Matthew 2:1-11 (3)

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-If you would, please turn to Matthew 2.

And, I’ve chosen this text, simply because...

It’s the only one I have left!

Of course, I say that somewhat in jest...

But, the reality is...

…that I couldn’t come up with a Christmas text...

…that I haven’t already covered in the last few years...

…EXCEPT this one!

(Maybe you all can give me ideas...

…after service today)

-But, don’t let me mislead you...

…by what I’ve just said.

Just because I’m getting to it last...

…doesn’t mean that I think...

…that it’s the LEAST important...

…of all the Christmas texts.

That’s certainly not the case.

It is a WONDERFUL text...

And, there are many different reasons...

…why I’m only now getting around to it.

(We don’t have time...

…to go over all of those now)

But please, don’t let me...

…cause you to diminish its importance by having said that.

-Alright, let’s go ahead and read it together...

And then ask for the Lord’s help with it.

Matthew 2:1–11 (ESV)

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

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Pray

-Obviously, given the number of verses we just read...

We’re not going to be able to...

…go through this text...

…in the same manner that we usually do.

But, I hope to at least make sure...

…to “hit the high points,” as they say.

-Now, prior to this, in Verses 18-25...

…Matthew had told us about...

The circumstances leading up to Jesus’ birth.

His primary emphasis had been on...

…the reality of the...

Miraculous, Divine Conception, and

Virgin Birth of Jesus.

But, in the midst of those bookends...

Matthew he gave us an important editorial comment...

…that provides us with an important segue...

…into the text that we just read.

He wrote:

Matthew 1:22–23 (ESV)

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

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You probably noticed that quote from Isaiah 7:14.

(We’ve covered that text...

…MANY times in the last several years)

(So, I won’t go into much detail on it today)

But, I do want to remind you that...

...It had been immediately fulfilled...

…in the birth of that child that NO ONE...

…ever names their children after today:

Maher-shalal-hash-baz!

But that the prophecy went on to promise things...

...that force us to conclude, that...

…it was ULTIMATELY referring to...

...Israel’s final, eschatological, Messianic King.

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV)

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore...

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That’s the Messiah!

That’s the King...

…for which (at the time of our text)...

…the faithful in Israel...

…had been waiting for many long centuries.

And Matthew is saying (without equivocation)...

…that Jesus of Nazareth is that King!

-Now, Verse 1 picks up...

…against that backdrop.

Let’s read it again.

It tells us the setting.

Matthew 2:1–2 (ESV)

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king...

Before we go on...

...notice two very important things already:

1.) The reference to Bethlehem:

The City of King David

2.) As the Davidic King arrives...

…a powerful imposter is seated upon his throne.

Remember this about King Herod:

1.He was not a pure Jew, but an Idumean. (Edomite)

2.He had been appointed by the Roman government to rule over Israel.

3.He was a harsh ruler. Even the Roman Emperor, Augustus, acknowledged the ruthlessness of Herod. — Mark Strauss (Emphasis Mine)

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-With that in mind...

…let’s continue on.

Matthew 2:1 (ESV)

1 ...in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

Now, if we weren’t so familiar with this story...

…this would be a surprising insertion.

For one thing… “from the east” . . .

…means that these men were gentiles.

No one seems to know exactly where they were from...

But most suggest either:

Media

Persia

Babylon.

Either way, they were foreigners.

And, not just any foreigners...

They were Magi! (That’s the word in the original)

-Now, Magi (contrary to the tradition that later developed)...

…weren’t kings.

So, “We Three Kings” . . .

…is a bit historically inaccurate:

A. (We don’t know how many there were)

B. (The word Matthew uses...

…has a pretty clear etymology.

Within basic parameters...

…we know what they were.

Philip Schaff says:

Wise men, lit. Magi, μάγοι, מָגִים.— The name originally belonged to a high sacerdotal caste among the Persians and Medes, who formed the king’s privy council, and cultivated astrology, medicine, and occult natural science — Schaff

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So these men are most likely...

...Learned, intelligent, foreign royal dignitaries...

…who have shown up in Israel’s capital city...

…following the birth of Jesus.

And, of course, we all know the reason for that...

But, let’s try to read it with open minds, in Verse 2.

Here’s what they went around asking in Jerusalem:

Matthew 2:2 (ESV)

2 . . . “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

And again, if we weren’t so familiar with this...

…we would be surprised by it:

1.) These men were NOT Jews!

2.) They’re making this ABSOLUTELY CORRECT assertion...

…based upon something they “saw in the stars”

3.) They’ve come to bow themselves...

…before this Royal Jewish toddler...

In WORSHIP!

Guys, this isn’t normal!

-YET… there is a sense in which...

…this shouldn’t surprise us.

Even without addressing the...

…astronomical phenomenon of the star...

(which we’ll attempt to do)

…we see in the Old Testament...

…that the Gentile nations to the East...

…were never left totally in darkness.

Over the Centuries...

…God sent them glimpse of light!

Let me show you what I mean:

Genesis 25:5–6 (ESV)

5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac.

6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

Do you think they went...

...knowing the promises God had made to their father?

Job 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

3 ...this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

Also, after Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream...

…when the pagan magi could not...

Daniel 2:48 (ESV)

48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.

