MATTHEW 2:1-11 – MARY –
TREASURES FOR THE GREATEST TREASURE
(Really cool baby shower!)
The Magi, the Wise Men, were
key visitors and worshipers early in Jesus’ life.
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was
born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came
wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Herod whose name means “Son of
a hero” was dubbed “The Great” probably due to his planning and financing
fantastic building projects including the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. He
was ruthless as proved by his actions later in this passage. He was identified as being
Idumean meaning he descended from the Edomites, the offspring of Esau. The
Edomites refused to help Israel against their enemies. Herod was made king over
the Israelites by the Roman authorities. According to both the Reformation Study Bible
and John MacArthur Study Bible notes these men were NOT kings, but were most
likely court advisers who were both astronomers and astrologers. They may
Zoroastrian wise men. If you want to know more about that religion, there is a
brief article here: http://www.religionfacts.com/zoroastrianism/beliefs
Many scholars believe they may have been from
Persia or Babylonia and would have learned of the prophesied Messiah due to
Daniel’s captivity.
Another point of view on the
Magi insists they were actually Jewish wise men who still lived in Babylon.
The Complete Jewish Study Bible:
Some have even speculated that these wise men came from a Jewish
school that went back to Daniel’s day, where the prophets looked to the heavens
for the promised arrival of the Messiah. The star in the east was in fact a
manifestation of Adonai’s Sh’khinah (Divine Presence), marking the arrival of
the Son of Man.
Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he
that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are
come to worship him.
Scientists have tried to
explain the phenomenon of the star by saying it was a conjunction of three
planets or a supernova. However, the fact that it moved and rested in one place
would negate those theories. The Reformation Study Bible notes proposed that it
may have been some form of the Shekinah glory of God similar to cloud by day
and pillar of light at night which led the Israelites out of Egypt. John
MacArthur, Jr., in his book God With Us,
The Miracle of Christmas, discusses this same theory and states it was the
same glory that had shone on the shepherds. At any rate, it was a miraculous
occurrence. I think the star was the Father’s personal birthday candle in the
sky announcing the birth of His son. The glory of the Father would surely shine
at the birth of His only begotten Son. The wise men stated that their sole purpose in
traveling from the East was to find this Baby and worship Him. The wise men were only seekers,
not like Simeon and Anna who were devout, expectant Jewish believers. If they were, Zoroastrians,
they believed in a multiplicity of saviors and may have thought the one born
king of the Jews was one of them. If they were Jewish sages from
Babylon as proposed in the Complete
Jewish Study Bible, then they truly came to worship the Messiah, the Son of
God. They did not come desiring gifts from Him but bearing gifts for
Him. They did not see this baby King as a cosmic Santa Claus or a
supernatural slot machine like many people approach God today. They saw Him as
an important spiritual figure to be worshipped.
Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king
had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
King Herod was a controlling
despot whose reign was one of fear. If King Herod wasn’t happy, no one was
happy. The Baby was a threat to his dictatorial control over Israel. If
the baby were truly to be the king of Israel, it would mean that his sons would
not inherit the kingdom. His family dynasty would be ended. Instead of being excited about
the possibility that the Messiah had arrived, he was jealous, green with envy.
Matthew 2:4 And when he had
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded
of them where Christ should be born.
The king of Israel did not have
enough interest in the coming Messiah to have studied the scriptures for
himself. He had to inquire of others who were required by their professions
to know these things.
Matthew 2:5 And they said unto
him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem,
in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of
thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
This prophecy is found in Micah
5:2. Ruler denotes a strong, stern leadership, but shepherd refers to gentle, protective care.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem
Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee
shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth
have been from of old, from everlasting.
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he
had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star
appeared.
The wise men are not even under
Herod the Great’s rule, but he privately ordered them to give him
information. He was trying to ascertain exactly how old the baby Boy was at
this time because he had a dastardly deed in mind.
Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to
Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye
have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Herod had no intention of
worshiping the Child. He wanted to eliminate Him as we will see. He feared Jesus would end his
family legacy as well as his own rule. We can add blatant, unscrupulous liar to the negative tags associated
with the name Herod the Great.
Matthew 2:9-10 When they had
heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
The star had disappeared
temporarily which is why the Magi had inquired of Herod. Now it re-appeared and
led them directly to the house where Jesus was living. I do believe this could
have been the glory of God leading them just as He led the Israelites with a
pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night when they fled Egypt. No
natural phenomenon would have the ability to disappear, reappear, move, and
hover. (Chinook helicopters had not yet been invented, Jeff.) The wise men were not just full
of joy when the star came back into view: their joy was exponentially
overwhelming. It was also a relief that they could now fulfill their mission to
worship the baby King. Jesus may have been a year to 18 months old by this time
(according to the time the wise men told Herod they had first seen the star),
and his family had moved to a house in Bethlehem. In other words, the wise men
were not at the stable as they are so often depicted in artwork and
dramatizations.
Matthew 2:11 And when they were
come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell
down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
Whenever scripture mentions
Jesus and Mary in the same breath, He is always given the position of
prominence by being listed first. Joseph must have been at the carpentry shop since he is not mentioned in
these verses.
Notes from The Voice Bible:
These are exceptionally good
gifts, for gold is what is given a king, and Jesus is the King of kings;
incense is what you expect to be given a priest, and Jesus is the High Priest
of all high priests; myrrh ointment is used to heal, and Jesus is a healer. But
myrrh is also used to embalm corpses—and Jesus was born to die.
The wise men probably did not
fully understand the significance of their gifts or their visit. Scripture
foretells that kings would worship The King:
Psalm 72:10-11 (VOICE) Let the kings of Tarshish and
the island kings shower him with gifts and the kings of Sheba and Seba bring
him presents as well. 11 Let every king on earth bow down before him and every
nation be in his service.
Isaiah 60:6 (VOICE) Herd after herd of camels will
cover the land, caravans arriving daily from south and southwest: Midian,
Ephah, Even Sheba with gifts of gold and frankincense. They will announce for
all the world to hear, “The Eternal be praised!”
APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:
1. Are we coming to Jesus to
give Him adoration and worship, or are we only interested in what He can give
us?
2. Do we understand all Jesus
has done for us and can do in us, or do we see him (like Herod) as the eternal
kill-joy? Jesus came to give us abundant life. His rules are for our
protection, peace, and fulfillment; not to limit us.
3. The wise men brought their
best gifts to the Savior, not only the physical gifts, but the most important
gift – their worship. Are we bringing Him our best? Are we truly engaged in
worshiping our Lord as instructed in Scripture, or are we distracted by the
world?
No comments:
Post a Comment