Bowing Before the Savior - Matthew 2:1-23 - December 30, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Bowing Before the Savior – December 30, 2007

This is our final lesson in our series “The Savior of Christmas.”

Our scripture is Matthew 2:1-23.

Speculation is that by the time the wise men found JESUS, HE was two (2) years old or less. This is based upon Matthew 2:16, when King Herod issued the order to kill all the male babies two (2) years old and under. King Herod was paranoid about any person taking over his throne.

The Apostle Matthew wrote his gospel with the Jews as his intended audience. He quoted more Old Testament prophesies than the other gospel writers. Doctor Luke wrote his account from a historical, factual point-of-view.

Matthew made it clear that these events took place after the birth of JESUS.
Wise men came from the east. It is speculated that they had traveled about a 1,000 miles. These wise men were referred to as magi. Some believe they were kings but there is nothing to back this up. But being wise men they likely advised kings. Speculation is that they were Gentiles or possibly half Jews. We are not sure how many there were. We assume three (3) since there were three (3) gifts. These wise men apparently studied the heavens as astronomers and astrologers. I must quickly say that GOD condemns astrology. So do not take this as an okay to practice or read your horoscope or anything else dealing with such.

Let’s read Matthew 2:1-6:
Wise Men Seek the King
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King • Herod, • wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east[1] Or star at its rising and have come to worship Him.”[2] Or to pay Him homage 3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the • chief priests and • scribes of the people and asked them where the • Messiah would be born. 5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel.”[3]

The Apostle Matthew begins his gospel by making it clear “after” the birth of JESUS in Bethlehem and while Herod is King of that area these things happened. There were several Kings that went by the name of Herod. This King was Herod the Great. He was half Jew. He was a shrewd politician and maintained his kingship over Judea, Galilee and Perea even though he had supported Mark Antony (his brother-in-law, who left his sister to marry Cleopatri). Mark Antony was defeated by Octavius (Caesar Augustus). Herod maintained his kingship.

[It is interesting that Octavius was born Gaius Octavius but was adopted by his mothers uncle, Julius Caesar. He took the name of his adoptive father thus he was named Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian. The name Augustus was conferred on him by the Roman Senate in 27 B.C. Augustus means “revered one.”]

Now back to Herod the Great. He was paranoid about anyone taking over his throne. He suspected many of trying to take over his throne and had them killed. In fact he had his wife and several of his sons killed. So naturally when Herod heard that a king of the Jews had been born, he was deeply disturbed and sprang into action by calling in all his advisors. The wise men had not gone directly to Herod seeking the new born king but had been inquiring about this new born king. But the king heard about this inquiry.

The star either guided the wise men to Jerusalem or they concluded that since they were seeking a new born king, just maybe the child was a child of the current king.
Since Herod was paranoid he likely had spies stationed to listen and report any news that would be of useful intelligence. There are always people seeking favor with those in authority. Someone reported to Herod that an unexpected group of wise men were in Jerusalem seeking a new born king. It would also be logical for the wise men to speculate that the current king would know about such a birth.

Herod’s advisors told him that the scriptures confirmed that the Messiah or deliverer would be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2:
2 [2] Mc 5:1 in Hb Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me.[3] 2 Ch 7:18; Isa 11:1; Mt 2:6 His origin[4] Lit His going out is from antiquity, from eternity.[5] Or from ancient times

So King Herod is now armed with the facts. He has a plan!

Let’s read Matthew 2:7-8:

7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.”[4]

We can see the treachery, deceit and cunning that comes from Herod. He secretly summoned the wise men to come to him. This was apparently the first time the king and the wise men had met. The king was armed with the facts and could talk as if he knew all about this new born future king. He asked the wise men to tell him when they first saw the star? No telling what words he said leading up to this question. I am sure he was very convincing that he wanted to check the time they saw the star with the same time his advisors also saw the star. If their times of observation coincided, then it would be the child promised in the scriptures and he would also want to go worship him. So they could find the child and report back to him. What a plan!

Herod was used to giving orders which were carried out exactly as he requested. He was convinced that these wise men would do as he asked. He likely patted himself on the back and gloated with pride as to how clever he was. Apparently he didn’t send anyone to follow the wise men to see if they found the child because his ego was convinced that they would report back to him.

It was, also, likely that Herod’s advisors did not see the star the wise men saw. So let them go find this new born king.

