Jesus & The Gentiles

Psalm 72:1–7, 10–14 / Isaiah 60:1–6 / Matthew 2:1–12

Why are the Magi important? (Epiphany)

They Were Gentiles

There is. no reason given in the text that the Magi were converted to the religion and society of the Jews.

Their worship in Matthew 2:11 was that of an earthly king; they bowed. This is exactly how they described the newborn Jesus to Herod in the opening of Matthew ch2.

They were likely pagan astrologers from a foreign country or countries.

They were among the first to whom Christ was revealed, yet they were Gentiles; at lease the shepherds were Jews. Thus the term Epiphany

Revelation 1:1 “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

In John 5:39, Jesus says all scripture is about Him. So are all the events contained in scripture. God has been sovereignly weaving the tapestry that is the history of mankind, rightfully called Redemptive History because of God’s purpose.

So for ALL the emphasis on Israel, God ordeigned that some of the first people Jesus was revealed to were… Gentiles

Gentile inclusion in the Old Testament (Conversion)

Exodus 12:48–49 “If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.””

Even the Jews used to be Gentiles...

1 Peter 2:10 “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Kings, Dropouts, Losers, Failures, and Fools

The thing about focusing on the Magi as Gentiles is… they were led, drawn of God:

Matthew 2:2 “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.””

Matthew 2:9 “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.”

This was clearly a Sovereign God specifically awakening, and then leading; drawing these Gentiles to Christ Jesus.

Were the Magi the ONLY people who looked at the stars?

Why did Herod not send messengers to follow the star?

Why does the Bible not include others following this star?

Clearly this star was meant, and accomplished the drawing of these astrologers specifically, and it was efficacious; it worked.

Who among us were the expected, likely people to be drawn to Christ and saved?

Likely to be religious does NOT equal likely to be saved.

We who are saved, others heard the same sermons, songs, testimonies; others saw the same star, but God’s drawing is very personal, even if it seems it should be obvious to all.

1 Peter 2:10 “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

We are ALL Gentiles, Strangers, Foreigners until/unless God makes us one of His own.

WE are a church of Kings, Dropouts, Losers, Failures, and Fools

It is only Christ in us, the Soverein choice and grace of God that makes us more than those descriptions, that makes us a people; a Holy People for His treasure, for His Eternal Glory.

Jesus & The Gentiles in 2025

God saw fit to prophesy and then fulfill the revealing of Jesus to Gentiles.

How do we honor our God in our lives in our lives?

But for the grace of God go I, because I am a Gentile too

Who are the Gentiles in my life? Who does it seem most unlikely to be saved?

Focus continued prayer and outreach on your Gentiles.