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Think about the Messianic promises...

…that we know that Daniel knew!

-You see, God had not...

…left these regions entirely without witness...

…and the arrival of these foreign dignitaries...

…hundreds and thousands of years later...

…is probably meant to testify to that!

-Now, think about this:

These Magi had some doctrinal understanding...

…that a King deserving of worship...

…was promised to come to Jewish people.

But somehow, His arrival was signaled to them...

…by the arising of some star in the sky.

What do we make of that?

-Well, There are many theories and speculations about it:

A Comet

A Supernova

A Planetary Alignment.

All three of these have some difficulty...

…associated with them.

And I’ll be honest with you...

I just think it was something supernatural....

Something that God did in the cosmos...

…for this particular purpose.

(Like when he made the sun stand still for Joshua)

I don’t think we need to try to figure out...

…a way to explain it naturally.

Christianity isn’t a natural religion.

The Incarnation wasn’t a “natural” occurence.

I’m okay with resigning it to that.

(I think you ought to be too)

-However, I do think that...

…there may be a doctrinal element...

…connected to this astronomical phenomenon:

Sproul explains:

This may have been a planetary conjunction, a supernova, or something purely supernatural (which seems most consistent with its finally coming “to rest over the place where the young child was”; 2:9).

Whatever the case, it alludes to the star of Jacob (Num. 24:17), which was prophesied by another Gentile, Balaam. — Reformation Study Bible

This was from Balaam’s final oracle:

Numbers 24:15–19 (ESV)

15 And he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:

17 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.

18 Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed...

19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!”

-Needless to say, if this was what...

…they understood this star to be indicating...

…and they rolled up into Jerusalem...

With all their wealth and splendor

With all their entourage

…and go around asking where THAT king was...

That kind of news is going to travel fast!

We see exactly that, in Verse 3:

Matthew 2:3–4 (ESV)

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Why would they be troubled that the Messiah was going to be born?

(Because their hearts were evil)

-Now, Look at Verse 5.

The Jewish religious leaders...

…point Herod to a text that we looked at last year.

Matthew 2:5 (ESV)

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

Matthew 2:6 (ESV)

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

-We can better understand their fear...

…when we examine the rest of the oracle:

Micah 5:1–5 (ESV)

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.

4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

5 And he shall be their peace...

Why would they not want this?

Why would Herod not want this?

Well, if he, and they, were understanding it:

Naturally

Physically...

...What would it mean for...

Herod’s Power?

Herod’s Position?

…and the power and prominence of...

The Scribes and Pharisees?

-So, look at what Herod does in Verse 7:

Matthew 2:7 (ESV)

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.

So, he knows from the prophecy...

…that the place is Bethlehem...

(Notice how he believes the word of God to be true...

…and STILL makes war against it!)

But he needs to find out from the Magi...

…how long ago it first happened...

…so he could figure out...

…how old the child would be at the present time.

So, what’s he wanting to do?

Murder Him...

Before he as the chance to be deposed by Him!

He’s wanting to devour and destroy...

THE LORD’S MESSIAH!

How do we know that?

Because of what he does in Verse 16:

Matthew 2:16 (ESV)

16 Then Herod . . . became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

(And unregenerate men today...

…would still, rather murder Him...

…than to face His righteous Judgment)

-Look at Verse 8.

Here’s how he was righteously deceived:

Matthew 2:8 (ESV)

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

This command would make sense, naturally speaking.

What Jew WOULDN’T want the Messiah to arrive?

But, the Sovereign of All, though...

“helpless and small”

Encumbered with real human weakness

Without an army to protect him...

…was in no danger of being swept away...

…by this great flood that was coming out of this dragon’s mouth:

Look at Verses 9 and 12:

Matthew 2:9 (ESV)

9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

Matthew 2:12 (ESV)

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Instead of the evil that Herod had devised...

...this happened:

And it should have served as a sobering portent, to...

Herod

His Master

…of what was ultimately going to come!

Matthew 2:10–11 (ESV)

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Some commentators make much of...

…the symbolism behind these particular gifts.

We don’t have time for such considerations this morning...

But, suffice it to say...

…these were gifts that were fit...

For a KING!

And it brings to mind...

…the Messianic imagery of Isaiah 60:

Which fits the Christmas motif...

…to a TEE!

Isaiah 60:1–6 (ESV)

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising....

5 ...the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

6 ...They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

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I think this event...

…may very well be...

The foreshadowing...

The beginning...

…of the fulfillment of that promise.

-And notice one more glorious thing:

What Satan meant for evil...

…God meant for Good.

What Herod, in his service to the Dragon...

…meant for the tearing down of the Christ...

…actually resulted in his EXALTATION!

Out of darkness… Light!

And brethren, later on… The Dragon’s servants...

… would be poised to destroy the Christ again...

They would labor for His crucifixion...

…on a Roman Cross...

…again through...

Lies

Trickery

Deceit

And yet AGAIN...

What they would do...

To bruise his heel...

Would end up...

Crushing their heads!

(Elaborate)

-Let me finish with an imperative...

…from a very well-known Christmas Hymn:

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,

Come, peasant, king to own Him.

The King of kings salvation brings;

Let loving hearts ENTHRONE Him!

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The King has come!

Let’s Pray