Jesus: Worthy of Worship (Matthew 2:1-12)

Jesus: Worthy of Worship

OT

worship (שָׁחָה) = bow down, lay prostrate

NT

προσκυνέω = ‘to prostrate oneself in worship, to bow down and worship, to worship.’ LN

Old English

worth-ship = give worth to

worship

determine something worthy

then pay homage

Hajj

what do you worship?

spend time, money, and affections

what would you do?

how far would you go?

not to earn favor

but to show honor—to worship

do you consider Jesus worth worshiping?

consider some guys who took 3 months out of their life and opened their treasuries to worship Jesus

before Jesus did 1 miracle

before Jesus out of diapers

Matthew 2—pew Bible 960

The King of the Jews is born

setting for Matthew

how can Jesus of Nazareth be the Son of David?

he wasn’t born to the right people

reason for genealogy

and naming of Jesus by Joseph

he wasn’t born in the right place

reason for this passage

narrative about Jesus

but facts aren’t just that Jesus was born in Bethlehem

cosmic happenings and foreign dignitaries are involved

2:1-2

cosmic happenings

his star

a new star was believed to herald birth of significant person in land over which the star shone

likely not a natural phenomenon (e.g., a comet, supernova, or conjunction of planets) but was supernatural

who were these strange men that noticed his star?

wise men (magi)

men of wisdom who studied the stars—LN

experts in astrology, dream interpretation—BDAG

even magic

not locals (map)

from the east (lit—from the risings)

Persia and Babylon

800 miles (20 miles/day) = 40 days

one way, so nearly 3 months for total trip

leave now and get back at end of March

you don’t have anything else to do???

indicates homage to this new king was a big deal

black screen

3 gifts does not mean 3 wise men

traveled with large number of attendants and guards

only assurance = more than 1 (plural)

purpose

have come to worship him

pay homage

Matthew—no disguising foreigners/Gentiles

significant enough to have an audience with the king

yet normally are regarded with disapproval

magicians

Jesus is not going to be the Messiah for only Israel

foreshadowing Matthew 8:11

Jesus is born

angels are in flurry

HS activity is high

stars are on the move

foreign dignitaries are taking 3 months out of their time

but…

Not everyone celebrates Jesus

not everyone celebrated Jesus then

2:3-6

he was troubled

‘to cause great mental distress’—LN

deeply disturbed—CSB

alarmed—NET

Herod the Great

insecure x 10

Jewish bloodline important to be pure

dad was Antipater (Idumean = OT Edomite) and mother from Arabia

Romans put him in charge

Jews never accepted him as one of their own

so who is this newborn King of the Jews???

and all Jerusalem with him

most likely Matthew’s way of showing the disdain Jerusalem will have towards Jesus

it is in Jerusalem where Jesus is demanded to be crucified

but the wise men are in the wrong location

prophecy—Bethlehem

chief priests and scribes (strained relationship)

Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 “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.”

Micah 5:4 “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.”

shepherd

David’s public anointing

2 Samuel 5:2 And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’ ””

not only a ruler

but a ruler who cares (shepherds) his people

again, Herod is not happy about this ruler, shepherd born King of the Jews

2:7-8

deception is clear

says he wants to worship but actions show otherwise

2:16 — Herod kills boys

known as great builder

known as greatly paranoid

numerous sons, wives, and others close to him put to death

because fears plots to overthrow him

after frequent disputes with Caesar Augustus

emperor claimed better to Herod’s pig than his son

why Joseph instructed to flee to Egypt (2:13-15)

150 miles (more than a week) — departed in the night

OT allusion

Pharaoh’s tried to wipe the Israelites out through infanticide

just like Moses was preserved,

so would Jesus who would be the New Moses

the New Moses to deliver God’s people

wise men fled Herod’s scheme too

2:12

not everyone celebrated Jesus then

& not everyone celebrates Jesus now

Christmas can be a celebration without Christ

time of year becomes about

Santa Claus

work parties

presents

family

food

and Christ can be absent from the celebration

let us celebrate

Immanuel = God with us

Incarnation

virgin birth

Jesus = for he will save His people from their sins

Lamb of God

just like…

Yet some worship Him

then

2:9-11

star (2:9-10)

Bethlehem (map ; ZOOM)

prior slide

joy (2:10)

they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy

why?

knew from Herod that Bethlehem is destination (5-6 miles)

as astrologers, possible that star somehow indicated the actual house (supernatural) rather than just village

house, child (2:11)

40 days of travel means Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are no longer in Jesus’ birthplace

no longer in a manger

words are different

house and child

irony

dignitaries with extravagant gifts

gold

frankincense

sacred frankincense $136 for 15 mL (Young Living)

300 drops = 45 cents/drop

myrrh

$98 for 15 mL (Young Living)

33 cents/drop

OT allusion

Queen of Sheba coming to see King Solomon with extravagant gifts

foreign dignitaries presenting extravagant gifts to Jesus

Matthew 12:42 and behold, something greater than Solomon is here

dignitaries with extravagant gifts…

are in a quaint living room

not the grand throne room of a palace

one at a time???

they fell down and worshiped him

it was not the religious leaders who bowed to Jesus

it was foreign dignitaries despised by Jews

and some worship Him now

invitation to worship

Jesus is worthy of worship

substitutes leave you empty

worship means you know Jesus truly

respond from the heart

by valuing Jesus

by treasuring Jesus

by prizing Jesus

by being satisfied with God above all earthly things

if you know Jesus truly

what does your worship look like?

if it were translated to money

coins?

dollars?

benjis?

evaluate if He is worthy

if He is (and He is), then consider your worship

repent and believe

present Luke as member