WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM

Matthew 2:1-12

Key Verse 2:2

and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

1. Read verses 1-2. Where and when was Jesus born? (1a) Who came and who were they looking for? (1b, 2a) What led them to embark upon this journey and what was their purpose? (2b) What can we learn from them?

2. Read verses 3-6. Why were the king and people disturbed? (3) What did the king ask the chief priests and teachers of the law? (4) What did the prophet say about the Messiah? (5-6)

3. Read verses 7-10. What did the king ask the Magi secretly? (7-8) How were they guided to the place where the Child was? (9) How did they respond when they saw the star? (10)

4. Read verses 11-12. What did they do to the Child? (11) What can we learn from them? Why did they return to their country by another route? (12)

WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM

Matthew 2:1-12

Key Verse 2:2

“and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.””

Introduction

When Jesus was born, Magi from the east saw His star and came to Jerusalem to worship Him. Despite difficulties in finding the new born king of the Jews, they continued their journey to seek Him. God led them to the Child by showing them the star. Finally they found the Child with great joy and worshipped Him by offering gifts. Also it was known that the Messiah would be born as a ruler who would shepherd his people.

Matthew specifically records the coming of the Magi from the east. To Matthew, Jesus’ birth was not just a national event. To him, the scope of what God was doing, went beyond its effect on merely one nation. It was a world-wide event whose reach went beyond race and territory. It went above and beyond even the earth. At the time of Jesus’ birth, even the sky responded through the appearance of a star. In writing this, the author further reveals who Jesus is. Jesus came for all those who have a right attitude of seeking the Lord with all ones’ heart. Through the story of the Magi, Matthew teaches us what kind of life-attitude we must have before Jesus, the king of the Jews. ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8mjRxkMBkE

1. Read verses 1-2. Where and when was Jesus born? (1a) Who came and who were they looking for? (1b, 2a) What led them to embark upon this journey and what was their purpose? (2b) What can we learn from them?

1-1. Read verses 1-2.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

1-2. Where and when was Jesus born? (1a)

• Jesus was born in Bethlehem – 8km away from Jerusalem, king David’s hometown, meaning –“the house of bread” Jesus is ‘the bread of life’. Jesus was born to give life of bread.

• The time of King Herod - Herod the Great. Edomite, Idumean Antipater’s son, appointed to be a king by Rome. He ruled the nation with cruelty, built the third temple, and killed his wives and sons thinking that they were threatening his power.

Micah 5:2 reads,

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.”

1-3. Who came and who were they looking for? (1b, 2a)

• Magi from the east : the east – certain nation located in the east, possibly Babylon or Persia because many people in Israel were taken to Babylon as captives.

• Magi- usually the priests of Babylon, Medea and Persia were called ‘Magi’ They were known to be able to interpret dreams.

Daniel 5:7 reads,

“The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

• These Magi had probably been alerted to the prophetic significance of their times by the prophecies of Daniel and other Old Testament prophets.

• Jewish legends say that Daniel himself, an official of the Persian government, founded this order of Magi (wise men), instructing them to watch for the Messiah throughout the generations.

• This shows us that the whole world was looking for the Messiah, not only Israel.

• They attempted to predict the future through astrology and astronomy. They had good understanding about the prophecies about the Messiah. They were known as scholars, philosophers, or as ‘wise men’.

• King of the Jews- other name of Messiah who would come as a descendant of King David. Especially the Gentiles understood the Messiah as the King of Jews.

• According to the historian Josephus, the idea was widely spread at that time, that the Messiah would come as the king of Jews to save Judea and the whole world. It was also commonly believed that the whole world would be blessed through Him.

• Jesus came to this world as the King of Jews and died as the King of Jews (Mt 27:37)

• The Magi thought that the Israel people knew where the Messiah would be born. But his people didn’t know.

• He was the very desire of all nations, yet his coming into the world was barely noticed. For most, Jesus’ birth was an obscure event and not even regarded. Jesus came to this world so humbly. The Messiah’s birth was noticed only by a few.

John 1:10-11 reads,

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

1-4, What led them to embark upon this journey and what was their purpose? (2b)

• Come to worship him - Even the Gentiles realized Messiah’s birth and came to worship him. Jesus is the Messiah not just for Jews but for Gentiles too. He is the Messiah for all people on earth.

Numbers 24:17 reads,

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.”

• We saw his star -They saw an extraordinary star and realized that the promised Messiah was born.

• They knew about the prophecy well and had desire to see the Messiah. God gave them the sign through the star according to their desire.

• God might have spoken in the Magi’s own language, and in the way they were best acquainted with.

• God speaks to each individual in the way he/she can best understand.

1-5, What can we learn from them?

• Magi’s example may remind us of Jeremiah 29:13,

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

2. Read verses 3-6. Why were the king and people disturbed? (3) What did the king ask the chief priests and teachers of the law? (4) What did the prophet say about the Messiah? (5-6)

2-1. Read verses 3-6.

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

2-2. Why were the king and people disturbed? (3)

• King Herod and all Jerusalem were disturbed

• ‘disturbed’- embarrassed with anxiety and fear.

• King Herod might have feared losing his throne. People might have worried that the birth of this new king might bring great political and social turmoil to their lives.

• Herod and Jerusalem were troubled, from a mistaken notion that the kingdom of the Messiah would clash and interfere with secular powers.

• His kingdom was heavenly, not earthly. This is the reason why the kings and people of this earth often oppose the kingdom of Christ.

• They didn’t know what kind king he was. Many people have difficulty accepting Jesus because of their misunderstanding or ignorance about Jesus Christ.

2-3. What did the king ask the chief priests and teachers of the law? (4)

• Where the Messiah was to be born - He wanted to know the place of Jesus’ birth. He had great interest. It seemed that he was a humble Bible student. But this was not the case.

