MATTHEW
2:1-11 – TREASURES FOR
THE
GREATEST TREASURE
Susie: 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,
Susan: 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.
Susie: 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 have been Zoroastrian wise men. If you
want to know more about that religion, there is a brief article here:
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.
Susie: 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 the 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.
Susan: 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 who would live in perfect obedience to His law and
fulfill His plan to redeem the ones He had chosen.
Susie: The wise men stated that their
sole purpose in traveling from the East was to find this Baby and worship Him.
Susan: The
wise men may have been only seekers, or they may have been expectant Jewish
scholars, anticipating the Messiah’s arrival like Simeon and Anna.
Susie: 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.
Susan: Their
gifts were even of symbolic significance.
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.
Susie: King
Herod was a controlling despot whose reign was one of fear. If King Herod
wasn’t happy, no one was happy.
Susan: This
Baby was a threat to his dictatorial control over Israel. If this baby were
truly to be the king of Israel, it would mean that Herod’s sons would not
inherit the kingdom. His family dynasty would be ended.
Susie: Instead
of being excited about the possibility that the Messiah had arrived, he was
jealous, green with envy, the original Grinch who tried hard to steal
Christmas.
Susan: Unlike
the Grinch, Herod’s heart never grew several sizes. As we will see, Herod far
surpassed the Grinch in cruelty and deceit.
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.
Susie: The
king of Israel did not have enough interest in the coming Messiah to have
studied the scriptures for himself.
Susan: He had to inquire of others
who were required by their professions to know these things.
Matthew
2:5-6 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by
the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among
the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my
people Israel.
Susie: This
prophecy is found in Micah 5:2. Ruler denotes a strong, stern leadership.
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.
Susan: Micah
prophesied that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem which translated means
“house of bread.”
John
6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me
shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Matthew
2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them
diligently what time the star appeared.
Susan: The
wise men were not even under Herod the Great’s rule, but he privately ordered
them to give him information.
Susie: 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.
Susie: Herod
had no intention of worshiping the Child. He wanted to eliminate Him as we will
see.
Susan: He
feared Jesus would end his family legacy as well as his own rule. He knew he
could not truly claim the thrown of Israel because he was not a descendant of
King David.
Susie: 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. When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Susie: 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.
Susan: 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.
Susie: 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.
Susie: Whenever
scripture mentions Jesus and Mary in the same breath, He is always given the
position of prominence by being listed first. Note that the passage refers to Jesus
as a “young child” again indicating He was no longer a newborn. Joseph must
have been at the carpentry workshop 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.
Susan: All
three gifts were expensive. Frankincense was burned along with the offerings in
the temple according to the instructions God gave to Moses. Myrrh must be bruised,
crushed in order to bring out its fragrance. Jesus was to be crucified in order
to give us the fragrance of God’s grace.
Susie: The
wise men probably did not fully understand the significance of their gifts or
their visit. Scripture foretells that kings will 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. 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?
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