Matthew2:1-11 A Visit By the Wise Men to the Christ Child

 

Introduction:  Being familiar with this record as a Christmas story should aid in understanding it.  It is an amazing thing that men of power would seek out the child of obscure parents and pay Him a visit.

 

I.  Bethlehem, the birth place. Verse 1

            A.  Matthew tells first where Jesus was born, Bethlehem.  

                        (All Jews should have known this in advance.  Micah 5:2)

            B.  It did not seem likely that God would select parents in Nazareth, but He did.

            C.  Matthew does not even tell us how God got Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem at the right time.

 

II.  Herod the King. Verse 1

            A.  Matthew informs us that Herod was King at the time.

            B.  This was Herod Antipater.

                        1.  He was not a Jew; he was an Idumean, (of Esau).

                        2.  He was the first of several Herods to hold office in Israel.

                        3.  Ironically, he is known as Herod the Great.

                        4.  He was appointed as King by the Romans.

 

III.  The wise men or magi. Verse 1

            A.  These wise men were from the east.  (Babylon or Persia, Iraq or Iran).

            B.  “Wise men” here does not refer to intellect but to their office.

                        1.  It was common practice for the kings of the east to select princes and give them special

                                    training for the King’s court and for government office.

                        2.  Daniel was an example.  (He and others were “wise men.”)

                        3.  They were trained in customs, laws, economy, agriculture, military, science, math and

                                    religion.

            C.  Since they had Jews among them, they were familiar with the older Jewish scriptures and thus with

                        the older prophecies of the coming of the Messiah.  (They did not have the newer Old Testament

                        books that were written since the Jewish captivity ended.  They did not know of Micah’s

                        prophecy in Micah 5:2.)

 

IV.  The meeting with Herod. Verse 2

            A.  The very appearance of visitors of such wealth, rank, and power would cause no small stir.

            B.  They wanted to know where is he that is born king?

                        1.  Herod was King, but he was appointed.

                        2.  The Messiah would be born the king of David’s lineage.

            C.  Herod did not know the answer to their question, but he was determined to find the answer.

 

V.  The purpose of their visit. Verse 2

            A.  They had come to worship the new King.

                        1.  The word means “to kiss the hands toward.”

                        2.  Usually it was accompanied by bowing.

            B.  The question, “Did they bow in recognition of Him as God, or in recognition of Him as King?

                        1.  Probably both.

                        2.  Matthew recorded this event for the purpose of showing the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.

                                    (Even Gentiles recognized Him as such.)

 

VI.  Herod troubled. Verse 3

            A.  Herod could not bear the thought of loosing his throne even to the Messiah.  Thus he was troubled.

            B.  The people of Jerusalem were troubled, too.  (Herod had been known to chop off heads when he

                        suspected his throne was in danger.)

            C.  He sought the answer by calling in the priests and scribes. Verses 4-8

 

VII.  The Star. Verses 9-10

            A.  The star had appeared as a sign of the Messiah’s birth.

            B.  It had gone before them to Canaan and then disappeared.

            C.  It reappeared and led them to the very house where Jesus lay.

           

VIII.  In the presence of the Christ. Verse 11

            A.  His being a child made no difference to them; the thing that mattered was that He was sent from God

                        to be the Messiah King.  (He was the promised Seed of Abraham through whom all families of

                        the earth would be blessed.)

            B.  From them we learn:

                        1.  That men should be willing to seek the Lord.

                        2.  That men should recognize Jesus as the Christ.

                        3.  That men should bow before Him as the might God.

                        4.  That men ought to trust Him as Savior.

                        5.  That men should give Jesus their best.

 

Conclusion:  If the Magi were here they would come down the isle.

 

Preached at Pleasant Hill M.B.C. 1-3-82 A.M.