INTERESTS OF A WISE MAN
Mat 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,
- Jesus Christ was “born”. This doesn’t mean he is a CREATED BEING. This is when he was born “in the flesh”.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- He was “born” in “Bethlehem”. This means “house of bread”.
- This is fitting because Jesus Christ is “the bread of life”.
Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die
- He was “born” in “Bethlehem of Judea”. He is of the tribe of “Judah”. (Rev 5:5).
Mat 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,
Mat 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.
Wise Men Are Interested In…
- WHERE JESUS IS –
- These wise men came “from the East to Jerusalem “.
- You’ll notice in the Bible that going east to west is positive and west to east is negative.
- These wise men came from the East looking for JESUS CHRIST!
Are you interested in Where Jesus Is?!
- I have CHRIST in me the hope of glory, I know he is in every place beholding the evil and the good, but I still look for him in everything.
- Since I have been saved nothing has satisfied like Jesus Christ and his word.
- I have found Jesus Christ but I’m still looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour JESUS CHRIST.
- Wherever I go I look for Jesus Christ. If I go to the store I look to see if they SALE BIBLES!
- I have tons of bibles but yet I’m still drawn to find something about Jesus Christ where ever I go.
- If I go somewhere I look for Jesus Christ to be mentioned in some way. Maybe in a song, a sign, a billboard, or a church building.
- Most places are completely Godless.
- This is because men want rid of Jesus Christ. Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
- The real conspiracy is that this world hates Jesus Christ and wants rid of him.
Wise men are interested in “Worshipping JESUS CHRIST.”
Mat 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,
Mat 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.
- Athletes can’t save me, celebrities can’t save me, statues can’t save me, and nothing else can save me outside of JESUS CHRIST.
- I’m not concerned with worshipping anything or anybody outside of the Lord JESUS CHRIST.
- Be wise and worship the saviour.
- Most people worship everything else but HIM.
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
- What you think about the most and spend your time on the most is what you truly worship.
Notice Herod’s reaction when he hears the news…
Satan and the wicked man’s interest is in “WASTING JESUS”.
Before Paul’s conversion he “persecuted the church of God and WASTED it”.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Herod is “troubled” by the coming of the king. He doesn’t want any competition. He wants any competition dead. He wants it WASTED.
- Herod is a good picture of the antichrist. Who is also “troubled” by the coming of the king. Although it is at his SECOND COMING!
- The antichrist rules during “the time of Jacob’s TROUBLE”.
- Over and over it is called “the time of TROUBLE” in the scriptures.
- His rule is during “great tribulation”. (Matthew 24:21)
- The antichrist has his kingdom darkened. (Revelation 16:10) No doubt he’ll be troubled by the coming king.
- At the coming of JESUS CHRIST the man of sin is “cast into the lake of fire”.
- Both Herod and the antichrist obviously hate Jesus Christ. Daniel 8:25 talks about how the antichrist will “stand up against the Prince of princes” but he shall be broken without hand.
Mat 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.
- Herod gathers people together. These men may not agree on everything but one thing is certain. They all hate Jesus Christ.
- The antichrist will also gather people together. The world will unite under him. This is God’s plan anyway because it is his “determination to gather the nations”. (Zeph 3:8). This way they all come against him at Armageddon.
- Men love to gather together with a mutual hatred for an enemy. Even if they disagree on everything else. They get along in their hatred for another person. These men gather together because of a hatred of the man CHRIST JESUS.
Herod demands of them where CHRIST should be born…
- These guys know the book and know the answer to Herod’s question. They just don’t LOVE the words.
WISE MEN ARE INTERESTED IN “words in a book”.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 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.
- What you have with these men are men who believe the scriptures. Herod even believes the scriptures predict the future. The chief priests and scribes also believe it.
- It is that they just don’t care! Neither does the devil and devils.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
- These men even know the scriptures quite a bit. They are referring to Micah 5:2 for the prophecy. However all these men are lost.
- Also The wise men themselves knew the scriptures. That is how they knew how to find Jesus Christ. They were familiar with Numbers 24:17
Num 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
- So the wise men would have been interested in a Star that was a King. A Sceptre is what a king has. Jesus is the Bright and Morning STAR.
- the wise men were “from the East”. They were from Babylon. And they would have been familiar with Daniel’s writing in chapter 9 of his book.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
- Seven weeks and threescore and two weeks(483) after Cyrus gave the command to rebuild is when Messiah cometh. Daniel left them instructions on exactly when to start looking for the Messiah.
- When your interested in the word than your going to be interested in things that really matter. Your going to be interested in prophecy. I’m interested in “meeting the LORD in the air”. I’m interested in the signs of the times.
1Ch 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times - Your going to be a step ahead of the world because they can’t catch up with the Bible.
Satan and wicked men are also interested…in “WORDS IN A BOOK”.
- Herod enquires of the chief priests and scribes.
- Herod enquires of the wise men.
- He doesn’t know much but he is getting in touch with people who know something about the scriptures. Satan is interested in changing it.
Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
- he “privily” enquires of the wise men because he doesn’t want anyone to think he actually wants to worship JESUS CHRIST.
- Herod is not only a believer of the scriptures but he is concerned with time. Just like the antichrist will be.
- Daniel 7:25 says he will “think to change times and laws”.
- The devil during the great tribulation “knows he hath but a short TIME”. (Revelation 12:12).
- Just like Herod here knows he doesn’t have much time.
- Herod has an “interest in the stars”. So does the devil in Revelation 12:4.
While the wise man are interested in worshipping JESUS CHRIST, Herod and the devil want worship for themselves.
