The Magi & Micah

Introduction: Prophecy

Pastor Carl Introduces the Title and reads Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi or the kings that are part of the Christmas story, appear in Matthew 2. They were scholars, sages, wise men. They studied the stars and noticed when something changed in the sky. They also studied the Scriptures.

The Tyndale Bible commentary suggests the thought that these wise men lived in Babylon. Maybe they were descendents of Jews who didn’t return from Babylon with Nehemiah in 517 BC.

Or maybe their teachers had been Jewish. Perhaps they were simply well read scholars who saw in the Writings of the Hebrews a clear picture of the coming king. For example Numbers 24:17 says:

“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.”

1Num 24:17 ESV

The Magi may have linked the star to “the king of the Jews” through studying the OT and other Jewish writings — a possibility made plausible by the presence of the large Jewish community in Babylon. (EBC)

We know that Matthew’s intent was to demonstrate to his readers that Jesus was the Messiah promised by the prophets.

The timing of the visit fits with Old Testament prophecy. There are several events that Matthew points to that show a divine coordination of events.

The journey of the kings and their interaction with Herod

The narrative of Herod’s paranoia and subsequent genocide of the boys of Bethlehem.

Micah’s prophecy

The star itself that kept the attention of the wise men and their successful discovery of the Jesus, Joseph & Mary

The warning of the angel to not return to Herod which involves Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt under Herod’s threat and returning to Nazareth upon Herod’s death.

The Search Was for a King

“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.”

A KING IS COMING.

There was not any confusion on the part of these Magi. They knew what they were looking for.

One scholar said it this way:

We must not think that the Magi’s question meant, Where is the one born to become king of the Jews? but, Where is the one born king of the Jews? (cf. Notes). His kingly status was not conferred on him later on; it was his from birth. Jesus’ participation in the Davidic dynasty has already been established by the genealogy. The same title the Magi gave him found its place over the cross (27:37).(Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

THE KING WAS COMING

The Scribes Relied on Scripture: Promises

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.’”

Mic 5:2 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

HEROD WAS ASKING THE SCRIBES....ABOUT THIS. THEY DIDN’T RELY ON TRADITION, THEY QUOTED FROM MICAH 5:2.

Let’s not miss the weight that the citizens of Jerusalem put on the authority of Scripture.

11 Bethlehem, the place near where Jacob buried his Rachel (Ge 35:19) and Ruth met Boaz (Ru 1:22–2:6), was preeminently the town where David was born and reared. For Christians, it has become the place where angel hosts broke the silence and announced Messiah’s birth (Lk 2).

The visit with Herod validates the authenticity of the wise men.

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.

The Star Persisted Until the Visit Concluded

I have a Pastor friend who recently posted on facebook:

Mark your calendar for Dec 21st for 45 minutes after sunset. The Star of Bethlehem will shine for the first time since 1226.

What he’s talking about is a super conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that will be the closest they’ve been since 1226.

Scientists postulate that what the wise men saw might have been a triple conjunction a:

John Mosely, program supervisor for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. states: It’s possible that what the wise men saw was the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on June 17, 2 BCE,

. It could of also been miraculous and happened only once.

It’s fun to think about…what the Scripture says is so clear

=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.

“A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.”

Isa 60:6 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

“Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.””

1 Isa 49:7 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

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

Matt 2:1–12 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

Perhaps the Magi had read further in the book of Micah for in chapter 6 it says

“6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Mic 6:6–8 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

The Visit of the Magi Points to the Fullness of Time: Provision

Paul the apostle must have been reflecting on this grand story of Redemption.

“1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Gal 4:1–7 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

Glory! God’s Promises Insure Provision

Every man has a god—even the atheist—a “no-god.” The tragedy is that man becomes like his god—he grows into the image of what he worships and serves. That’s why we must be “In Jesus.”

author, athiest, society of free thinkers until he lay on deathbed wrote these words:

I’ve tried in vain a thousand ways my fears to quell, my hopes to raise; but what I need, the Bible says, is ever, only Jesus.

My soul is night, my heart is steel—I cannot see, I cannot feel; for light, for life I must appeal in simple faith to Jesus.

He died, He lives, He reigns, He pleads; there’s love in all His words and deeds; there’s all a guilty sinner needs forever more in Jesus.

Tho’ some should sneer, and some should blame, I’ll go with all my guilt and shame; I’ll go to Him because His name, above all names is Jesus.

Oswald Chambers said:

“Humble yourself”—it is a humbling business to knock at God’s door—you have to knock with the crucified thief. “To him who knocks, it shall be opened.”

Proverbs 13:1 (ESV) — 1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

(John 10:10 ESV)

Today there is hope in Christ.

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

(John 6:37 ESV)

Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me

Rom. 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

(Romans 3:23–24 ESV)