THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN BORN KING OF THE JEWS

Matthew 2:1-12

Key Verse 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

This passage is the second Christmas passage, which is about the Magi after Jesus was born. They looked for Jesus and found him in the first century. Let us find Jesus and worship Him today like Magi so that we may have the greatest joy in our hearts. May the Lord help us to overcome distraction and to pick up spiritual desire to look for Jesus today like Magi and worship Him with all our hearts and resources.

1. Read verses 1-4. Who came to Jerusalem after Jesus was born? (1) What moved them to embark on this long journey? (2) Why were Herod and his people disturbed? (3, 4)

1-1, Read verses 1-4.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] 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.”

3 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.

1-2, Who came to Jerusalem after Jesus was born? (1)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

• Being from the East, they would have been among Jews who were exiled from Judah and Israel centuries before.

• Modern-day astrologers are basically fantasy writers and con artists. But the Magi were educated in all the wisdom in mathematics, philosophy, and medicine.

• They must have studied the ancient texts from many cultures. And they diligently looked to the sky.

• By analyzing the motion of stars and planets, they tried to discern what was happening in their times.

• In the King James Bible, the Magi are called “Wise Men.” What does it mean to be a wise man? Wisdom is not the same thing as formal education.

• It is not recalling lots of facts or having a quick mind. Wisdom is related to sound judgment. It is the ability to make good decisions.

1-3, What moved them to embark on this long journey? (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.”

• They studied because they were seeking the truth. In the century before Christ, rumors were circulating throughout the eastern world that a king would rise up and establish a universal empire.

• In the period of Babylonian captivity, Daniel and other people(diaspora Jews) who were exiled might have spread the knowledge about what would happen down the road in accordance with the prophecy inspired by the angel named Gabriel.

• Historical records show that envoys of Magi appeared in various places throughout the world in search of a great king.

• But the Magi in this passage might have known some of the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah.

• Daniel said that he would come from “the Ancient of the Days” and he would be worshipped by all peoples, nations, and men of every language (Da 7:13-14).

• He would rule, not with political or military power, but with wisdom and truth, and his kingdom would be everlasting.

• He would be the one true king of all the Wise Men. And his coming, the Jews believed, would be accompanied by a sign in the heavens.

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.”

• One night, the Magi looked up and saw a star. It was no ordinary star. It was an extraordinary star which captivated their souls.

• They were convinced that it was “his star,” the star of the King of the Jews. As soon as they saw it, they made a courageous decision to go and see it.

• This journey would be long, difficult, dangerous and expensive. They took all their vacation time and cashed in all their liquidable assets.

• They said goodbye to their wives and children and set off. They made a decision of faith to leave their homes and their people to follow God’s sign.

• To be a real seeker of the truth has always been costly. Since that time, all of us have struggled just to maintain our lives.

• We struggle to pay our bills and support our families. We struggle to finish our homework on time.

• From time to time, we all put aside our mission to take care of urgent business. But soon, a star appears in our sky. We receive an invitation from God.

• Then we must decide whether to ignore the star or to follow it. God promises that he will take care of and reward those who seek the truth.

• To believe this is to have faith that pleases God. The Magi put aside their preconceived ideas and went to the place where the star was calling them.

• To advertise the fact that Jesus was born into the world, God could have advertised to the world like a lightening. But he didn’t do that.

• He announced the birth of Jesus with one little star. Most people didn’t notice it at all. But those who were looking saw it and were astonished.

• But God always reveals himself to those who earnestly seek him. Deuteronomy 4:29 says: “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

• God reveals himself through his creation, through the beauty and order of the natural world.

• He has revealed himself through his work in human history. Most of all, he reveals himself through the written word of the Bible.

• Without the Scriptures, the Magi had to diligently search the sky every night. We should look for him in the place where he shows himself the most.

• 2 Peter 1:19-20 says: “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, 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.”

• The real Magi of our day are those who diligently study the Scriptures until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in their hearts.

