Matthew 2:1-12

Greeting, Prayer Requests, and Invitation to Join the Discussion

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Truth in Love and the Call to Walk in Christ

Let's get down to it. This is truth and love and of course, as I've said before, I get that from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 where Paul tells them to speak the truth in love so that we may grow up in all aspects into him who is the head even Christ.

So we want to grow up into Christ. We want to be like him. We want to glorify him, look like him, and always submit to him and we want to share that information with other people because we love Jesus and we love other people and when we do that, we want to do it.

We want to speak that truth and we'll speak it in love and so that's my goal is when I communicate is to do that in love. We're continuing to go through Matthew. The reason that we're going through Matthew is because there's a thing that I like to say, a reminder that Jesus is King.

It's crazy that we as humans need to remind ourselves of the facts of reality. Jesus is King. He's in control. They're counting votes as we speak in Georgia right now for a Senate race, but Jesus is King.

There's things going on with the presidential election. For some, it's over. For others, it's not over, but Jesus is King so and then whatever you're going through in your personal life, Jesus is King.

What a good reminder. What a good thing to ponder on for ourselves and for each other to remember that Jesus is King no matter what's going on out in out in the world or in in our personal lives. So I say Jesus is King.

Go live in that victory. So we will we want to live it in not in our victory or not not in our own ways, but we want to live in the fact that Jesus is King and He has won the victory. We want to live live in that fact, in light of that, in light of what Jesus did, in light of who Jesus is.

We want to live in that victory. So how do we do that? I went to Matthew. I felt like we should go to Matthew. Matthew was a great place to go because one of the goals of Matthew, one of the themes of Matthew is to show that Jesus is the long-awaited King, the Anointed One.

So we see where Matthew is proving, showing that Jesus is King and as we see Jesus King, Jesus being revealed by Matthew as King, we can learn how to live in the light and the fact that Jesus is King.

He's King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So where are we tonight? We're in Matthew chapter 2. We're gonna look at Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 through 12 and I'm gonna read it then we're just gonna discuss a few things and there was something really cool, something interesting that I found as I was studying and looking through this passage that I can't wait to share with you.

If you have any thoughts on it, I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on it. I'd love to to dive a little bit deeper into this point that we're gonna talk about a little bit later. But I find it very interesting.

I'm I'm not a Hebrew scholar. I've not studied Hebrew. I have to rely on study notes and commentaries, but my study notes say to pronounce it Magi. So I guess I will. We'll try that. And they said to him in Bethlehem of Judea for so it has been written by the prophet and you Bethlehem land of Judah are by no means least among the leaders of Judah for out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

Then Herod secretly called the Magi and ascertained from them the time the star appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and make careful search for the child and when you have found him report to me that I too may come and worship him and having heard the king they went their way and lo the star which they had seen in the east went on before them until it came and stood over where the child was and when they saw the star they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy and they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother and they fell down and worshipped him and opening their treasures they presented to him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh and having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod they departed for their own country by another way.

Matthew 2:1-12 in Context

All right that was Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 through 12. What we want to do is read it in context we want to we want to hear what God has to say we want to hear what Matthew was telling us and we know that the theme one of the themes in Matthew is to learn that for him showing us that Jesus is king proving that Jesus is king and he's going to be doing that through the through all these passages in Matthew showing proving that Jesus is king.

Let's start at the beginning and and look at several points here and there. So after we after we read the genealogy of Jesus going through Joseph and then we we see where angel came to Joseph said don't put Mary away take her as your wife.

And then Joseph did that and he didn't touch her until she gave birth and and then she gave birth there to her son and they called his name Emmanuel called his name Jesus. And so now we are at the account of the wise man here in Matthew and it says Jesus after he was born in Bethlehem in Judea.

And he says at the time of King Herod this will be Herod the Great. Some Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem. So these next few sentences you kind of have to put them together to kind of get a sense of what's going on.

