What Does A Wiseman Look Like?

Matthew 2:2-12

INTRODUCTION

When I think of all the intelligent people who have ever lived, one of the first names that pops into my head is Albert Einstein. He may have originated the concept of a “bad hair day,” but no one will argue that he was intelligent! This week, I read of a true incident from Einstein’s life while he was on a lecture tour of our nation’s universities, presenting his theory of relativity. Einstein did not have a driver’s license, so he had a chauffeur who drove him from place to place. As they drove along one day, a couple of months into this lecture tour, the chauffeur said to the brilliant scientist, “You know, I’ve heard this lecture so many times now that I could give it myself.” Einstein accepted the challenge and said, “Let’s try it. The people at the next university have never seen me, so they won’t know who I am. You put on my clothes, and I’ll wear your uniform and cap. When we get there, you introduce me as your chauffeur, and I will introduce you as Dr. Einstein.”

Everything went according to plan. The chauffeur delivered the speech on relativity flawlessly. And Einstein, sitting at the back of the lecture hall, enjoyed it immensely. Then, something happened that the two had not considered. The lecture moderator said, “We have fifteen more minutes, just enough time for some of you to ask Dr. Einstein a question.” A mathematics professor in the audience asked a very complicated, technical question involving higher mathematical formulas and language that the chauffeur did not understand. The chauffeur was quick on his feet and said, “Sir, the solution to that problem is so simple that I am really surprised you would even ask it. Anybody can answer that simple question. To prove it, I am going to have my chauffeur come up and answer it!” Einstein might have been intelligent, but his chauffeur was obviously a wise man.

All of us want to be wise. Every day, we face complex decisions that often require on-the-spot thinking, and we wish we had the wisdom of Solomon. Don’t get me wrong; we do have knowledge, and there is lots of it. But knowledge is not the same thing as wisdom. Knowledge is just information that often leads us from the simple to the complex. Wisdom is a practical thing. I like Charles Swindoll’s definition. He says, “Wisdom is the God-given ability to see life with rare objectivity and to handle life with rare stability.” Today’s problem is, as Will Rogers said, “Common sense isn’t as common as it used to be.”

In today’s day and age, when wisdom seems so scarce, we wonder: What does a wise man look like? A great place to search for an answer to this question is in the 2nd chapter of Matthew, for here, in this portion of the Christmas story, we come across some men who have had the reputation of being wise. If we examine their involvement in this chapter of the Christmas story, we will see some of the hidden elements that go into making a wise person.

Matthew 2:1–12 ESV

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, 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.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘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.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 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.” 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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 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. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS

VERSES 1-2

It is unknown how long after Jesus’ birth these events took place. Herod the Great died in 4 BC, so we know it was before 4 BC.

Wisemen, or“Magi,” originally referred to a priestly group in ancient Persia, perhaps followers of Zoroaster, a Persian teacher and prophet. They were not kings. They had been exposed to Old Testament prophecies from Jewish colonies situated in the east. Although many Jews returned to Palestine after the Exile, they were Jews who had remained in Babylon after the Exile and knew the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah’s coming. Or they may have had a special message from God directing them to the Messiah.

The Magi would have traveled approximately nine hundred miles. Since they would have had to make arrangements for the journey and gather a traveling party, it would have taken several months from when they first saw the star until they arrived in Jerusalem. The Magi were probably more like religious advisers to their court. Their actual number is uncertain. Eastern tradition sets their number at twelve, but Western tradition sets it at three, based on the three gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Likely, the Magi, whatever their number, traveled with many attendants and guards for the long journey.

Matthew made a significant point in highlighting the worship of these wise men, which stood in contrast to the Jewish religious leaders who knew the Holy Scriptures and did not need to travel far to find their Messiah.

VERSES 3-8

Herod was not the rightful heir to David's throne; he reigned by appointment from Rome. Many Jews hated Herod. The Romans installed local figures to rule for them, and eventually, Herod gained prominence and ruled under Rome from 37 to 4 BC. At that time, Herod was called “king of the Jews.”

