The Sufficiency of Scripture and the Christmas Story: The Wise Men (Matt. 2:1-6)

Intro:

What influenced you to come here tonight or type in to watch tonight?

The sufficiency of the Scripture and the Christmas Story: The Wise Men

Definition of the Sufficiency of Scripture:

• “God has given me all that I need for life and Godliness through His great and precious promises” 2 Pet 1:3-4

• “All Scripture is profitable for all aspects of life”. 2 Tim. 3:16

• “The Bible contains all that we need to know God’s will and live a life pleasing to him” Heath Lambert.

• The problem is that many people do not think that the Bible addresses these things. We think it is only a book for Sunday, Christmas, and Easter but has no relevance to life in between.

Why: “Where is He...” (vs. 1-6)

Religious Non-Christians (Pagans): The ones searching for the answers to this life (vs. -)

Now after Jesus was born- notice the timeline (the event)

in Bethlehem of Judea- The city of the great king David (the location)

in the days of Herod the King- this is an actual historical event (the time)

Behold- One of Matthew’s favourite words

Wise Men” (Magi)- any person well respected in the pagan world for their knowledge in the (occult) arts; especially astrology, medicine, and dream interpretation.

From the East

Came to Jerusalem- why would they be coming?

Saying

Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? “has been”, not will be. No one is born a king, they are born as a prince, never a king.

Jesus is not going to become the king, He is the king!

Where would they get this from? Wait a minute, where did they come from? The East. What is in the East? The seat of the Babylonians and Assyrians. The enemies of Israel. Dan 9 prophecied the timing of the rebuilding of the temple and walls in Nehemiah and the death of the annointed one.

For we saw his star when it rose Num. 24:17

and have come to worship him

Non-Religious- the one seeking control of his life (vs. -)

When Herod the king heard this

He was troubled- rightfully so, he is not the true king of Israel. Rome Put him in the position. He is not Jewish, He is an Edomite. Now he is hearing that one has been born with His title...

and all Jerusalem with him- when Herod is troubled, so is everyone around him!

Assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people

he inquired of them

Where the Christ was to be born

They told him

In Bethlehem of Judea- the City of the great king David! The Messianic line

For so it is written

“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, after the reign of David)

Application/Implications:

The Word of God was sufficient before Jesus was born, at His birth, and after His birth. If it is sufficient for the magi to understand the past, the present, and the future, don’t you think we can trust that it is sufficient to deal with our past, present, and future?

The Word of God was sufficient enough to compel these men to uproot their lives, travel a great distance at a great cost, to worship the one that was more valueable than all the treasure they possessed

Jesus is king. His is not going to become King based off of your belief. In other words, He doesn’t become king when you believe him to be. He is King whether you believe it or not.

If you are seeking the answers to this life, the birth of Jesus the true king will cause you to rejoice exceedingly with great joy. If you are seeking to control your life, the birth of Jesus the true king will cause you to be greatly troubled.

Why have you come

Both say that they had come or wanted to go and “worship” him. Only one group does. Those that are seeking the answers to life worship Jesus and leave behind a legacy of value. The one that is seeking to control his life never worships Jesus and leaves behind a legacy of death.

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