The Wise Men
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 12/24/2023
Foundation Scriptures:
Matthew 2:1-15
1. Wise Men from the East.
a. Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV –– 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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
b. These wise men came from the East—from the direction of Babylon.
c. Among other things, they were astronomers and were very knowledgeable about the stars and planets that they could see.
d. They studied prophecy concerning what was to come based on the words of Daniel (Dan. 9:24-26).
e. When they saw the Star, it was the sign they had been looking for.
f. Isaiah 60:6 KJV –– The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.
g. The Bible does not say that they were only three wise men—they did bring three different types of gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
h. There was a great company—a large caravan—of them traveling together on camels to Jerusalem.
i. They came to worship the King of the Jews—the Messiah.
j. They were carrying great and valuable treasures that they had accumulated for the purpose of presenting to Him.
k. They brought gifts worthy of a King—gifts from kings to a King.
l. Herod and the whole city were disturbed by the sight of them.
m. Matthew 2:3 KJV –– When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
2. Following the Star.
a. Matthew 2:4-6 KJV –– And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
b. Jesus was born in Bethlehem—just as the prophet Micah had foretold.
c. Micah 5:2 NKJV –– “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
d. Bethlehem is 5 miles directly south of Jerusalem.
e. Matthew 2:7-8 NKJV –– Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
f. The wise men had been following the Star for many months—more than a year.
g. Matthew 2:9 KJV –– When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
h. As they headed in the direction of Bethlehem, they saw the Star again.
i. Matthew 2:10 KJV –– When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
j. They rejoiced with exceeding great, ecstatic, loud joy!
k. They were overjoyed—they were beside themselves with joy.
3. Worshipping the King.
a. Matthew 2:11 KJV –– And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
b. By this time, Jesus was no longer an infant, but a young child, living in a house with His parents.
c. They fell down and worshipped Jesus.
d. They presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
e. They worshipped lavishly.
f. Matthew 2:12 KJV –– And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
g. God spoke to them through a dream to travel home a different way.
h. Matthew 2:13-15 NKJV –– Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
i. If the family had remained in Bethlehem, the child Jesus would’ve been murdered by Herod, along with all the other little boys below the age of two years old (Matt. 2:16-18).
j. The costly gifts that the wise men brought, helped to fund the family’s escape to Egypt and sustained them while they were there.
k. The wise men supported and protected the Gospel.
l. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph remained in Egypt until king Herod died.
m. What the wise men did, when they came to worship Jesus and opened up their treasure bags to present Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, will be remembered in eternity.
n. Even now, when we think of the Nativity, we always think of Jesus and His family, the shepherds, and the wise men.