Mat 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.
- Just like the antichrist, Herod is a PRETENDER. He “comes in peaceably and obtains the kingdom by flatteries”. (Daniel 11:21)
- He wants them to “find the young child” because he doesn’t want any competition. He wants the worship for self. He doesn’t want any challengers.
- He is just pretending that he is going to go and worship him also.
- Notice Herod told the wise men to “search diligently”. He didn’t care if they were looking for Jesus Christ because he was going to use it for his benefit.
- The devil doesn’t care how much you get in the scriptures and “search diligently” if he thinks he can use it to his advantage.
- There are a lot of men that know a lot of bible and the devil uses them to deceive people with their knowledge.
Mat 2:9 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.
- The star isn’t your average star. Your average star doesn’t stand over a house.
- There are times in the Bible where it refers to angels as stars.
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Jdg 5:20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
- So this star wasn’t your average star. It was an angel.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
- They knew that star was leading them to the King.
- These wise men were willing to submit to authority.
- If you hate authority and you want to be the authority than you don’t want a king to show up.
- If the rapture happened today a lot of Christians wouldn’t want JESUS CHRIST to show up.
- They want to keep living their life as their own authority.
- They wouldn’t “rejoice with exceeding great joy” until it happened. This is because they don’t realize the things down here can’t compare to up there.
Mat 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.
- Notice they were “come into the house” and not a manger. This isn’t the same scene as Luke chapter 2:12.
- Notice he is a “young child” here and not a babe as in Luke 2:12.
- This is why in Matthew 2 that Herod has them kill the children that are 2 years and under.
- The wise men “fell down and worshipped HIM”. They didn’t fall down and worship Mary.
- Remember WISE MEN WORSHIP HIM! Never do they pay Mary any attention.
- Also consider how Matthew continuously talks about the “young child” before it says “Mary” or “his mother”.
Wise Men Are Interested In WORTHY INVESTMENTS
- They invested their time. They invested their bodies to make the trip. They invested in the LORD by giving him gifts.
- The gifts they gave were significant.
- They gave him GOLD because he is king. Gold is associated with deity. When they would make false Gods they would cover them in gold. The street of his city is of pure gold.
- They gave him frankincense because he is priest. The priest offered “incense” with sacrifices. (Numbers 4:16)
- They gave him myrrh because he is a prophet. The anointed one. Myrrh is used as an anointing oil. (Exodus 30:23-25)
- Anything given to the LORD is a worthy investment. Time, talent, money, labor and what ever it may be.
Mat 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Wise men are interested in the “WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”
- They are interested in the “warnings of God”.
- They knew if they went against the warning than they would be going the wrong way.
- They departed into their own country ANOTHER WAY!
- They met the KING and immediately started going a different direction than how they came.
- That is what you need to do when you meet the king.
- You are saved by the blood of JESUS CHRIST and you need to walk a different way than you did before you met Him.
Pro 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
- Let the LORD be your GUIDE.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
Now you will see Joseph go “the way of righteousness” as well.
- He goes the way the scriptures said he would.
- Something to get from this is never try to go against scripture!
Mat 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
- Notice once again in this verse it says “young child” before his mother. Jesus Christ is always more important than Mary.
- Herod wants to destroy JESUS CHRIST just like the antichrists army will attempt to do.
- Daniel 8:25 talks about how he will stand against “the Prince of princes.”
- The devil is a destroyer.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Mat 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
- Once again you have the young child mentioned before Mary.
Mat 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Hos 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
- Joseph went the way the scriptures said to go.
Wicked men and the devil aren’t interested in “the way of righteousness”. They go “the way of transgressors”. They go the way of “death”.
Herod and Satan are interested in “weeping mothers”.
Mat 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.
- two years and under Because JESUS CHRIST isn’t a “babe in a manger” at this point anymore.
- Once again You have a villain attacking the SEED!
- Every since Genesis 3:15 the devil has attacked the seed.
- Pharaoh wanted all the male children killed.
- When God is about to do something big you see a pattern of baby killing among the wicked men.
Mat 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Jer 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
- The devil loves to see weeping mothers.
- He wants you to keep your mother up all night worried about you.
- He loves to see a son or daughter in sin because it brings grief to their mother.
- He loves the death of a child because it will bring a mother to weeping.
- God isn’t like that. He wants to “wipe all tears from your eyes”.
Mat 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
- Notice Herod is dead. Jesus Christ is alive. All the people that go up against JESUS CHRIST die!
- Herod wanted JESUS CHRIST dead and now Herod is in hell.
- The antichrist will want JESUS CHRIST dead and Moses & Elijah’s head. But he gets tossed into the lake of fire.
Mat 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
- Once again the LORD appears to Joseph in a dream and gives him instructions on what to do.
- Me and you don’t have dreams and visions because we have a complete word of God. Joseph didn’t.
- Also me and you walk by faith and not by sight. If God came to me in dreams than I’d be walking by what I saw in my dreams.
Mat 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
- Once again, YOUNG CHILD is mentioned before HIS Mother.
- Notice how Joseph continually takes care of the young child and his mother. He is a protector and provider.
- He has a job. (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3.)
Mat 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
- Once again “wise men are interested in the WARNINGS of God”.
- Fear isn’t a bad thing. Joseph was “afraid to go thither”. Noah was “warned of God” and “moved with fear” to “prepare the ark”. (Hebrews 11:7)
- Warnings are good because they keep you from going down the wrong road.
Paul said…
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Mat 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
- They would say “nothing good could come out of Nazareth” but with JESUS CHRIST all things are possible.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