So they they arrived from the east in Jerusalem. So why didn't they why don't they just go. There's a lot of questions here too and there's so many so many of these questions that we we really can't answer.

I come up with a few that I that I tried to answer and we'll look at those in just a second. But you know as we as we look at this account and some of the details of course you know if it was if Matthew felt like it was it was relevant to the story you know he would have given us those details.

And and I don't like to when I'm reading scripture studying and interpreting I don't like to I don't like to fill in the gaps if you will too too much because we just don't know and I don't want to I don't want to say this is this is what happened in the gap.

Or or this is the reason for that when scripture is not plain I don't I don't like to guess too much when it comes to God's Word. But we can take the information that we have and look at what's going on so that they arrived from the east in Jerusalem.

So we know that they didn't go directly to where Jesus was. They arrived in Jerusalem. And so when they arrived at Jerusalem they begin to ask this question where is he who has been born King of the Jews.

So they were they had come to Jerusalem. They were on this trip for a purpose they were looking for a child who had been born specially born as King of the Jews. So they had some information that that put them on this journey and so we can ascertain that we can pull that out of the text that that they had some information that led them on this journey and they had some some help on this journey.

They saw they saw a star when they were in the east they saw this star. And so why did they go to Jerusalem. Well the information that they had spoke to them saying and of course let me let me say this what was the information that they had.

Where were they getting this information. It was the prophecies that God had given through in through the Old Testament. Okay. So it wasn't it wasn't mystical it wasn't sorcery. They were getting this information from from the Old Testament and from the prophecies of the Old Testament.

So the the the wise men had this information. And so they they saw this star and and they knew it had a meaning. And I'm trying I'm not I'm trying not to fill in too many gaps where Matthew doesn't speak.

But you know you you just have all these questions about how did they know to be looking for star at that time. Maybe you've had that question before. And maybe you have some other questions if you would you know leave me a comment let me know what some of the questions that you have had as you have read.

Well specifically this passage. What are some of the questions that you've had. You know we know that they had information. The information came that came from the Old Testament the prophecies there. So how do they know when to look for this star.

Obviously the information that was given to them from the prophecy from the Old Testament was that there would there would be a star indicating the the arrival of the birth of this king. How do they know when to look.

I mean did they have someone on watch. I mean could that be possible. Sure we would be inserting things into the story. We don't know. But I mean could it be possible that they had men. You know some people see these wise men these as astrologers.

And so could they have had someone on watch every night looking for this star. Possible. It's possible. I think there's one thing that is that is more possible than that and it's the fact that God does give a timeline and and I've spoken of this in several videos and I'm not going to go over it right now.

But if you want to go back and look at Daniel chapter 9 and and the 70 weeks of years and and the discuss you can look back at the discussions we've had on that. And you're gonna hear if you look it up on YouTube you speak to your pastor you speak to you look at commentaries if you go different places you're gonna you're gonna hear and read different interpretations of Daniel and the the 70 weeks of years and and the timeline of things.

But God does give that prophecy there through Daniel a timeline of when this Messiah would come. Hey Tim hope you're doing well. I think I think they knew the timing from the coming because of the prophecy in the book of Daniel.

I think we're on the same page. I think we are on the same page. I'm trying to remember there there's a lady that's having. I'm not gonna give her name but there's a lady who's having cancer treatment in the morning and we want to pray for her.

She watches the show her husband watches the show and we have mutual friends with each other. I don't I don't know the couple personally but I'd like to meet them one day. But I know that she's having a cancer treatment in the morning.

And Tim you made me think of her because I can't remember her husband's name. And if and brother if you're watching I apologize. I just can't remember. I don't know you guys that well but if you will remember this lady who's gonna be having a cancer treatment in the morning if you will and if you guys are watching you can let us know if that's something that you want to do.

You don't have to but I'm with you Tim. I think I think they knew the timing. I knew I think they knew when to look for this star because of the of the prophecy in Daniel and the timeline that God gave.

