Matthew 2:1-13 Seeking like wise men - Characteristics that set them apart

People go crazy during the Christmas season. And often not in a good way.

Go shopping. Bedlam. Always on the news about fights breaking out over some limited stocked toy. Let’s get in a fight so sonny can get this premium toy that he doesn’t need.

At a minimum the stores are packed. The lines are long. The parking lots are full.

And what about the buying. Banks love Christmas. People spending vast amounts of money that they don’t have. Going into debt. Buying thousands of dollars of presents that often people don’t want. But they feel that they have to do it anyway.

Even the family visits can get crazy. Where are we going to spend Christmas? Mom wants us to come to her house. But my Mom wants us there. Everyone wants us to have dinner, so we will schedule 8 Christmas dinners, and that doesn’t include the parties that people expect you to attend.

And if you are the cook. It is exhausting. A twelve course meal. 8 desserts. Enough food that if everyone takes some of each, they will not have to eat for days. And the amount of leftovers will take you into the new Year. Expect to gain 20 pounds over the holiday.

Let’s stop this morning. Refocus. Let’s not get so distracted we become fools. At least for a few minutes, let’s take a breath. Let’s seek to be wise. Can we make Christmas about seeking Him. Let’s be wise.

This morning let’s reflect on the well known story of some wise folks who sought Him 2,000 years. Let’s consider how they were wise. Let’s seek to be wise ourselves. The other stuff we need to sort out individually, but let’s not miss key elements to be really wise this Christmas.

We will examine Matthew 2:1-20 as it describes the wise men seeking the true king. The Savior. Let’s consider some of the characteristics that set them apart, so we too can be wise.

I. Seeking like wise men: Not relying on who they were Matt 2:1-2

(ESV) Matthew 2 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.”

Whether great or small it doesn’t matter. This alone does not make one wise.

Here we find a group of men who likely were of great prestige. Great men. Yet we find them putting this aside to seek the true king.

A. Wise men – Maji

1. They were special people from the East (from the east) – not certain who

2. People held in esteem – powerful men – men with special wisdom

B. Biblical evidence of wisdom

1. Priestly caste, Scientists and Astrologers,

(ESV) Daniel 2 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.

2. Advisors/Influencers to the kings

3. Found in Babylon, in Persia

4. Led by Daniel for a time (Dan 2:48)

(ESV) Daniel 2 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.

C. Historical evidence of influence

1. Chaldeans and Medes

2. Associated with the unconquered kingdoms at Rome's eastern edge

3. Reinforces that they were advisors to kings

4. At least at times they were King makers

a. Example

1) At Plato's death 2) Birth of Alexander the Great

b. Approval for any new king

c. Awaiting for new king

D. Tradition of three kings

1. Kings (Tertullian 225 A.D.) because of

(ESV) Isaiah 60 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. 5 … the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, … They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.

2. Three because of three gifts

3. Later wild Catholic tradition

a. Named Gaspar, Balthasar, Melchoir (End of 6th century)

b. Represented Shem, Ham, Japheth – Noah’s sons – ethnic people of the world

c. Casket in Cologne Cathedral is suppose to contain their skulls

E. Set everything aside to find / worship the King

(ESV) Matthew 2 1 … came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we … have come to worship him.”

1. What they were was not enough – incomplete

2. Came to one greater – one worthy of worship

3. Set themselves aside to come and find Him

F. Point: Being wise means you do not rely on what you have / what you are. Instead use what you have (or don’t have) to pursue and honor the king

II. Seeking like a wise man: Being alert to God’s leading

Regardless of who they were (the specifics are largely unimportant), they came. The Lord had spoken to them and they responded.

A. Heard from God / responded

(ESV) 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.”

B. Hearing from the Scriptures?

1. Through scripture (main manner)

(ESV) Matthew 2 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.’ ” (Micah 5:2)

2. Message clear – rejection of others was willful

C. Recognizing the Lord’s interventions

(ESV) 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.”

