Matthew #3

D. The Magi’s visit to the King two years after His birth —

historical leaders of the time.

1. – Matthew locked Jesus’ birth into history by giving the geographical location and historical leaders of the time.

a) – The Magi were a unique order of Persian scholars who were acclaimed experts in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, and other studies.

b) – Through these men from the east, Matthew emphasized that though Israel was rejecting the Messiah, Gentiles were eagerly embracing Him.

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– The Magi went to Jerusalem, the capital of Judea, to ask for directions to the birth place of the king.

a) – The Magi knew of the exalted king through reading Balaam’s prophecy.

b) – The Magi’s sole purpose was to worship the almighty King.

– Usually, when Herod was troubled, someone died; therefore, all Jerusalem waited fearfully for him to express his anger at news of a new king.

fearfully for him to express his anger at news of a new king.

– Herod asked the Jewish religious leaders the same question about the birth of the King that the Magi had asked.

– The priests and scribes knew that the King would be born in Bethlehem and supported this answer with Scripture; however, they didn’t take the prophecy seriously enough to go and investigate for themselves. (Biblical information isn’t enough. We must apply Truth to our thinking for our souls to be renovated.)

– Herod used the information from the Magi to learn the age of the Child whom he thought threatened his throne.

– Herod didn’t want to worship the Child but to destroy Him. His plot was a satanic attempt to stop God’s salvation plan.

– The way the star appeared, guided the Magi, and then disappeared was supernatural, a divine light for those who eagerly awaited Messiah’s coming.

– The Magi rejoiced at the reappearance of the star.

– The Magi came, saw, and worshipped the Christ Child.

a) – The gift of gold provided Jesus’ family with needed income during their stay in Egypt.

b) – Frankincense, a perfume for nobility, was the right gift for Jesus, the Son of God and the King of Kings.

c) – Myrrh, an embalming spice, indicated Jesus’ future salvation work on the cross, His reason for coming to earth.

– For the first time in the Gospels, Gentiles received a message from God.

a) – The Gentile Magi believed God’s revelation and responded with reverence.

with reverence.

b) – The fact that the Magi left without Herod’s knowing testifies to God’s grace to Jews and Gentiles alike.

grace to Jews and Gentiles alike.

1) Historical note: Herod had the greatest spy system in the ancient world.

2) It would have been humanly impossible for the Magi with their many escorts to leave his jurisdiction without Herod’s knowing about it.