The Jewish religious leaders understood that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judah. This fact was well known to all Jews. The Jewish leaders directed the wise men to Bethlehem, but they did not go themselves.

Herod was ruthless, and his many enemies made him suspicious that someone would try to overthrow him. Herod didn’t want the Jews, a religious people, to unite around a religious figure. As he grew older, he became increasingly paranoid about threats against his person and throne. Constant domestic problems characterized the final years of Herod’s reign. He had numerous sons, wives, and advisors 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 than his son.

If this baby was a rightful heir to the throne, Herod could face trouble from the Jews. Thus, he set in place a secret plan to kill the baby Jesus.

VERSES 9-12

The description of God leading the Magi by a moving, supernatural sign may recall how God had led his own people by fire and cloud in the wilderness in the Book of Exodus.

When the wise men found him, Jesus was probably one or two years old (a child). By this time, Mary and Joseph were living in a house. These wise men, wisemen from the east, fell and worshiped the young king of the Jews, indicating a further fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 72:10–19).

The wise men gave expensive gifts because these were worthy presents for a future king. These three gifts indicate the esteem with which the Magi revere the child and represent giving him the honor due him as king of the Jews. More than the Magi know or intend, these gifts are likely used to providentially support the family in their flight to and stay in Egypt.

The Magi do not initially recognize Herod’s purposes but are later warned in a dream, just as Joseph had been. Like Joseph, they obey God’s words. Going back through Jerusalem would make it impossible to avoid Herod, so the wise men left Bethlehem in another direction. In this story, God reveals his care for his Son as the hostile world already was attempting to take the young child’s life. In the Gospel of Matthew, divine intervention is a major theme. Matthew shows how God superintended Jesus’ life to accomplish his divine plan of redemption.

TODAY’S KEY TRUTH

The Wise Follow The Guiding Light of Jesus.

SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS

These wise men, or “MAGI,” were the scholars of their time. Their teachings became known as the “law of the Medes and the Persians.” The magi’s laws are referred to in the Old Testament books of Esther and Daniel. These laws of the magi were seen in Persia as the highest unalterable legal code. Our word “MAGISTRATE” comes from the word “magi.” These magi were learned men: scientists, mathematicians, philosophers, doctors, and the legal authorities in their land. And, because of their knowledge, these magi rose to prominence.

They acted as advisors to kings, interpreting dreams and the like. We should note one other thing: one of the Magi’s main duties was choosing kings in Parthia. This is why their arrival in Jerusalem would have upset King Herod. He knew these men were king-makers, and here they were going about town asking for the One who had been born King of the Jews.

Imagine the scene. These men arrived in Jerusalem, no doubt, with a great deal of pomp and show, all decked out in their magi outfits, riding Arabian horses and camels accompanied by a small army for their protection. They must have been an imposing sight! Herod was the “king of the Jews,” a title given to him by Caesar Augustus, not the Jews. This was no time for a well-armed band of foreign king-makers to show up. He no doubt saw the magi as a serious threat to the stability of his kingdom. So when our scripture says that he was “troubled,” it uses a word that means “shaken” or “agitated”. In other words, to quote Elvis, Herod was “all shook up!”

We can trace the lineage of these wise men, magi, back to the Old Testament. Magi are mentioned in the accounts concerning Israel’s dealings with the Babylonian Empire. Remember, Nebuchadnezzar was the Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and took the Jewish nation into captivity. Scripture teaches that he hand-picked certain young Hebrew men of extraordinary wisdom to serve him, including Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel made an early favorable impression on Nebuchadnezzar by doing what the King’s Magi were supposed to be able to do but could not, which was interpret the king’s dreams. Daniel prayed for God’s wisdom and, as a result, could interpret the dream, and the king rewarded him by making Daniel master of the Magi.

As their leader, he would have significantly influenced their studies. Knowing Daniel’s character and zeal for God, we can be certain that he would have taken advantage of this opportunity to instruct the magi about the One true God. So, it stands to reason that they would have gained much familiarity with Jewish scripture, including all prophecy regarding the coming Messiah.

These wise men who visited Jesus had probably read God’s Word. They were wise because they based their lives on the only true source of wisdom, God Himself. Anyone who wants to become wise will do the same. Scripture says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault.”