1. Study and spiritual understanding

a. Daniel’s prophecy Daniel – original knowledge - Over 300 years before predicted exactly the coming of the king/savior and God

(NIV) Daniel 9 25“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One (Messiah), the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ (69 weeks of years – 483 – Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem)

2. What was the star? star (miraculous or otherwise)

a. In the east (star in the east, while in the east – looking west, at its rising)

b. Conjunction of plants (Jupiter and Saturn within a moon's distance) 3 B.C> - But Greek - singular

c. Comet (Haley's in 7 B.C.) / Super nova

d. Miracle – went before them and then stood over the house

3. More important - Many saw – few reacted properly

D. Sensitive to spiritual leading

1. Sensing direction in conjunction with scriptural insight

(ESV) Matthew 2 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

E. Responding regardless of the cost

(ESV) 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.”

1. Left The familiar – families / homes

2. Large amount of time (much preparation – journey maybe 6 months each way

3. Effort – hard journey / dangerous / Money – expensive trip – also gifts

4. Point: Being wise demands listening closely to the Lord and then yielding to Him regardless of the cost

III. Seeking like a wise man: Seeking the true king

This is the message of the story – they sought the true king

A. Sought the Messiah type king

(ESV) 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.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

1. Type of king - Herod king vs Jewish king

2. They sought the true king of the Jews

a. The one worthy / Righting all wrongs

b. Bring in peace and righteousness

3. A disruption to the status quo

4. By an army of Easterners (likely a caravan)

5. By the king makers looking to recognize a new king

6. King already born

B. Not the Herod type of king

(ESV) Matthew 2 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

1. Human king

2. A fearful king

a. Shook with emotion and fear that a king might be born

3. A false king

a. An Edomite who had ruled ruthlessly for over 30 years

b. Died in 4 B.C. so able to date Jesus birth from His enemy (7-4 B.C.)

4. Ruthless at protecting his throne

a. Selfish / brutal

1) Hated by the people - would gladly welcome another

b. Began reign by massacring the Sanhedrin

c. Murderer - jealous for his throne

1) Wife's grandfather John Hyrcanus / Wife's mother Alexandra / Wife's brother Arisobulus / His son heir to the throne Antipater 2) His wife Mariamne (who he loved and grieved at her death) 3) Two sons Aristobulus and Alexander

d. Will required 100's of Jewish leaders to be put to death at his death

1) Knew he had a fatal disease 2) Ensure there would be mourning when he died / Did not happen

5. A deceiver

(ESV) Matthew 2 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.”

Wise Men not like the uncommitted religious people

a. Knowledgeable but uncommitted

b. Afraid of following the true king because of its impact (break the status quo/lose position)

1) Knew Herod would cause trouble 2) Concerned about a Roman reaction to a proclaimed king

c. Content in their current positions

d. Make no effort to seek Him themselves

The Point: Being wise means seeking the true king

IV. Seeking like a wise man: Worshiping Him completely

(ESV) 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.

Star reappeared (the one they saw while they were in the East – implied they had not seen it since then), so likely it had not been there all along, but only served as a sign to go.

A. Worshiped with the emotions

(ESV) Matthew 2 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. …

Note: Baby was born and in a house. Based on time frame given Herod and His subsequent killing of the two year olds likely the star had originally appeared 2 years previously. So Jesus could have been up to two years old. Greek word used of an toddler child is not usually used of newborn infant, but could have been. Inconclusive but likely Jesus now 1-2 yrs old

1. Overjoyed with the privilege

2. In humility

B. Worshiped with the will

(ESV) Matthew 2 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. … 11 … 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.

1. Action all the time – worship is not private or only within - active

2. Giving of themselves things of value

C. Worshiped with the mind

(ESV) Matthew 2 11 … Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

1. Maybe just gifts that were appropriate for a king – costly – not normal for an ordinary person --- knew He was a king – gave what the mind says would be appropriate

2. Or knowledgeable of who He was?

a. Gold / king

b. Incense / priestly

c. Myrrh / burial spices / His death was necessary – His sacrifice

D. Worshiped with their life

(ESV) Matthew 2 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

1. Went home

2. Changed – another way

E. Point: Being wise means worshiping Him with our entire being