1^st – Birth of Jesus… vs. 1-2

• 1^st – 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!
• 2^nd – 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!
• 3^rd – 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!
• 2^nd – Seeking Jesus … vs. 3-8
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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!

• 3^rd– Finding Jesus… vs. 7-12
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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.”
  • 3^rd – 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.”
  • 4^th – 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!

• 4^th – Hating Jesus… vs. 13-18
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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!
  • 4^th – 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!

• 5^th – Jesus of Nazareth… vs. 19-23
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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!