The Magi, the Star, and the Prophecy of Balaam

So they said that they were in the east. They saw the star because they were looking at the timeline had an idea of when to look. And so they why did they come to Jerusalem. I think they come to Jerusalem you know at that time it doesn't say it doesn't say that the the star showed them exactly where to go.

It just says that they were in the east and they saw the star in the east while they were in the east. So they had they had to go somewhere to see the birth of this king. So they they went to Jerusalem.

Why. Because it was the birth of a child who was king of the Jews. And so there there you would obviously go to the place of the Jews you would go to the place of the temple the mountain of God the the capital city of Israel the the Jewish people.

To me that's just an obvious place to go it would be Jerusalem. And so of course we read that that's where they went. They went to Jerusalem and they begin to ask the question and see if you see this again we don't want to add too much into the text but it's interesting that that wise men who were in the east they weren't Pharisees Sadducees scribes who were in Jerusalem.

They were wise men who were in the east outside of Jerusalem who were following the timeline who saw the star who traveled to come see the birth of the king of the Jews that's come to see this child and they say to worship him.

But they asked a question when they when they come into town when they arrived in Jerusalem they begin to ask a question where where is he. To me that's a that's an assumption. We know that the star at that time wasn't pointing exactly to where Jesus was.

So they came to the obvious place Jerusalem and to me the question where makes me want to assume that the other folks that the wise men were assuming that the folks who were in Jerusalem the Jews who have been awaiting this this king to come would have been aware just as they were of this this timeline of this prophecy of the star that a child was to be born who would be king of the Jews.

And so by asking by coming into town where the Jews are in their capital city asking where is where is where is he who was born king of the Jews. And it's obvious that it the the major may have been the only ones taking a look at this timeline and and really anticipating this birth of a child birth of the King it just seems that way and I don't want to insert too much and we don't want to do that but I'm just reading reading the Bible reading Matthew and and asking questions to myself.

But it seems like they're asking because they felt like they should have they should have known this is their King this is their prophecy and this is this is the place where he would be born. So we get to Herod next and I want to camp out here just for a second because this is as I was reading and studying I found something interesting that and it helped answer some of my questions and I and I hope I'm drawing the the correct conclusions and if anybody's out there that wants to to correct me or add to what I'm talking about that's fine but it seemed to answer some of the questions that I had in the in this next section and it's really interesting when you look at it.

So I want to know about the star first I want to I want to know about two things. First I want to know about the star. Where did the where did the wise man get this concept of of a star that the they called it his star that this star would be part of part of the prophecy of this King that was going to be born.

Where did they get this star. How do they know to look for a star. Why was it why wasn't it just an an oddity in the sky to them. But it in fact it was a sign to them an answer to a prophecy for them.

Where did they get this prophecy. I wanted to find that out. And the second question that I had comes from Harrod. And let me add this real quick. Thank you guys for watching. If I can pray for you at the end all you have to do it is just type me.

You don't have to say what's going on. Just type me. And I'd be glad to pray for you at the end if you anybody wants to insert anything in the comments ask a question talk about anything. You're more than welcome to do that.

Floors always yours. And I really appreciate you guys spending time with me and watching and I appreciate your participation. And if it if anything I'd love to know that you're watching. So so tell me hello say hi.

But the second question that I had was about Harrod. It says and when Harrod the king heard it so obviously this caused a ruckus in town where the these wise men came. And obviously it wasn't just a casual stroll through town.

In fact I was reading we don't know and we even guess it's tradition that there were three wise men and I think that tradition comes from the fact that there were three gifts mentioned but we don't know that there were.

Oh thank you Tim. I appreciate you spending time with me. This is I mean this is amazing opportunity that God gives us to spend time together and spend time in his word and I glorify him and I appreciate him blessing us and appreciate you guys.

But uh you know was it just a casual stroll through town. You know have you heard anything about a child being born around here. We don't know how many there were and I even read that it could have been because they because of where they were in society the place that they held a society they could have had a caravan with him even even military personnel with him.