Let’s read Matthew 2:9-12:

9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east![5] Or star . . . at its rising It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him.[6] Or they paid Him homage Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

The wise men left the king’s presence and to their delight they saw the star. Apparently GOD guided them to King Herod and now that this part of HIS plan was completed, the star reappeared and the wise men continued to follow the star to the place where the child was located. The use of the word “child” indicates that the child was between one (1) and two (2) years old. The word for “child” is different than the word for “infant” used when JESUS was born.

The star revealed where the child was located and the wise men were overwhelmed with joy when they finally arrived at their destination. Finding something we have passionately sought is always a joyful feeling. They may have begun to question whether or not they might even find the child they sought. After all the king did not seem to be interested in this child that could be a threat to his throne. However, they were faithful to their quest and received the joy of finding the Messiah.

Wise people still seek HIM today and when they finally encounter HIM they too rejoice and worship HIM.

As mentioned earlier, it is here that we assume there are three (3) wise men because of the three (3) gifts – gold, frankincense (a fragrant gum) and myrrh (a precious spice used for perfumes and embalming.) All three (3) gifts are suitable for a king and were of value. Little did they know that these gifts could be used to sustain the King of Kings and HIS parents when they flee to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod.

GOD is in all things and HE used the wise men to make the king and his advisors aware of and to confirm the arrival of the Messiah. They had an opportunity to seek the Messiah. The wise men found the Messiah and their gifts were likely used to provide resources for JESUS and HIS family while they are in Egypt. GOD changed the direction of the wise men through a dream. All of these events confirmed to the wise men that the child they had sought and found was the promised Messiah.

When we seek and find JESUS by asking HIM to forgive us of our sins, the HOLY SPIRIT confirms in our hearts that JESUS is the Messiah. Our sins are forgiven and we experience the miracle of rebirth which makes us a child of GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT confirms this fact in our hearts. The Apostle Paul captures this in Romans 8:15-17.

Romans 8:15-17:
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “• Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—seeing that[13] Or provided that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Let’s read Matthew 2:13-15:
The Flight into Egypt
13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and His mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. 15 He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called My Son.[7] Hs 11:1

GOD told Joseph through a dream to get up and take his family to Egypt and stay in Egypt until HE tells him to leave. Joseph is obedient and immediately takes action because Herod is preparing to destroy JESUS. GOD had provided Joseph with the resources to flee, so Joseph does not hesitate.

The prophesy in verse 15 is captured in:
Hosea 11:1:
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.[1] Mt 2:15
Let’s read Matthew 2:16-18:
The Massacre of the Innocents
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years[8] Lit were from two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping,[9] Other mss read Ramah, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.[10] Jr 31:15

King Herod realized that the wise men were not returning to him. He did not know it was GOD WHO changed the direction of the wise men.

Was this an opportunity for King Herod to find JESUS and worship HIM? We do not know. We can only speculate that GOD did give Herod and his advisors the opportunity to find JESUS for the right reasons. After all Herod’s advisors had confirmed that the scriptures had revealed that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. But Herod’s nature over took him and he ordered that all male children two (2) years and younger be killed in the area around Bethlehem.

The prophesy in verse 18 is captured in:
Jeremiah 31:15:
15 This is what the Lord says: A voice was heard in Ramah, a lament with bitter weeping— Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children because they are no more.[19] Mt 2:18
There is no record of this slaughter. But scholars seem to think that since Bethlehem was a small area that it would not be recorded. But GOD had prophesied this tragic event in the scriptures.

Let’s read Matthew 2:19-23:
The Holy Family in Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, because those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and His mother, and entered the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus[11] A son of Herod the Great who ruled a portion of his father’s kingdom 4 b.c.–a.d. 6 was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. 23 Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that He will be called a • Nazarene.

When Herod died GOD, revealed to Joseph that it was time to leave Egypt. GOD commanded Joseph to leave Egypt. HIS command for Joseph to leave Egypt was as urgent as HIS command was for Joseph to leave Bethlehem. Again, Joseph was obedient. GOD directed Joseph to where HE wanted HIS ONLY SON JESUS to be raised, Nazareth.

Matthew stated that Nazareth was spoken through the prophets. There is no reference to such prophesy in the Old Testament. However in Isaiah 11:1 -
1 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. – The word “Branch” is similar to the word for Nazarene.

Bible scholars think that Matthew interpreted the word “branch” in Isaiah 11:1 for Nazarene.

As children of GOD, HE also directs our lives and where HE wants us to live and raise HIS children. As we approach a new year ask GOD to confirm in your heart that you are where HE wants you to be both physically and spiritually. HE will direct your paths as you yield your lives to HIM.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY OUR LORD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY RICHLY FROM HIS STOREHOUSE!!!