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1st – Birth of Jesus… vs. 1-2
- 1st – After the birth… vs. 1
- Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king!
- Herod died in the spring of 4 B.C. – according to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus…
- So Jesus was born TWO years before the death of Herod – perhaps late Autumn of 6 B.C.
- The Gospel of Matthew does NOT give an account of the birth of Jesus…
- We have to go to the Gospel of Luke to read about that – Luke 2:1-20
- Matthew jumps ahead and tells us what happened AFTER Jesus was born!
- 2nd – Wise men… vs. 1-2
- Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem. Saying – where is He who is born King of the Jews?
- WISE men [μάγος] – a name used to describe scholars from Babylon…
- It is thought these were men influenced by the teaching of the prophet Daniel!
- Daniel prophesied the coming of the MESSIAH [מָשִׁיחַ] – the CHRIST [Χριστός] – Daniel 9:25
- He gave the VERY specific dates for when the CHRIST would arrive…
- From the command to rebuild the wall – [March 14 – 445 B.C.] – Nehemiah 2:6
- It would be 69×7 or 483 years [173,880 days] to the arrival of the MESSIAH!
- The Jews also had the Word of God – they had the Prophecy of Daniel….
- But very few of them actually knew their Bible – understood the prophecy…
- So they missed the coming of their MESSIAH – they birth of their KING…
- That is why it is so important we read – and understand – our Bibles…
- It is easy to be RELIGIOUS – and miss most important thing of all – Jesus!
- 3rd – Star in the East… vs. 2
- We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him!
- The WISE men came looking for the NEW king – because they saw an unusual STAR…
- Christmas STAR – some believe Jupiter and Saturn converging in night sky…
- It appeared in the constellation Virgo [the Virgin] – over the city of Bethlehem!
- Psalms 19:1-4 – “The heavens declare the glory of God. And the [earth] shows His handiwork… their message has gone out to all the earth – their words to all the world.”
- Have you ever been alone on a moonless night at looked up at the stars…
- And in silent amazement wondered at the power of God who created all this!
- God has surrounded us with a remarkable world meant to inspire a QUESTION…
- Who made all this – and more importantly – why did He make it…
- As we look at His handiwork – the QUESTION is stirred in our hearts – who is God…
- Causing us – like the Wise Men – to begin our journey to find Jesus!
- 2nd – Seeking Jesus … vs. 3-8
- 1st – Not the world… vs. 3
- Herod the Great…
- Herod the king heard this!
- The name Herod can be confusing – because there are FOUR of them in the Bible!
- This Herod – Herod the Great – was the FIRST Herod – King of Judea [under Rome]
- A brilliant builder – he undertook massive construction projects in Judea…
- Most importantly – he remodeled the Temple in Jerusalem [SECOND Temple]
- But he was a deeply paranoid man – and killed some of his own wives and sons…
- His deep paranoia is what led him to try and kill Jesus – because He was the King of the Jews!
- Troubled…
- [Herod] was troubled – and all Jerusalem with him!
- It made sense for the wise men to come to Jerusalem – and to Herod…
- This was the CAPITOL of Israel – and Herod was the KING…
- If anyone knew WHERE the King of the Jews was born – it would be him…
- So the WISE men told HEROD about the STAR – asked where the NEW king had been born…
- Jerusalem knew HEROD was paranoid – they were TROUBLED at what he might do…
- Herod wanted to find this NEW king – NOT to help – but so he could kill Him!
- People often look to the world for the ANSWERS…
- But the wisdom of men does NOT contain the solutions to this life….
- What MEN tell us – will not to HELP us – more often it keeps us from the TRUTH!
- Herod the Great…
- 2nd – Not Religion… vs. 4
- [Herod] gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together.
- He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born!
- HEROD went to church [συνάγω] to ask the experts – the RELIGIOUS leaders…
- But these LEADERS were focused on their TRADITION – they were NOT seeking the Christ!
