Seek and Find

Matthew 2:1-12

Tradition and Truth

Who were the wisemen? Where did they come from?

Magi- Persian king makers, possibly descended from Daniel’s leadership of Satraps (Dan. 6)

kept the memory of Daniel’s revelation of the presentation of Mashiach Nagid (Dan. 9)

possibly influenced by strong Jewish presence in the days after Purim

astrologers who looked for the “signs of the times”

What was their mission?

“Born king...”

Herod the Great

A shrewd politician, Herod was also great as a soldier, an orator, and a builder. Aside from his appearance in Matthew’s nativity narrative, Herod the Great’s building projects serve as the backdrop for many New Testament events

(Winstead, M. B. (2016). Herod the Great. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, L. Wentz, E. Ritzema, & W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press.)

Ideumaen- descendant of Esau (Edom)

took control of Judea from the Parthians (NE Iran)

APPOINTED king of Judea, not BORN

Entourage-

unknown number of Magi

three kinds of gifts

support staff

military escort

Distant Prophecy

Baalam (pagan prophet), Balak (king)

could not curse Hebrews

instead utters this prophecy

Numbers 24:17 (ESV)

I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near:

a star shall come out of Jacob,

and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;

it shall crush the forehead of Moab

and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Three Gifts and a Star

gold, frankinsence, myhrr

royalty, worship, death

The Star:

Magi saw it rise (astronomical phenomena)

Magi saw it settle over the house of Jesus’ dwelling (miraculous)

Wise Men Still Seek Him

The Magi worshipped Jesus (proskuneo)

Daniel 6:25–27 (ESV)

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.

I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for he is the living God, enduring forever;

his kingdom shall never be destroyed,

and his dominion shall be to the end.

He delivers and rescues;

he works signs and wonders

in heaven and on earth,

he who has saved Daniel

from the power of the lions.”

Seek and Find