So it could have been this larger group of people it could have been up to 12 wise men with this caravan. We don't know but that's a possibility that you had this big caravan even military personnel with with multiple wise men that came and so however it happened however it happened it caused enough ruckus in town that that word got back to King Herod.

Because at this time they didn't go directly to King Herod word had got back to him. And when he heard it it says he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. Now part of the commentary part of the study of that you know we want to know what it meant when he when Matthew says all of Jerusalem with him.

A lot of that of course is is speculation. I do know especially in John but in the Gospels when when the term the Jews is used it's usually referring not to the the whole of the the Jewish people but mainly when it says the Jews it's referring to the Pharisees the the leaders and so all of Jerusalem.

Of course of course not every single person had heard of this. So all of Jerusalem could have been the the the leaders were troubled the the leadership in Jerusalem as it says in other places the Jews.

So I'm gonna leave that to the side. I'm not gonna speak too much of that just just made a little brief comment on that. But but what stood out to me was it says that Herod when he heard this that I guess that there were there were these Magi these wise men and and whoever else was with them whether they were alone or with a caravan they were asking about a king who was born.

What where has this king been born. And they and think about this. They weren't. I mean they packed up moved out took a trip and and we're asking the question where is he who has been born king of the Jews.

Where is he. As if this has legitimately happened there's no second guessing that. I mean this is a sure thing we follow the timeline we've seen the star this event has happened. So where is he. And so as it comes to Herod it's communicating communicated to him as these folks are are for real they're looking for the king of the Jews.

Tim says I have wondered if the military caravan was what stirred Herod up. He knew it was serious. Absolutely absolutely. You and I are on the same page tonight. Well we know because of the question that they were asking they were looking for a king.

Well who was king. Herod was king. Right. And so he was king of Judea. He was king of the Jews. If you want to put it like that Herod was king of the Jews. So obviously that's one of the simpler questions to ask is why was why was Herod troubled.

Well he was king of the Jews. And you you have these folks from the east traveling all this way looking for the king of the Jews who was born. And if they did have a military caravan like Tim and I are talking about that would have been a super heavy threat to Herod as king.

Because you have these folks who are traveling with this military caravan who are looking for a king to worship him. And so automatically at his birth you know he's he's just recently I mean he's a child and yet he's going to have this military backing behind him to overthrow King Herod.

I mean you can just imagine and if my history is correct I want to think that I heard read that that Herod was was paranoid anyway he was a paranoid person and he had people killed because he was paranoid.

But yeah what a threat to have these folks looking for a king to worship and with them was a military caravan. Obviously it would have been a threat and and one of the simpler questions to answer but as I found out the the answer goes a little bit deeper than that.

Herod, the Chief Priests, and Micah 5:2

So we want to know about the star. Right. We want to know about the star and we want to know about Herod being troubled. So he he pulls in he gathers together the the chief priest scribes and he's asking them and inquires of them where is this Christ to be born because is it in Jerusalem where is it at why are they here looking for him.

And so they come to him and they give him Old Testament prophecy and it comes from Micah 5 to and you Bethlehem. So so there were the prophecy was that that the king of the Jews was to be born in in Bethlehem from Micah chapter 5 I think think verse 2 so we're gonna come back to that later.

That's not the Old Testament prophecy prophecy that I want to look at but just keep in mind you know when they when they quoted scripture and you know when Jesus would quoted scripture on the cross when he quoted the psalm or you know other places where they would quote scripture the Jewish in the Jewish mind it was they were giving the reference to the scripture.

So where we would say Matthew chapter 2 verse you know 1 through 6 they would they would quote the verse as a reference. And in the Jewish mind when they heard that reference they would remember the context of the whole section.

They're not just you know the the chapter and verse but they would know what was going on and and probably be able to quote you know that that whole section. And so when Jesus you know references passage he's really wanting them to understand that the whole of the context is speaking about that issue that that he is the reason why he's quoting the that verse.

