The Wise Men - Lessons in Making Wise Decisions

Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2:1–12 NLT

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” 3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” 9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Introduction:

I. REFUSE TO CONFINE SERVICE TO THE CONVENIENT

(Matthew 2:1-9).

A. Follow a path that requires risk, time, and personal investment.

(Matthew 2:1-2).

Matthew 2:1–2 NLT

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

1. The distance- between 500 and 1000 miles (depending on point of origin- Mesopotamia, Persia, or Sippa.) Such a trek through the deserts and rugged terrain of the Middle East could have taken approximately six to eight weeks depending upon prevailing conditions along the way

a- This trek was inconvenient at best!

b- It required time to prepare for the trip and time to make the trip.

c- This trip required taking the risk of traveling the dangerous roads between their home and Palestine/

(1) They risked the possibility of sickness, bad weather and danger of encountering bandits.

d- This trip called for the investment of personal monetary resources for supplies and the gifts they were taking to Jesus.

2- Truly serving Jesus will require us to follow paths that will risks, the investment of time and personal resources.

a- Time to prepare yourself and resources to minister to people.

b- Time to carry out the tasks God has called you to perform.

c- Sacrifice of personal resources to fulfill God’s call.

d- Risk of hardship and possibly danger in fulfilling God’s call.

B. Follow a path that requires dealing with inconvenient circumstances and unbelieving people. (Matthew 2:3-8).

Matthew 2:3–8 NLT

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

1. Herod - saw Jesus as a personal threat "King Herod was deeply disturbed"

a- As he grew older, he became increasingly paranoid about threats against his person and throne. He had numerous sons, wives, and others close to him put to death because he feared plots to overthrow him. After frequent disputes with Caesar Augustus, the emperor uttered his famous pun that he would rather be Herod’s pig (hys) than his son (huios).[1]

2. The people in general- "...as was everyone in Jerusalem."

a- Many people in Jerusalem were not ready to welcome Christ as King--for that meant change for them personally.

3- Following Christ will lead down paths that bring us into inconvenient circumstances and into contact with difficult people.

a- There are purposes behind confronting these circumstances and people.

(1) To develop our character. (Romans 5:3-5)

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

(2) To use us as witnesses to the lost. (Acts 1:8a)

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

C. Follow a path that is revealed on-the-go. (Matthew 2:9).

Matthew 2:9 NLT

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.

1- The Lord provided the guidance the wise men needed when they needed it.

2- Following Christ means abandoning the idea that you can plan out your journey.

a- The Lord will provide you with moment -by-moment guidance through the Holy Spirit.

(Galatians 5:25)

Galatians 5:25 NLT

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

b- The key to accessing this guidance is “living in the Spirit.”

(1) This means having a consistent time alone with God (Prayer and Bible study) and seeking to stay “tuned-in” to the Holy Spirit throughout the day.

II. CHOOSE TO OFFER SACRIFICE THAT IS COSTLY(Matthew 2:10-11).

Matthew 2:10–11 NLT

10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

A. Sacrifice offered in the right attitude. (Matthew 2:10).

Matthew 2:10 NLT

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

1- The wise men had the right attitude - Joy!

2- God wants us to have the right attitude as we serve.

Hymn- Serve the Lord With Gladness

B. B. McKinney

Verse 1 Serve the Lord with gladness in our works and ways Come before His presence with our songs of praise Unto Him our Maker we would pledge anew Life’s supreme devotion to service true.

Verse 2 Serve the Lord with gladness thankful all the while For His tender mercies, for His loving smile: Blessed truth enduring, always just the same, We will serve with gladness and praise His Name.

Verse 3 Serve the Lord with gladness, this shall be our theme, As we walk together in His love supreme: Listening, ever listening for the still, small Voice, His sweet will so precious will be our choice.

Chorus Serve Him with gladness, enter His courts with song; To our Creator true praises belong: Great is His mercy, wonderful is His Name. We gladly serve Him, His great love proclaim.

3- God will reward us when we serve with the right attitude.

(2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NLT

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

B. Sacrifice of the best gifts available. (Matthew 2:11).

Matthew 2:11 NLT

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

1- The wise men did not bring the cheapest gifts they could find - they gave the best available.

a- The gifts, which the three men carried, were fit for a King.

(1) Equivalent to today’s prices,

a pound of frankincense was worth $500 a pound, and

a pound of myrrh was $4,000.

a pound of gold was valued at $600, and in today’s market,

Today, a pound of gold could cost 10 times that amount.

2- Given what the Lord has done for us, we should be willing to give him our very best.

a- This begins giving our very selves.

(Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

III. DETERMINE TO COMPLETELY OBEY GOD.(Matthew 2:12).

Matthew 2:12 NLT

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

A. Obedience that is open for divine direction. (Matthew 2:12b).

Matthew 2:12b NLT

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

1- The wise men were attentive when God sent them instructions to return home by a different route.

a- The word translated “being warned” means “to give a response to one who asks or consults; hence, in the passive, as here, to receive an answer. The word therefore implies that the wise men had sought counsel of God” (Vincent). These magi were not simpletons. They readily perceived Herod’s craftiness and being concerned about it, they wisely sought God about it.

2- We need to seek God for direction in every situation we face.

(James 1:5.)

James 1:5 NLT

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

B. Obedience that moves in trusting action. (Matthew 2:12a).

Matthew 2:12a NLT

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

1- The wise men not only sought direction from God, but moved in simple trusting action (obedience).

a- We are not told the route they took, but it was one that was likely unfamiliar to them.

2- When we seek the Lord’s guidance, wisdom dictates that we then move in obedience to His leadership.

a- While the pathway He leads us in may not be familiar to us, it is not unfamiliar to Him!

(Luke 6:46).

Luke 6:46 NLT

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

Conclusion:

Now What?

1. When faced with faced with paths in serving Christ that involve personal risk, inconvenience, and involve the investment of my time, what will I do?

2. What will I do when serving Christ puts me in situations where I have to face people who may oppose me or try to get me to compromise God's directions?

3. Will I choose to follow Christ moment -by-moment and day- by-day, even though I can't see the path ahead--trusting Him?

4. Will I joyfully choose to give Jesus my best, because he has given me his best?

5. Will I choose to follow Christ, even though people may oppose me and the opinion of those in power want me to do otherwise?

[1] Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 62.