- We might THINK we know what the birth of Jesus looked like…
- But there were NOT three WISE men at the Birth of Christ…
- Although there were THREE gifts: Gold – Frankincense – and Myrrh…
- The WISE men would have traveled in a LARGE caravan for safety reasons…
- And they were NOT there for the BIRTH of Jesus…
- Likely Jesus would have been almost TWO years old when the wise men came!
- Many people go through life just following RELIGION – TRADITIONS…
- And they are proud and think that is enough to get them into heaven…
- But their RELIGION blinds them – so they do not SEE their need for the Lord…
- They trust in their RELIGION – rather than SEEKING Jesus!
- 3rd – The Answer… vs. 5-6
- [The leaders] said to him – In Bethlehem of Judea – for thus it is written by the prophet:
- You – Bethlehem – in the land of Judah – are not the least among the rulers of Judah.
- For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel!
- The answer the WISE men were looking for was found in the BIBLE…
- This is the FIRST of FOUR quotes gives to us from the Old Testament…
- But the Priests made TWO mistakes: FIRST they left out the final phrase from their QUOTE…
- Where God told us WHO the Messiah is – the EVERLASTING [עוֹלָם] – Micah 5:2
- SECOND – they did NOT go looking for the MESSIAH!
- If we want to know where to find God – who God is – the Bible has the answers…
- But it is not enough to just KNOW what the Bible says – we need to OBEY it – James 1:22
- The Bible is NOT a textbook we must LEARN – it is an instruction manual to FOLLOW!
- 1st – Not the world… vs. 3
- 3rd– Finding Jesus… vs. 7-12
- 1st – Wrong motive… vs. 7-8
- Herod – secretly called the wise men – [to] determine from them what time the star appeared.
- And he sent them to Bethlehem and said – Go and search carefully for the young Child.
- When you have found Him – bring back word to me – that I may come and worship Him also!
- Herod REALLY wanted to know who Jesus was – the STAR appeared TWO years earlier…
- It took time for the WISE men to TRAVEL from Babylon to Israel…
- He commanded the WISE men to tell [imperative] him if they found the child…
- But he had no intention of WORSHIPING [subjunctive] Jesus – he wanted to kill Him…
- And because he was searching with the WRONG motive – HEROD never found Jesus!
- People who come to CHURCH – because they think it will make them HAPPY…
- Or people who read the BIBLE – because it will make them RICH…
- People who look for Jesus with the WRONG motives – will NOT meet Jesus!
- 2nd – Right Motive… vs. 9-10
- When they heard the king – they departed – and behold the star which they had seen in the East.
- [It] went before them – till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
- When they saw the star – they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy!
- The WISE men – WISELY walked away from the KING [world]
- And instead were LED [imperfect] by the STAR – until is stood over where the CHILD was…
- Because the WISE men did NOT stop looking – they FOUND Jesus…
- And the result was EXCEEDING [a lot] – of GREAT [μέγας] – JOY!
- Looking for the ANSWERS in life – means we do NOT give up until we find Him…
- Knowing what we get in the END – Jesus – is more than worth the effort and wait!
- Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek and find Me – when you search for Me with all your heart.”
- 3rd – True Worship… vs. 11
- When they had come into the house – they saw the young Child with Mary His mother.
- [They] fell down and worshiped Him!
- When the WISE men came into the HOUSE [not the barn Jesus was born in]
- They WORSHIPED [προσκυνέω] – the word means to SUBMIT [dog licking his master]!
- When people think of WORSHIP – they tend to picture singing on Sunday mornings…
- WORSHIP speaks of submission – recognizing that Jesus is our LORD!
- We might have a LOT of QUESTIONS about WHO Jesus is…
- We have heard what others have said about him – TRADITION and RELIGION…
- But if we have NEVER met Jesus personally – never SUBMITTED to Him as LORD…
- Today is the day of salvation – today is the day when we can FIND Him and be SAVED!
- II Corinthians 6:2 – “Behold – [today] is the day of salvation.”
- 4th – The Gifts… vs. 11-12
- The Altar…
- And when they had opened their treasures.
- They presented gifts to Him: gold – frankincense – and myrrh!