• He had no desire to worship Jesus as King. He was only interested in keeping his political power and status.

• He had an evil scheme to get rid of Jesus.

2-4. What did the prophet say about the Messiah? (5-6)

“for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

• In Bethlehem in Judea,- They answered based on Micah 5:2. They had a clear idea about the place where the Messiah would be born. Yet, despite their knowledge, they did nothing to find, much less accept the Messiah.

• ‘by no means least among the rulers of Judah’ - Bethlehem was a small town but would be honored because of the Messiah’s birth.

• ‘for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ - The Messiah would be a ruler/king who would take care of his people just as a shepherd takes care of his sheep. Herod might have known who the Messiah was, had he studied what this verse meant carefully. But he assumed that Jesus came as his competitor.

• People had suffered under corrupted and evil rulers. God sent a shepherd to rule and bring true peace.

• Jesus came to this world as the Ruler. Christ will be the Saviour to those only who are willing to accept him as their ruler.

3. Read verses 7-10. What did the king ask the Magi secretly? (7-8) How were they guided to the place where the Child was? (9) How did they respond when they saw the star? (10)

3-1. Read verses 7-10.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

3-2. What did the king ask the Magi secretly? (7-8)

• the exact time the star had appeared. – The star didn’t appear in Jerusalem yet. The king wanted to know the time so he could kill all the newborn male babies in an attempt to find and kill Jesus.

• “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” – His plan was to kill the baby Jesus, but he concealed his evil plan with the appearance of wanting to worship Jesus.

• His evil intention to kill the Messiah was his rebellion against God’s will. When he was occupied with his greed for power, he even dared to rebel against the will of God.

• But his evil intention failed, for God would not allow it. It reminds us of recent daily bread key verses.

Psalm 140:7-8 reads,

Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer,

you shield my head in the day of battle.

8 Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord;

do not let their plans succeed.

3-3. How were they guided to the place where the Child was? (9)

• ‘the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was-’

• The Magi couldn’t see the star for a while so they went to King Herod to ask for direction. But this wasn’t the right way to find the place of Jesus’ birth.

• But instead of giving up, they trusted that God would lead them and continued seeking their final destination.

• The star appeared to them again. It was this star that led them to the right place. We should follow God’s guidance rather than relying on other things.

• The star had left them for a while, yet now it returned as God continue to direct them. Those who follow God in the dark shall find that light is given to them..

• The word of God is the star that we should follow.

• The star led them to the place where the child was. Likewise the word of God leads us to know Jesus and find the truth.

• If we fix our eyes on Jesus, by faith, we will see ourselves under his light; there is a day-star that arises in the hearts of those that inquire of God and sincerely seek after Christ.

John 5:39 reads,

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,”

2 Pet. 1:19 reads,

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

• Jesus is the morning star who leads us to the right place.

• If we go on as far as we can in the way of duty and serving his will, God will direct and enable us to do what we cannot do. So we need to continue to do what we are supposed to do, that is to study and accept the word of God personally.

• Simon Peter who used to follow the way of this world as the son of John met Jesus, heard His living Words, and confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68) when many left Jesus.

• It turned out to be the wise and right choice for him as he wrote 2 Peter letter.

2 Peter 1:3-4 reads,

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

3-4. How did they respond when they saw the star? (10)

• ‘they saw the star, they were overjoyed.’ - They were overjoyed with great expectation that they would finally see the Messiah.

• ‘Overjoyed’ – overflowing joy, highest level of joy. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (KJV)

• Now they saw they were not deceived. They had not taken this long journey in vain.

• Their joy was great because the great hardship they had faced in finding the Messiah.

• Their suffering to find the Messiah had paid off. Their journey to find the Messiah was not in vain.

• We will be glad and rejoice when Christ is revealed to us, especially in and through the word of God.

• God gives true joy to those who seek Christ.

Psalm 105:3 reads,

“Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”

4. Read verses 11-12. What did they do to the Child? (11) What can we learn from them? Why did they return to their country by another route? (12)

4-1. Read verses 11-12.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

4-2. What did they do to the Child? (11)

• ‘they bowed down and worshiped him.’ - They recognized the baby as the king of the Jews. They accept the baby as the king and Messiah.

• They didn’t honor king Herod as they did this Child. They recognized the baby as the Messiah, the king of the Jews.

• ‘Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold,’ -

• The gold : the kingship of the Messiah/ king

• Frankincense : deity / priesthood

• Myrrh : suffering and death/burial . myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies.

• We should worship Christ by offering him what is best and most valuable to us. We also should present ourselves to him as living sacrifice.

4-3. What can we learn from them?

• The Messiah was still baby, but they still believed that the baby would save the world as the Messiah, according to God’s revelation. They worshipped him. We should believe Jesus as the Messiah based on the word of God. We should also worship Him.

• They worshipped – Jesus is the one who is worthy to receive our worship. We should worship him recognizing him as the king and Messiah

• They offered their treasures- Jesus is the Messiah whom we should serve by offering our treasures. Their worship and offering honored the Messiah. Their worship and offering were so beautiful.

4-4. Why did they return to their country by another route? (12)

• And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod- To protect the baby God gave them His warning, so Herod’s evil scheme failed.

Conclusion

The Magi made a long journey to meet and worship the newborn king of the Jews, the Messiah. Through the star, God led them to find the Child to their great joy. They had the great privilege of meeting the Messiah and worshipping the Messiah. God leads those who seek Christ by showing them a star. As a shepherd takes care of his sheep, so Jesus takes care of us as the our Shepherd and King. True happiness and peace belong to those who are ruled by Jesus.

One word: We have come to worship Him!