Behold The King: The Wise, The Prideful, and The Foolish

Notes
Transcript
Matthew 2:1–11 KJV 1900
Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, 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. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Beth-lehem, 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. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Beth-lehem, 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. 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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The Foolish

Can you imagine having the answer key to every test, every trial, and every struggle you will ever face in your life?
The Priest’s and Scribes and all of the Hebrew nation, had God’s Word at their fingertips and yet when the star shone in the sky their were clueless.
Examine the inhabitants of Jerusalem, their fear
Matthew 2:3 KJV 1900
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Proverbs 8:5 KJV 1900
O ye simple, understand wisdom: And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Matthew 7:24–27 KJV 1900
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Psalm 49:11–14 KJV 1900
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, And their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: Yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
Romans 3:10–12 KJV 1900
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The Prideful

Herod the Great held the legal title of “king.” He was the prefect of Jerusalem, but was not a Jew himself. He was of the Idumaeans and began his rise to power in Samaria. Herod rose to power after his father Antipater secured a great relationship with Marc Antony.
Herod learned to deceive and manipulate his way into more power and in order to keep it he dealt subtly and ruthlessly to anyone that got in his way.
Proverbs 21:1 AV 1873
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
Proverbs 21:4 KJV 1900
An high look, and a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
James 4:1–10 KJV 1900
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Psalm 51:17 KJV 1900
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The Wise

Psalm 49:1–5 KJV 1900
Hear this, all ye people; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, Rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
Psalm 49:15–20 KJV 1900
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: For he shall receive me. Selah. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: His glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: And men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish.
Proverbs 19:7 KJV 1900
All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him? He pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more