- All of these were VERY valuable gifts – worthy of a KING…
- Gold P3.5 million a Kilo – frankincense P60 thousand a Kilo – Myrrh P500 thousand a Kilo…
- But together they are an ODD collection – but they all point back to the ALTAR of INCENSE!
- The ALTAR was made of GOLD – Exodus 30:1-3
- ANOINTED with the oil made from MYRRH – Exodus 30:23-37
- On which they burned FRANKINCENSE to the LORD – Exodus 30:34
- The SMOKE from the Altar – represented PRAYERS coming up to the Lord – Revelation 8:3
- Because Jesus is the ONLY way to come to the Father…
- Only through His sacrifice can we get access into the HOLIEST – into the THONE room of God!
- The Warning…
- Being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod.
- They departed for their own country another way!
- The WISE men were warned NOT to go back the way they came!
- When finally find Jesus – bow down [submit] to Him as our Lord…
- We no longer held back by RELIGION or TRADITIONS…
- Like the WISE men – we should NEVER go back to empty life we had before!
- The Altar…
- 1st – Wrong motive… vs. 7-8
- 4th – Hating Jesus… vs. 13-18
- 1st – The Dream… vs. 13
- Now when they had departed – behold – an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
- 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!
- No sooner had the WISE men left – then Joseph had another DREAM…
- An angel commanded [imperative] him to take Jesus and Mary and flee to EGYPT…
- A place under the direct rule of Emperor Augustus – and beyond the reach of Herod the Great!
- This is the SECOND of FOUR dreams that God would give to Joseph…
- Dream are the ONLY way we read about how the Lord spoke to him…
- That does NOT mean God can ONLY speak through DREAMS…
- God spoke to the prophet Elijah in a WHISPER – I Kings 19:12
- God speak to different people in different ways…
- God might speak to one person through DREAMS – and another through a WISPER…
- The important thing is we are LISTENING – so not matter HOW – we HEAR Him!
- 2nd – Out of Egypt… vs. 14-15
- [Joseph] arose and took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.
- [He] was there until the death of Herod – that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord.
- Out of Egypt I called My Son!
- Joseph immediately [that night] obeyed the command of the Angel…
- They remained in Egypt until the death of Herod the Great…
- And we are given the SECOND of FOUR quotes from the Old Testament – Hosea 11:1
- It was important for Jesus to come out of Egypt…
- Because everything about the life of Jesus is meant to be an example for us to follow!
- I Peter 2:21 – “Christ… [left] us an example – that you should follow His steps.”
- Just as Jesus came out of the WORLD [Egypt] – to live in the Promised Land [Israel]
- So also God calls us to come out of the WORLD – and into a new LIFE with Him!
- 3rd – Wrath of Herod… vs. 16
- Killing Kids…
- Then Herod – when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men – was exceedingly angry.
- He sent and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts.
- From two years old and under – according to the time he had determined from the wise men!
- When HEROD realized the WISE men had PLAYED [deceived] him – he was FURIOUS…
- He went and killed ALL the BOYS of Bethlehem – under the age of TWO…
- The age according to when the WISE men had seen the STAR first appear!
- This was not the FIRST or LAST time someone would kill Jewish children…
- Pharoah – tried to kill ALL the Jewish boys when Moses was born – Exodus 1:16
- Hitler – had a FINAL solution – that included killing 1.5 MILLION kids…
- Hamas [חָמָס] – murdered babies on October 7!
- Hating Jews…
- Why so much HATE against Israel – because they are the PEOPLE of God…
- Through Pharoah – Satan tried to stop the birth of Moses – who would REDEEM Israel…
- Through Herod – Satan tried to stop the birth of Jesus – who would REDEEM the world…
- Through Hitler Satan tried to destroy Israel – because they were the CHOSEN people…
- But in spite of ALL the effort – Moses was born – Jesus lives – Israel still exists!
- If satan CANNOT use a KING to kill a BABY born to slaves…
- If satan CANNOT kill a BABY born to a carpenter in an impoverished Judean slum…
- If satan CANNOT wipe out a people scattered and homeless for 2000 years…
- It would be fair to say – satan cannot do ANYTHING unless God allows it!
