“Wise Men Make Wise Choices”

Series: The Gospel Truth

Text: Matt. 2:1-15

Introduction: (What?)

Every Christmas I am amazed at the Nativity Scenes that include three guys with crowns riding on camels. Evidently those who make and sell these have not read the scriptures. Today we are going to look at who these “Wise Men” really were, where they came from, and what they did that was “politically incorrect” in their day that still impacts us today.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Where were these guys from? (v 1a)

All the Bible tells us as to the location of the Magi is that they were from the east. We also don’t know how many there were. The number that is usually depicted in nativity scenes is based on the number of gifts that they brought for the Christ child. They were not kings as the traditional Christmas Carol calls them, but rather were Magi or magicians & astrologers. Most likely, according to John McArthur, they were Zoroastrian wise men from Babylonia or Persia. This was a religion, founded by an Iranian man named Zoroaster, who had a vision that he deemed to be a God whom he called Ahura Mazda which means “wise Lord”. According to some historians, the religion Zoroastrianism was the fourth world religion alongside Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Basically it teaches that there is one God and that there is a conflict between good and evil that will eventually be settled by a catastrophic event at the end of the world as we know it. You can see the parallels between Zoroastrianism and Christianity. These “magi” spent much of their time viewing the heavenly bodies (stars) and reading various texts to determine signs and meanings from the stars. The CSB Study Bible suggests that they may have read Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites.” in trying to interpret the meaning of a new star they had discovered and then followed to Bethlehem.

2. Why did they come? (vv 1b-6)

These “Magi” were in a constant search for God and looked to the stars for signs concerning Him. Therefore, when they discovered a new star that they hadn’t seen before, and compared it with the Jewish scriptures they read from Numbers, they headed out in the direction of the star. Miraculously the star seemed to move ahead of them. If they began their sojourn in Babylonia or Persia, the trip could have taken as much as two years. The length of the trip required that they most likely had a large company with them and took along food, clothing and other supplies to last them on the trip. Consequently they could not have been at the birth site of Jesus as depicted by many Nativity scenes. Their stated reason for pursuing the star which they felt signified the birth of the King of the Jews, is found in v 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star at its rising and have come to worship Him.”

Evidently our Creator God caused a new star to appear at the moment of the birth of Jesus. These pagan Magi, from far away took notice, and fueled by a desire to meet and know this new “King” they embarked on a long journey. Their announcement was disconcerting to Herod who was not fully Jewish and thus not a descendant of David and not qualified to reign as king of the Jews, and he knew it. His reign was under Roman authority rather than the authority of God.

Matt 2:3-6 “When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”” The religious leaders whom Herod questioned got their answer from the writings of the prophet Micah 5:2 “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.”

Understand that the chief priests and scribes also had a political and financial stake in this. Although they knew the truth, they were not willing to accept the truth about the birth of the King of the Jews. The same is true in some pulpits today. Pastors may be afraid to preach all the truth of the Bible because to do so might offend some members and drive them away or might lead to their own firing.

3. What did they do? (vv 7-12)

“Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.”

Herod’s command to the Wise Men sounded as if he was really interested in “worshiping the King”. Every Christmas there will be people whom we facetiously call “Chreasters” meaning that they only attend church on Christmas and Easter. They are somewhat like Herod. They say the right things and they do show up occasionally, but they are not really surrendered to the King of Kings.

“After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was---the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overwhelmed with joy.”

Imagine that you have spent a year or more earnestly seeking Christ, and then one day He finds you. When you realize that your quest has resulted in your salvation, your emotions will likely overflow. When one comes into the presence of the Savior, it is unlike any other encounter in the world. At the very least there should be a sense of reverence and awe. Often there are tears, or laughter.

When the Wise Men realized that their quest of faith had resulted in a personal encounter with the King of Kings, their joy knew no bounds.

“Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, His mother, and falling on their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Notice that they “entered the house” where Jesus and Mary were. This was not the stable where Jesus was born. Quite likely he was about two years old by this time. Evidently Joseph had rented a place for them in Bethlehem until Jesus had grown to a point where it would be safe for them to travel back to Nazareth.

In anticipation of actually being successful in their search for the King of the Jews, they had brought carefully selected gifts. It was not as if Mary and Joseph were registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond with a list of gifts they wanted for their child. Evidently they were being led by God in their gift selection. Gold was a gift for a King, and symbolized the Kingship of Jesus. Frankincense was an incense used in the temple as a sweet smelling offering to God. (Lev. 2:2 “and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest will take a handful of fine flour and oil from it, along with all its frankincense, and will burn this memorial portion of it on the altar, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” It symbolized the deity of Jesus. Myrrh was a spice used in embalming and symbolized the impending death of Jesus. Notice that Nicodemus brought myrrh to prepare the body of Jesus for burial. (John 19:39 “Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes.”

At this point the Wise Men acted in a very politically incorrect manner. They defied the command of King Herod. “And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.” In the life of any believer there will be times when they must choose to violate the government. In many countries throughout the world, it is illegal for someone to profess faith in Christ or to meet together to worship Him. Almost monthly we are seeing “religious freedom” eroding in America. Already some have been incarcerated because they chose to worship in a manner that contradicted what the government demanded. If we believe what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Tim 3:12 “In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” we can expect persecution.

Application: (How did their actions change things then, and now?)

The actions of the Wise Men led to a change of plans once again for Joseph. “After they were gone, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, ‘Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill Him. So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the LORD through the prophet might be fulfilled: ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” Hos 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”

Many of you have plans for your future. You may already be retired and “living your dream” in Lake Placid, FL. However, it is entirely possible that God may call you to change your plans. Moses was content as a sheepherder, husband and father. He was 80 years old, and SUDDENLY God called him to change his plans for the future. Paul felt that he was fulfilling his destiny as he harassed the followers of “the Way” until Jesus SUDDENLY met him and changed the course of his life forever.

Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? If not, just pray to Him and say, “Jesus I give you my life.”

Is there something you have sensed that God wants you to do that you have resisted? Today would be a good day to TRUST AND OBEY.

Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone and follow God’s leading, wherever it may be?