True wisdom begins with respect for God as the only source of true wisdom. We see this quality in all wise men including these strange gift-bearing travelers who made the journey of their life based on God’s Word.

Matthew tells us that these wise men saw the star in the east and then traveled in that direction even after it disappeared. Words in our scripture, like saw, and Herod asking what time it appeared, and then they saw it again as it reappeared to guide them from Jerusalem to the specific house in Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph had set up their first home. These wise Men traveled many long miles of their journey in the dark without the benefit of the glorious star.

This is true to life. We spend a lot of our journeys in the dark, the storm clouds of life can be dark. God guides us to certain places in life, and we go there, not knowing what lies ahead. He leads us to a specific career or profession, and we go in that direction, not knowing any more than that.

Again and again, in life, we have a moment of great luminosity when everything becomes clear, and we know that God has guided us in this direction. Then, the light gives way to stretches of perceived darkness, with only the memory of the light to guide us. The star does not shine brightly at all times. When it doesn’t, we must walk by faith, remembering its shining and believing it will shine again. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not SEEN.” All believers go through times when it seems like God is hidden, and when this happens, wise followers will remember that God is always there guiding us even when we can’t see His guiding light. These wise men had the kind of faith that knows that God never abandons us, no matter how distant He may seem.

The Wise Follow The Guiding Light of Jesus.

CONCLUSION

You know, there are many reasons that these men may have journeyed to pay homage to God’s newborn Son. They may have started seeking Him because of political motivations. Perhaps they thought this new King would help the Parthians defeat Rome. Maybe they were looking for a new king to unify the two empires. Possibly, they were simply curious about the long-prophesied Jewish Messiah they had studied about. But they set out on this massive road trip because they were genuinely seeking the true God. I believe they realized how empty the world’s knowledge is, so with hungry souls, they set out to find the One true God.

One of the scriptures they probably knew was Deuteronomy 4:29, “If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find me.” These men realized how empty the world’s knowledge is, and so, with hungry souls, they set out to find the One true God. I believe these men found God to answer their sincere seeking. Matthew tells us they “fell down and worshiped Him when they saw Him.” God, in His grace, opened the eyes of these men to something His own people did not see: that Jesus was God in human form.

The Wise Follow The Guiding Light of Jesus.

Scripture is silent on this, but historical tradition says that Thomas, the doubting disciple, spent his life after Jesus’ ascension as a missionary in the East and that he met the original magi and baptized them in his travels. I don’t know that for a fact, but I do know that God warned them in a dream, and they departed to their country another way. This phrase, another way, can have a double meaning. They went back a different way, meaning a different route. And they went back a different way; they were followers of another way in the spiritual sense - the WAY - Jesus Christ. Both this journey and the journey of their lives changed course. They were changed men. The wise men were divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they obediently returned home a different WAY. No one who meets Christ with a sincere heart ever returns the same way. A true encounter with Jesus changes the direction of our lives.

The Wise Follow The Guiding Light of Jesus.

What a paradox that a babe born in a manger should be called mighty! Yet even as a small child, Jesus Christ revealed power. His birth affected the heavens as that star appeared. The star affected the Magi; they left their homes and made that long journey. The wisemen’s announcement shook King Herod and his court. The aftershocks of all this are still felt today.

Human ambition, power, and strategy often cannot see the hand of God and unwittingly attempt to thwart his purposes. Matthew focuses our attention on the fact that God is in control, even as the events surrounding God’s work unfold in unexpected ways. God is in control.

The Wisemen followed the guiding light of Jesus to find Him and then to safety. Like the Wisemen, we are called to follow the guiding light of Jesus in our lives. Their journey reminds us to seek Him intentionally, trusting His direction even when the path is uncertain, unknown, and dark. Just as they found Jesus and received divine guidance for safety, we, too, can rely on God’s Word and Spirit to navigate life’s challenges and storms. Like the wisemen true worship involves surrendering our plans, offering our best to Him, and allowing His guiding light to lead us.

The Wise Follow The Guiding Light of Jesus.