- Killing Kids…
- 4th – Weeping… vss. 17-18
- Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet – saying:
- A voice was heard in Ramah. Lamentation – weeping – and great mourning.
- Rachel weeping for her children – refusing to be comforted – because they are no more!
- The RESULT of the slaughter of Herod – Rachael [the wife of Jacob] wept…
- In RAMA [city near Bethlehem] – she could not be COMFORTED – because her sons were gone…
- The THIRD of FOUR quotes from the Old Testament – Jeremiah 31:15
- There is a museum in Israel called Yad Vashem – [יָד וָשֵׁם] – a place and a name – Isaiah 56:5
- It commemorates the HOLOCAUST – where SIX million Jews died in WWII…
- But the Most humbling place to visit – is monument to the children…
- A single candle that sits in a dark room with mirrors on all sides…
- As the names of all 1.5 million children are quietly remembered – TEARS!
- 1st – The Dream… vs. 13
- 5th – Jesus of Nazareth… vs. 19-23
- 1st – Death of Herod… vs. 19-21
- Now when Herod was dead – behold an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
- Arise – take the young Child and His mother – and go to the land of Israel.
- For those who sought the young Childs life are dead.
- Then [Joseph] arose – took the young Child and His mother – and came into the land of Israel!
- When Herod was ENDED [τελευτάω] – God brought him to an END [death]
- For the THIRD time and Angel came to Joseph in a DREAM…
- He commanded [imperative] Joseph to take Jesus and Mary back to Israel…
- Because those [plural] who sought to kill Jesus – were dead…
- Joseph woke up – and did exactly what he was told – and moved the family back to Israel!
- The FIRST time Joseph had a DREAM – he might have had some doubts…
- But by the time he got to the THIRD dream – he had it down…
- We might wonder if Joseph was on a first name basis with the angel at this point…
- Maybe he had a punch card – after three DREAMS you get a free shawarma!
- Being obedient to the Lord can be hard – especially at first…
- Was it really the LORD who was speaking to me – what happens if we OBEY…
- But the more we follow His leading – the more confident we become!
- 2nd – Nazareth… vs. 22-23
- Archelaus…
- [Joseph] heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod.
- Archelaus was the SON of Herod the Great by a Samaritan woman…
- He only ruled in Judah for TWO years – 6 B.C. to 4 B.C.
- He was such a POOR king that Emperor Augustus of Rome banished him!
- The Galilee…
- [Joseph] was afraid to go there – being warned by God in a dream – he turned aside to Galilee.
- He dwelt in Nazareth – that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets.
- He shall be called a Nazarene!
- Because Archelaus was KING [like his dad] – Joseph was AFRAID to return to Judah…
- For a FOURTH and final time we are told God spoke to him in a DREAM…
- And he instead took his family to the GALILEE – to a city called NAZARETH!
- Nazareth was most likely the hometown of both Mary and Joseph – Luke 1:26-27
- It was a small town – but it had a BAD reputation!
- John 1:46 – “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
- Nazareth
- Matthew tells us this fulfilled the FOURTH and final quote from the PROPHETS [plural]
- But the problem is – there is NO verse in the OT that talks about NAZARETH…
- Although the name NAZARETH would follow Jesus to the Cross – John 19:19
- Even those who followed Jesus were called NAZARENES – Acts 24:5
- The quote most likely is NOT about the PLACE – but the PERSON!
- Numbers 6:2 – “[Anyone who takes the] vow of a Nazirite – sets themselve apart to the Lord.”
- The church did NOT celebrate the BIRTH of Jesus for first 300 years [336 B.C.]
- Because the message of the Gospel is NOT about the BIRTH of Christ – is about His DEATH!
- Jesus was a NAZARITE – He was set apart for God…
- And the message of the Wise men found – the message that Herod missed…
- Was that His whole life had one purpose – He came to DIE for our sins!
- Archelaus…
- 1st – Death of Herod… vs. 19-21
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