3} When Herod the king heard this, 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 inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. {5} So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: {6} 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" {7} Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. {8} And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." {9} When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. {10} When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. {11} And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. {12} Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
The Wise Men. Tradition says there were three Wise Men. But there is nothing to substantiate this idea. There may have been more or even less. The idea of three comes from verse 11, in the three gifts, Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The real question is, “How did these Wise Men know about the star, the Messiah, and His kingship?”
We have read these 12 verses and we know that this is the only place where the Wise Men are mentioned. How did these Wise Men know? Lets turn to Daniel 2:48-49.
After Daniel had told Nebuchadnezzar his dream and interpreted the dream Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel.
Daniel 2:48-49 (NKJV)
Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. {49} Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Four men, Jewish men were put into very high positions. Notice in verse 48, Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel chief of all the wise men in Babylon. Since Daniel was chief of the wise men, and we know that Daniel was a righteous prophet of God. It is very likely that Daniel taught the Babylonian wise men to look for the Messiah’s star and to go and worship Christ.
That God revealed the birth of Christ to these Wise Men is beyond question. And that Daniel is the most likely individual to have taught these eastern Wise Men concerning the coming Messiah.
Now I do not want to be dogmatic about this, it is only a suggestion. Based upon Daniel’s character. And the fact that some one had to teach them to look for the Messiah’s star. There was nothing usual or common about the birth and early childhood of Jesus Christ.
Practically every event was unusual or uncommon, totally unexpected. There was the fact of His being God's very own Son, of the virgin birth, of the announcement by angels, of being born in a stable, and on and on.
The unexpected continues right on through the experience of the wise men. The wise men are a picture of those who seek Jesus. As they sought Him, events totally unexpected happened time and again. This is usually the case with those who seek Jesus. But God is faithful. If a person is truly seeking Jesus, God takes the unexpected events and works them out for good. God leads the person to Jesus regardless of circumstances and events, expected or unexpected.
Our passage may be outlined this way: Jesus was born in Bethlehem (verse l). The Wise men’s unexpected question: where is the newborn King (Verse 2). The Wise men’s unexpected disturbance (Verses 3-6). The Wise men’s unexpected commission: having to search for the newborn King (Verses 7-8). The Wise men’s unexpected sign: the star guided them again (Verses 9-10). The Wise men’s unexpected King: a humble child in humble surroundings (Vers 11).
But, lets begin by turning to Matthew 2:1.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:1 (NKJV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. At this juncture there are three quick facts are worthy of note.
(1) Jesus was born in Bethlehem, We have pointed out numerous times that this was according to prophecy. Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great. Herod the Great had little regard for his family, he was unconcerned about who would succeed him as king. He was an old man, unlikely to live long enough for the baby to grow to manhood. This baby was in no way a threat to Herod’s throne, and yet, Herod found reason to fear this infant king. Jesus was sought by wise men from the East, very likely, as I mentioned before, from Babylon.
(2) Bethlehem was only six miles south of Jerusalem. Its fame was due to two facts: It was the home town of David the King. As you drive around here you will see signs in these little towns like Iliff, “Home town of John Korrey, Auctioneer of the year.” Or Fort Morgan, “Boyhood home of Glenn Miller.” It probably hasn’t happened, but could you imagine a sign outside Bethlehem, “Home Town of David, the King of Israel.” Secondly, we know that it was prophesied to be the city of the Messiah's birth. All Jews knew this fact, and those who truly believed in a coming Messiah looked for the Messiah to come through David's line and to establish an eternal government
(3) The Wise Men, the Magi, were men from the East, possibly from Persia or Babylon. They may have been emissaries from one or more foreign nations who were seeking truth. They were influential men of learning and authority, the skilled scientists of their day. Skilled in philosophy, Science, Medicine, And astrology, lets say astronomy. It is thought that they were the priestly order of Persia, the ministers and advisors to the Persian rulers.
Now lets look to Matthew 2:2, the Wise men’s unexpected question: where is the newborn King.
Matthew 2:2 (NKJV)
saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
In seeking Jesus the Wise Men asked an unexpected question, “Where is the newborn King?” Many ask, how did the wise men know the King of the Jews had been born. Scripture does not give us the answer, but two other significant facts are: They Wise Men had a most unusual journey: they were guided by a star. Some might ask, “What is meant by ‘his star’?” Again the answer is not given. But, Verse 9 seems to indicate that it was some astronomical light.
Matthew 2:9 (NKJV)
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
This much is known: whatever it was, it was a miracle. It was a miracle at least in this sense: it appeared at the very time of Jesus' birth; it appeared to Gentile wise men far away in another nation; it guided them to Judea and then to where the young Child was.
The Wise Men intended to worship Jesus. The Wise Men had a most significant purpose: their purpose was to worship the newborn King. They had come to pay homage to a child whom they understood was to be King of the Jews. They expected what any foreigner would have expected: the child would be a son of the reigning king.
Jesus, of course, was not the son of the reigning king, this may have been the fact that disturbed Herod so much. He may have concluded what any reigning monarch would: that there was a movement to overthrow the throne. Now think about this, Where is the Christ? Every person needs to be asked the question, for He has already come and most are not aware of it.
Why? Because they are preoccupied with self and worldly affairs, with ambition and material possessions, with the physical and the flesh. Turn to John 1:49.
Where is He?" It is totally unexpected that the message would come from the Gentiles and heathen of the world.
Where is He?" It is totally unexpected that His own people do not know.