But we want to know about the star and we want to know a little bit more about why it troubled Herod. So they they quoted him Micah chapter 5 and it tells them that he was to be born in Bethlehem. And then verse 7 then Herod secretly called the Magi and ascertained from them the time the star appeared.

So he's asking about the star and when it appeared first he wanted to know about where the child was to be born. And then he goes back to this star. Why does he go back to this star. Because the same reason that the Magi were interested in the star because it was part of an Old Testament prophecy.

I love the way you. Oh thank you Nancy. Thank you thank you for watching. Thank you for spending time with me. I miss you guys. I hope y 'all are doing okay. I hope y 'all were doing well. And you and your family.

So yeah he wanted to know about this star. And the reason was just like the place of birth. There was a prophecy about the star and that's how the wise men knew about the star. So where does that come from.

Let's answer that first question. Where does the prophecy of the star come from that the Magi knew about or Magi. And that Herod seems to know about. You have to go all the way back to the beginning of the Bible Genesis Exodus Leviticus.

And then you get to Numbers Numbers chapter 24 and remember you can't just read one verse there's a whole context. But we're going to start at the beginning and then make the connection as we read on to get a whole context of the verse.

So Numbers chapter 24 verse 17 this is a prophecy from a guy named Balaam and it says I see him but not now. I behold him but but not near. So he's coming later. He's far off. He's not near. And it's not now it's later.

And here's the verse. A star shall come forth from Jacob. There's the genealogy. A star shall come forth from Jacob. And a scepter shall rise. The scepter the staff that represents kingship and authority.

A scepter shall rise from Israel. So we're going to stop right there because that answers our first question. How did the wise men how did the Magi know about a star. How do they know to look for star.

And then how did why did Herod want to inquire more about this star. He was having a meeting he consulted with the chief priests and the scribes and and they they would have known the scriptures and that the the issue with the star.

And so they may. And I'm trying not to insert too much here about conversations that we don't know about. But I'm sure as King he would have wanted to know as much information as possible about this King that these wise men from the east are looking for and you find out the place of birth.

And he wants to know more about this star when it appeared because it maybe it came up in conversation with the chief and scribes. And so what did I say just a second ago. We don't want to read just one verse or one little section when when the Jews gave a reference they would have understood the whole section goes with it.

So let's look at the rest of the section. And maybe we can begin to understand why Herod was troubled troubled the way he was because his his intensity grows as this as this conversation goes on at first it troubles him right.

It troubles him and all and with all of Jerusalem with him. And then by the end here what does Herod want to do. He wants to go and worship him. That's what he says. But what does he want to do. He wants to.

He wants to kill him. He wants to get rid of him. Why the intensity. Why does it escalate. Let's continue to look at numbers chapter 24 starting verse 17 again I see him but not now. I behold him but not near.

A star shall come forth from Jacob and a scepter shall rise from Israel and listen to what it does. The scepter the king and shall crush through the forehead of Moab and tear down all the sons of Sheth and Edom shall be a possession and seer its enemies also shall be a possession while Israel performs valiantly one from Jacob shall have dominion and shall destroy the remnant of the city.

And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said Amalek was the first of the nations. But his end shall be destruction. And he looked at the Kenite and took up his discourse and said your dwelling place is enduring and your nest is set in the cliff.

Nevertheless Cain shall be consumed. How long shall Asher keep you captive. And he took up his discourse and said alas who can live except God has ordained it. Who can live except God has ordained it.

Amen to that. So we've looked a little bit deeper into the context of that scripture of where the star comes from the star that the the wise men saw and when they were in the east and that that led them eventually to the king of the Jews Jesus and Mary.

And what is that section saying. Well the prophecy of Balaam is telling us that Israel is going to perform valiantly. And this one that is is now king that represented by the scepter is going to to take out this nation and this nation and this nation and this nation and this nation.

