U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.
Fort Stewart, Georgia
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Matthew 2:1-12
II. THE LARGER CONTEXT:
Now, before we begin, allow me to share with you some HISTORICAL TRUES regarding THE BOOK OF MATTHEW. For example, in the Book of Matthew, we find A MANUAL OF CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS which describes Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God’s will, as was disclosed in the Old Testament.
Matthew opens with the birth of Jesus (in chapters 1-2) and concludes with THE RESURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOUR, AND THE COMMISSIONING OF HIS DISCIPLES, in Chapter 28.
III. THE SMALLER CONTEXT:
Now, in our particualar text, THIS AFTERNOON, Matthew shares with us THE STORY OF "THE WISE MEN VISIT". More specifically, Matthew shares with us, here, that apparently, some time ... after the birth of our Saviour. After Jesus ... had been placed in a MANGER (STALL) according to Luke 2:7 ... JESUS ... MARY AND JOSEPH, THOUGH STILL IN BETHLEHEM ... had now been moved TO A HOUSE (according to Matthew 2:11) WHEN THE ... (MAG-0S) ... or the wise men from the east visited.
In fact, Jesus (HERE) IS CALLED A young child ... RATHER THAN A NEWBORN INFANT, AS HE IS CALLED IN LUKE 2:12.
IV. READ THE PERICOPE: Matthew 2:1-12
V. READ THE TEXT: Matthew 2:1b-2 (...there came wise
men from the east to Jerusalem,
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).
VI. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to
others that men have been brought from
far (and by many ways) to WORSHIP
CHRIST.
VII. "WHY WERE THE WISE MEN WISE?"
VIII. PROPOSITION: On this Sunday, as it will be throughout this coming week ... many folk ... in churches, and chapels (alike) .... all around the world ... will enevitably mention THE WISE MEN. SCHOLARS ... HAVE CONDUCTED LOTS OF RESEARCH ON THE WISE MEN, AND MANY LENGENDS AND TRADITIONS HAVE BEEN FORMED ABOUT THEM, AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH OUR SAVIOUR.
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MOVE 1: In fact, some have said, ... the wise men were Kings ... while others have said that they were sorcerers or magicians ... still, ... there are others that maintain ... wise men were priest, scientists or astrologers.
a. My own research ... indicates that "the mag-os" is a Greek word .. that we translate as ... wise men. These wise men were really descendants of an ancient tribe of people known as ... medes ...
b. In fact, ... biblical research shows ... that the mag-os were to Persia ... what the Levites were to Israel. In other words, my brothers ... and my sisters.
c. The mag-os were ... to Babylonians and Persians ... alot like our Old Testament prophet Daniel ... and to a certain extent ... they were like ... Joseph the Dreamer.
d. The truth of the matter is ... the mag-os ... in their day in time ... were regarded as men of holiness ... and wisdom ... who ... advised ... and instructed ... kings
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MOVE 2: But,... throughout the Bible ... the scriptures speaks continously about them ... (Wise Men of Egypt and Babylon) and it portrays them as objects ... of mocking.
a. For you may recall ... that they were continually called upon by Kings and Rulers to interpret ... what the God of Is-ra-el was doing ...
b. Yet .. they always failed to do so.
c. For don’t you remember, ... the wise men failed Pharoah, ... and Nebuchanezzar (provide examples).
d. In fact, reading the scriptures ... we learn that the Bible mocks at ... the wise men ... total inability to discern the times ... and to interpret what ... God .. was saying ...
e. The Apostle Paul says .. in 1 Cor. 1:19-22 ...
f. ...For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. for the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
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MOVE 3: Therefore, the question of the day ... is ... "Why .. were ... the wise men wise?"
a. I submit to you ... that there are three reasons ... why the "Wise Men Were Wise":
b. Now, the first reason, why the "Wise Men Were Wise" was because .. they were not too preoccupied to look up ...
c. For you see ... my brothers and my sisters ... there were other wise men ...
d. In fact, ... There wise men ... right there ... in Palestine ... on Herod’s Staff.
e. But ... those wise men ... were so busy ... contending with the Government and the things around them ...
f. They forgot ... to look up ...
g. Instead, ... they were watching their backs ... and wondering what tricks Herod ... would be up to next...
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MOVE 4: Therefore, regardless ... of what happens ... in this world ... around us ...
a. ... Or to us ... it still ... pays spiritual dividends to look up.
b. It pays to pause ... from the cares of this world ,and that which occupies our ...constant attention ... to look-up.
c. So, the first reason ... the wise men were wise ...was because they were not too ... preoccupied to look-up!
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MOVE 5: NOW, THE SECOND REASON ... THE WISE MEN WERE WISE ... WAS BECAUSE ... THEY FOLLOWED THE STAR .. THAT LED TO JESUS
a. In other words ... in spite of the terrible reputation ...wise men had collectively in discerning what thus saith the Lord ...
b. These wise men had a desire to know the truth about the God of Is-ra-el.
c. And a result, they followed the star ... that led to Jesus...
d. God had sent a message from heaven ... and they were wise enough to take it seriously ...
e. In fact, they packed their rucks ... and went forth ... on their piglrim journey.
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MOVE 6: In fact, they journeyed ... all the way .... from the rising of the sun ...
a. And they experienced many hardships ... and negative circumstances ...
b. They went through some difficult terrain ... and they saw some bad weather ... but ... they stayed on their pilgrim journey ...
c. For you see ... true ...wise men ... always follow ... where God leads ...
d. So, the second reason these wise men were wise ... was because they followed the star that led to Jesus.
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MOVE 7: Now, the third and final reason ... the wise men were wise ... was because ... they were pepared to meet ... the master.
a. for the Bible says ... that when the wise men found Jesus ... they presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
b. So, they weren’t wise just because ... they followed the star that led to Jesus ...
c. But ... unlike ... a lot of folk ... they were prepared to meet the master.
d. They had suitable gifts for the Lord ... they had the gold of a life that had been tested by the fire of mockery and time.
e. They had frankicense of a life of service ...
f. And the myrr of a life of sacrifices ...
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CELEBRATION: .... So why were the wise men wise?