Where is He?" It is totally unexpected that the religious elite do not know. How far away from God and how lost the world had become, and still is, not to know that God has sent the true King, His own Son, into the world!
John 1:49 (NKJV)
Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
Jesus accepted this confession. The Son of God and the King of Israel. Turn to John 1:10 - 11 and think about this.
John 1:10-11 (NKJV)
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. {11} He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
How could God send His Son into the world and the world not know it? How clearly the Wise Men illustrate the world's blindness to eternal affairs. A wise man is a man who seeks after the King of the Jews. Lets turn to Matthew 2:3 - 6.
The Wise men’s unexpected disturbance.
Matthew 2:3-5 (NKJV)
When Herod the king heard this, 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 inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. {5} So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
It was the wise men who affected the Jews, not the Jews who affected the wise men. Few Jews were even aware of their King's birth. Imagine the great anticipation of the wise men as they journeyed and approached Jerusalem. Picture the shock: no one knew about the newborn King-who He was, where He was, anything about Him.
Three groups in particular are mentioned as being disturbed. Why were they disturbed? They just did not know about Him, that He had already come.
Some people were disturbed because they had anticipated His coming, but He had not come the way they had expected. They had expected a king, not a humble child, not a self-giving Savior, they expected a conquering hero.
Others just did not believe; they couldn’t care less.
Still others did not want to know about a king who might disturb their lives.
The government, that is king Herod, was disturbed because it did not want a king coming from God who might threaten the present line and form of authority. Herod thought that this new born king would cause his downfall. Herod the Great was a bloody tyrant.
Secular history records that he murdered many of his own family including his favorite wife (he had ten), her grandfather, her brother, and some of his own children. On one occasion he had the whole Sanhedren, the ruling body of Jewish government, assassinated.
On another occasion he had every notable man in Jerusalem murdered. He was very capable of the crime reported here.
Christ was born during the latter years of Herod's reign and his reign as king had been a long one, 37 B.C.-4 A.D., a period of 41 years. These facts show just how much of a bloody tyrant Herod really was. Just imagine! He would not even be around when a child king would inherit the throne, yet he felt threatened by the reports of a child king. Look down to verse 16. He was a man possessed by evil. He was suspicious, savage, and warped.
Matthew 2:16 (NKJV)
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
Herod had all the children killed, not only in Bethlehem but in all its districts as well.
Some of the religious elite were disturbed because they did not want a king to come as He had come. He and His coming did not match their beliefs. Others did not want a king other than the one they had. They were comfortable in the material world and the humanistic religion of the world. Others were so wrapped up in their religious affairs and its busyness that they were not spiritually sensitive enough to be aware of His coming.
However, some of the religious elite did turn to Him later. Lets turn to Matthew 2:7 - 8.
The Wise men’s unexpected commission: having to search for the newborn King.
Matthew 2:7-8 (NKJV)
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. {8} And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
Looking back at verse 2, we see the wise men's testimony about the star. The wise men had unashamedly testified to the supernatural, the star that had led them to seek the newborn King. All the city had heard their testimony, even Herod. The wise men were now commissioned to go and search and find the child. The newborn King's own people were not even aware of His coming. The wise men never expected they would have to search for Him.
Think about this, What a shock it must have been! Some expect to find "the newborn king" in the lives of those who profess to be God's people, and they are unable to find Him! Too often they are forced to go elsewhere or to give up their search. God used an evil man, Herod, to help the wise men in their search. Any person who seeks the newborn King will be led by God to Him, no matter who God has to use to help the seeker. Then verses 9 & 10.
The Wise men’s unexpected sign: the star guided them again.
Matthew 2:9-10 (NKJV)
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. {10} When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
The wise men's unexpected sign-the star guided them again. Apparently the wise men did not expect the supernatural sign to appear again. They had searched faithfully and done all they could, and they were continuing on. God honors such effort. He met their need. Turn to Deuteronomy 4:29.
But we should note that only the wise men went to search out the newborn King. And imagine, Bethlehem was only six miles away. Think about this, God will meet the need of any man who faithfully searches and does all he can, the man who continues on and refuses to quit. Yet how few search Him out today.
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)
"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. And turn to Matthew 6:33.
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Now turn to verse 11
The Wise men’s unexpected King, a humble child in humble surroundings.
Matthew 2:11 (NKJV)
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
They found the child King in a house. The real mystery in this story is, where did the Wise men fund the Christ Child? Some say that the Wise Men came two years after the birth of Jesus. Some say that they came and found the Christ Child just a few days after the birth. Scripture does not tell us.
No doubt the wise men had expected the child to be the son of a reigning monarch with all the splendor, wealth, and royalty attached. They had expected Him to be known by all. How unlike what they found, a child with common parents in a humble house!
Now see, the Wise Men gave the child King worship. Matthew records that they bowed down and worshiped the newborn king. Matthew says nothing about their having worshiped Herod.
The Wise Men gave material gifts as well. The gold, frankincense, and myrrh most likely sustained the little family during their exile in Egypt. But, lets go to verse 12 of Matthew 2.
The Wise Men’s obedience.
Matthew 2:12 (NKJV)
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
Everything seems to always come down to one thing, Obedience. Turn to James 4:17.
God told Joseph about the Messiah his bride was to have and told him to accept the situation. And that is just what Joseph did. And Gods warned these Wise Men to return to their own country by a different route. And that is just what they did.
James 4:17 says, and with this we will close.
James 4:17 (NKJV)
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
