Matthew 2:1-23

2:1-9

Background on the wise men

The wise men were most likely from Arabia, the areas of Babylon or Persia. The gifts they later bring to Jesus suggest this as they are well known items in Arabia.

There is no given number of how many wise men there were. They most likely traveled in a large group due to how far they traveled which is roughly 900 miles and how dangerous it could be.

Does anyone know why we have the tradition of three wise men?

It is due to the number of gifts they bring to Jesus which is three as we will see later in the text.

2:1-8

What is the first thing we notice about the wise men?

They are diligently seeking Jesus, and to worship Him.

They traveled 900 hundred miles just to see Him and worship Him.

But it is not known if the wise men were seeking Jesus to worship Him as God incarnate or as a human king.

Either way what does this show us how we should be seeking Jesus?

Proverbs 8:17

1 Chronicles 16:11

We are to be seeking Jesus diligently, and His presence continually. We don’t have to travel 900 miles to seek Jesus.

This means we are in His word every day

Praying throughout the day

Being hearers and doers of His word.

Can anyone think of anything else?

This really encourages me to seek the Lord more. The wise men traveled 900 miles to seek out Jesus.

I have a hard time getting up at 5am to spend time in God’s word and prayer.

We see Herod seeking Jesus as well, but he is seeking Him out of fear of losing His power.

Little does he know his power is nothing to Jesus who is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Herod was a ruler behalf of the Roman empire, who had to have permission to rule as king. And his rule had boundaries that stoped .

Jesus is not ruling on the behalf of anyone, He is the King of kings and the Lord or lords.

Knowing this about Jesus, how can we apply this to our lives today?

2:9-12

Whether or not the wise men were seeking Jesus to worship Him as the Messiah or as a human king they found Him by bing led by a star they had first seen when they set out 900 miles ago. God led them to Jesus by this star.

Just like it said in Proverbs 8:17 if you seek Jesus diligently you will find Him.

There is a man named Lee Strobel who did not believe in Jesus and set out to seek Him to disprove Him. After diligent seeking to disprove Jesus Lee Strobel came to put his faith and trust in Jesus.

When they find Jesus they worship Him and give Him gifts.

How can we worship Jesus?

Using the gifts God gave you.

Giving Him praise and glory.

I would even say the long journey the wise men took to get to Jesus is part of their worship.