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Matthew 2:1 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,
Matthew 2:2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have
seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him.
Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2:5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by
the prophet:
Matthew 2:6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the
rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people
Israel.’ ”
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from
them what time the star appeared.
Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for
the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may
come and worship Him also.”
Matthew 2:9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which
they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the
young Child was.
Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child
with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had
opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
I. WISE MEN WERE SEEKING THE KING.
Matthew 2:1 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,
Matthew 2:2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have
seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Romans 3:11 There is none that seeks after God.
Hebrews 1:6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Luke 2:20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things
that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
These wise men have come a great distance, about 300 miles to worship the King
of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all
your heart.
II. RELIGIOUS MEN WERE IGNORING THE KING.
Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him.
Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2:5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by
the prophet:
Matthew 2:6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the
rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
These Jewish scholars knew all the prophecies about the Messiah:
1.He will be a Jew.
2. He will come from the tribe of Judah.
3. He will be a descendant of David.
4. He will be born in Bethlehem.
5. He will be born of a virgin.
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
These religious men who knew the Word of God wouldn’t even get on their feet
to see what was happening a mere five miles away in Bethlehem.
III. EVIL MEN WERE OPPOSING THE KING.
Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for
the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may
come and worship Him also.”
The world is full of people who will not kneel before Jesus Christ, so they miss
Christmas just like Herod did.
Revelation 12:4 ” … And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give
birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men,
was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem,
and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time
which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
The birth of Jesus Christ brought to Bethlehem a godless leader, who murdered
babies of weeping mothers, and that is the forgotten message of Christmas.
IV. WISE MEN WERE WORSHIPING THE KING.
Matthew 2:9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which
they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the
young Child was.
Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child
with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had
opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Acts 10:25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and
worshiped him.
Acts 10:26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
Revelation 22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when
I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed
them to me.
Revelation 22:9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like
you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this
book. Worship only God!”
Matthew 2:2 “… For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:8 “… when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come
and worship Him also.”
Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child
with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name
which is above every name,
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
Philippians 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
Angels, from the Realms of Glory
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn KIng!
Angels We Have Heard on HIgh
Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
O Holy Night!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah
And He shall reign for ever and ever
King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
And Lord of lords (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
Matthew 2:11 “… they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
The Christmas song “We Three Kings of Orient Are” includes the lines:
O star of wonder, star of night
Guide us to thy perfect light
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament,
and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
