The Wise Men & The Worthy King
Matthew 2:1-12
[1] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
[6] “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
[7] Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” [9] After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. [12] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1. What are your family traditions surrounding Christmas Day? How could you center them more on Christ?
2. To use Calvin’s words, how do the Wise Men serve as “the first-fruits of the Gentiles”? How is Matthew’s emphasis on the Wise Men similar to Luke’s emphasis on the shepherds?
3. How do the star and the prophecy work together to communicate Christ’s centrality? What does it practically mean to have Christ at the center of our lives?
4. How does Matthew describe the joy that the Wise Men felt in finding Jesus? What does this teach us about true happiness and satisfaction?
5. How do the Wise Men respond when they see Jesus? What does their behavior suggest about our devotion to him?References: Daniel 2:2; Genesis 22:18; Micah 5:2, 4; Numbers 24:17; Genesis 3:15; 2 Samuel 7:13; John 10:11; Galatians 4:4.