And it says even even the city and shall destroy the remnant from the city. And so this king is a threat to all these different nations. So what does that have to do with Herod. What does that have to do with King Herod.

If you do a little bit study on King Herod do you know who his people were. Herod was an Edomite. Verse 18. And Edom shall be a possession. And then the next sentence says seer its enemies also shall be a possession.

Seer was the place where the Edomites lived. And the Edomites are named here in this section whom the king that would come from Jacob come from Israel would take out. And so why was this king king of the Jews who was represented by this star who had his own star.

If you go back to the passage the reference from the prophets of the Old Testament where the star is it goes on to say that the one whom the star represents is going to come from Jacob is going to come from Israel and he's going to have the scepter.

He's going to be the king and he's going to take out all the nations. And one of those nations is from seer the Edomites of whom King Herod is from. And when when King Herod was given kingship over Judea he even brought in some of his Edomite family to even be some of the priests there.

And so it's no wonder that all of Jerusalem or the leadership were just as troubled because this king that was prophesied by the representation of the star was going to be the one that was going to take out the Edomites who Herod was.

Isn't that amazing. That's so amazing. And I'm not gonna go an hour and 20 minutes tonight so I'm gonna I'm gonna try to make make my points here points of application because we want to remember that Jesus is King and how to live in that victory.

Jesus Is King, Not a Threat: Worship, Submission, and Repentance

So we see Matthew teaching us that Jesus is King he fulfills this prophecy. That's who the wise men were looking for. That's why Herod was threatened. And so in the in the title that I that I gave prior to the the video I said that Jesus is either king or he's a threat.

Jesus is either a king or he is a threat. For for the wise men they followed they followed the Word of God they followed the prophecies that came from God and took them as a sure thing packed up left and asked the question as if it was true because they had not seen the child.

But they were asking the question as if God's Word was true. They believe they believed in God's Word that it was true and they wanted to come find him so that they could worship him submit to him serve him and they offered him gifts.

So so their lives lives were to to follow obey look and listen to God's Word worship King Jesus submit and serve to keep King Jesus. So to them he was king and they followed him and served him and and worshipped him.

But for Herod this this king of the Jews this this new king that was being prophesied was a threat. Jesus was a threat to the kingship to the authority that Herod had and so to to Herod Jesus was a threat.

And so in a similar way if we want to spiritualize it and kind of make some application for our lives Jesus is King. It was a fact then it was a fact now I mean let's look at Micah real quick and I'm glad I turned right to it.

Micah chapter 5 verse 2 this is where the reference comes from. And if we read a little bit longer we're gonna learn a little bit more about Jesus. Verse 2 says. But as for you Bethel Ephrathah too little to be among the clans of Judah from you one will go forth from me to be a ruler in Israel.

Now in Matthew that's where it stops among the leaders Judah for out of you shall come forth a ruler. And then it says who will shepherd my people Israel. That's where it stops. But let's keep reading his going forth.

His goings forth are from long ago now this is before Jesus was born and he's saying that this ruler that's gonna come his going forth are from long ago from the days of eternity. We're learning about our King.

We're learning about our God who he is. Jesus go his going forth were from long ago from the days of eternity. Therefore he will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has born a child. Then the remainder of his brethren will return to the sons of Israel and he will arise and shepherd his flock.

There's the rest of it in Matthew in the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will remain because at that time he will be great. How far to the ends of the earth.

And this one will be our peace. Jesus kingship is stretches all over the whole earth. There is no rock you can hide under no cave that you can go in where you can hide from the kingship of Jesus and he is he is from the days of eternity.

Jesus always was and always will be and he is great and his kingship covers the whole earth. That's who our Jesus is. And that's who the wise men were coming to see coming to worship coming to serve and bear gifts.

And so in in our lives the same is true. The one that is whose days are from eternity he he is still on his throne King having authority stretching over the whole earth. And we read in the Old Testament and the New Testament Jesus even says it itself.