1-4, Why were Herod and his people disturbed? (3, 4)

3 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.

• When the Magi appeared asking, “Where is the King of the Jews?” Herod was disturbed. When Herod was disturbed, all Jerusalem started to shake.

• Herod called together the chief priests and teachers of the law to ask them where the Christ was to be born.

1. Read verses 5-6. What was the religious leader’s answer to Herod’s inquiry? (5-6) What can we learn about Jesus’ identity based on what was foretold by the prophet Micah? (Micah 5:2, 4)

2-1, Read verses 5-6.

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.’[b]”

2-2, What was the religious leader’s answer to Herod’s inquiry? (5-6)

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.’[b]”

2-3, What can we learn about Jesus’ identity based on what was foretold by the prophet Micah? (Micah 5:2, 4)

• This quotation is from the book of the prophet Micah predicts that the Christ would come from Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David.

• It also predicts what kind of ruler he would be. Jesus, the Christ, would not establish a political or military kingdom. He would be a shepherd king like David.

• He is the Good Shepherd. John 10:4 says, “…he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

• The Christ is a gentle shepherd who does not force his way on anyone. He calls his sheep personally by name, and they follow him because they know him.

• Psalm 23:1 says, “The LORD is my shepherd…” Earthly rulers inevitably use their followers for their own benefit. But Jesus the Good Shepherd gave his life for us.

• Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11).

1. Read verses 7-12. What did Herod ask the Magi in order to carry out his plan to kill Jesus? (7-8) Why were the Magi overjoyed? (9-10) What did they do upon finding the child? (11) What were they warned about? (12)

3-1, Read verses 7-12.

7 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. 11 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.

3-2, What did Herod ask the Magi in order to carry out his plan to kill Jesus? (7-8)

7 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.”

• Herod claimed a desire to worship Jesus, when he really wanted to kill Him. His nickname from others were the king of the Jews.

• He wanted to secure his position and title by any means. He ended up killing all infant babies in Jerusalem by his evil scheme.

3-3, Why were the Magi overjoyed? (9-10)

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.

• The star they had seen when it rose disappeared for a while. But it reappeared as soon as they went on their way from Herod’s palace.

• It stopped over the place where the child was. When Magi saw the star, they were overjoyed!

• Because of the star, they were overjoyed. Overjoyed means too much joy. It means that joy welled up in their souls and overflowed to all the people.

• Real joy comes when we seek and finally discover the truth. Real joy is the gift of God through the birth of Jesus.

• In Luke 2:10-11, the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

• Let us not think about this dark and gloomy world in this Christmas season. Let us not think about what kinds of gifts should we buy or receive.

• Let us only think about how to express our thanks to God because of Jesus who is the best gift of God and from God.

• The Magi were overjoyed when they finally found Jesus. They were also overjoyed because they worshiped Jesus.

3-4, What did they do upon finding the child? (11)

11 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.

• We must learn how to seek God like the Magi. The Magi came a long distance, bowed and worshiped the baby Jesus, presented their gifts, and returned.

• Their worship was very pure. They worshiped the king–and that is all. This scene looks like a very special event. But this is not special. This is the basic duty of all human beings.

3-5, What were they warned about? (12)

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

• God is faithful in protecting Magi and Jesus. God is never fooled. Rather God sent many angels and even used dreams to protect a baby Jesus and truth seekers like Magi in this passage.

• Interestingly enough, in the whole Bible, Gabriel and other angels and heavenly hosts were very busy to accomplish God’s redemptive plan when Jesus was born.

Conclusion

Through this passage we learned that it is not nonsense to worship God. It is not nonsense to sacrifice everything in order to love God. To worship God and to love God is the basic duty of all mankind. May God help us to live like the Magi and worship God and experience overflowing joy in our hearts. May God bless the upcoming Joint Christmas worship service abundantly. Let us not worship him by ourselves. Let us worship him together with our beloved ones around us.

One word: Our King!