Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.14UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.11UNLIKELY
Fear
0.6LIKELY
Joy
0.6LIKELY
Sadness
0.54LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.49UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.03UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.97LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.56LIKELY
Extraversion
0.48UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.64LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.77LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Introduction
Play Video - The glory of Christmas - Wiseman (Skit Guys)
Read Matthew 2:1-6
Big Idea: The glory of Christmas is seen in those who come to worship.
Outline
Big Idea: The glory of Christmas is seen in those who come to worship
Who they were
Why their visit was significant
What their gifts meant
Sermon Body
Who they were
Most of our translations say, wise men.
The NASB, and Darby bible are the only ones that I looked at that actually called them Magi.
The AMP bible puts in parenthesis that these men were astrologers.
They studied the stars and the sky and this is how they became aware that a star was in the night sky that did not use to be there.
These Magi, these wise men, were students of astrology (at least some of them) among other things.
This is the key question of the morning?
Magi – who are they?
Some of you may recall from either last year or two years ago when we studied this in SS.
I will attempt to review some of that here this morning.
There is a great deal of legend and myth around them while very little is actually said.
There is never mention of the exact number of them that came.
Magi is the name of an ancient tribe of people who were priests of the Medes (The Median People).
Magi were priests to the Mede people.
The magi were not kings but political advisers.
Jeremiah 39:1-3
Nebuchadnezzar's empire.
Vs. 3 – Nergal-Sharezer – a high official or chief of the Magi sat in the key office of the court of Nebuchadnezzar at the beginning of the great empire.
Rab – Chief
Mag – Magician, Magi, Wise man
Acts 13:6-8
Vs. 6 – Paphos; Jewish Sorcerer (Magi)
Vs. 8 – Elymas – A sorcerer (Magi)
Different offshoots but same thing
Daniel 1:19-20
Vs. 20 – Magicians – Magi
Daniel 2:1-2; 10
2:1-2 – Vs. 2; Magicians (Magi), Vs. 10;
Daniel 5:1-12 (Specifically verses 11-12)
Daniel, a god fearing man, had become chief advisor, chief wise man, chief magi to Nebuchadnezzar.
Also include in the book of Daniel is one of the most incredible prophecies pertaining to Christ.
9:24 – The most unbelievable prophecy in all of the OT tells the exact day that Jesus would walk into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Daniel 9:24-27
The magi knew when the Messiah was coming.
Daniel's influence on the magi can be seen throughout all history.
The Megastonis – The upper class of the magi whose job was to select and train kings.
The magi are the king makers.
They came because of a 600 year old prophecy foretelling the coming of Christ.
There were not three of them that came.
There were likely dozens, hundreds, thousands.
They did not come alone.
They came with an Arabian escort to protect them.
They did not ride camels but Arabian steeds and were white.
They were priests.
They came to worship Jesus.
You don't worship Kings.
They knew who Jesus was and they came to worship Him.
Worship is the expression that naturally takes place when the creature recognizes his creator.
Flash forward to Matthew 2 again and we begin to understand the significance of the wisemen’s visit.
Why their visit was significant
Matthew 2:7-18
Herod was troubled and all Israel with Him.
Do you see why he was troubled?
The magi were powerful, influential, and notable people.
They were coming to worship a king that was born.
This would be troubling to any king and people.
Herod was afraid of another king who would come and steal his throne.
He knew what the arrival of the Magi meant and they told him they had come to worship a king, king of the Jews.
They came to WORSHIP THE KING.
Herod felt threatened.
He was afraid of losing his power, his throne.
What did he do, he killed all baby boys age 2 and under.
This is also evidence supporting the fact that it most likely the magi did not show up at the cradle the night he was born but rather sometime later.
What their gifts meant
Matthew 2:11
They brought him their worship and their honor!
This was the King of Kings!
This was not a king of their making, but the KING of all!
They fell down and worshiped him!
This falling down bears the idea of falling prostrate, flat out on ones face.
These wise men, this royal dignitaries got on the ground in a dirty stable to worship!
Their importance, their worth, their power, their significant meant nothing in light of the king of kings laying in the manger before them!
They presented some gifts.
Each of these gifts are representative of who they knew him to be and were given out of faith, out of a heart that recognized God and worshiped him as such.
Gold – Gift of a King; Picture of Royalty
Frankincense – Picture of worship.
Frankincense does not grow in the east.
It had to be imported.
Myrrh - Shows up three times in Christ's life.
Birth, death on cross, and burial.
Myrrh speaks of suffering.
It smells beautiful but only smells when it is crushed.
Speaks of His sacrifice.
Conclusion
Big Idea: The glory of Christmas is seen in those who come to worship
Who they were
Why their visit was significant
What their gifts meant
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9