Series: The Sovereign King Arrives

Title: “Lessons from the wise men—How To respond when God speaks”

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12; 6:33; 28:18-20

(Commentary helps listed at the end)

Bottom line: Like the wise men, when we hear from God, we trust and obey God promptly and completely.

INTRODUCTION

Opening story:

Billboard: “Wise men still seek him”

OUTLINE

I. King Herod

A. Read verses 18–19 first without the phrase, “from the Holy Spirit.“ Then add it later.

B. King Herod

1. Lustful, wicked tyrant

2. Edomite i.e. descendent of Esau, son of Isaac. Therefore, not a Jew so hated by the Jews he ruled.

3. Destroyed anything that threatened his throne.

4. Did not know the word of God.

II. Priests and Scribes

A. They new the word, unlike Herod.

B. But they did not act on it because they did not believe it.

III. Wise men

A. They knew the word of God from 2-3 places:

1. The Hebrew Scriptures would have been available to wealthy men like these to read. The star in Numbers 24 connects Jesus to those scriptures.

2. The priests and scribes shared where Jesus was to be born in their presence.

3. God spoke to them through a dream so they wouldn’t return to Herod.

B. They knew the word of God AND acted on it—they believed it.

1. They went to Jerusalem believing that the logical place to find the son of the King of the Jews.

2. They went to Bethlehem when they learned that from the priests and scribes.

3. They went home another way when God spoke through a dream.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Like the wise men, when we hear from God, we trust and obey God promptly and completely.

Like the wise men, when we hear from God, we are wise to obey his word(s) promptly (right away) and completely. This leads us to Jesus in all his glory. This is where we want to be! This leads us to worship him, like the wise men.

Transition:

One of the things Jesus commanded us to do was to remember the cross through the Lord’s supper.

Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:23-26‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.11.23-26.NIV

Let me invite you to do 3 things:

1. Invited them to accept Christ.

2. Invited them to join a group.

3. Invited them to give.

Text me at 843-830-2464 as needed.

-Pastor Darien

Lord’s Supper

Explain

Read

Confess

Go out into the mission field

Pray.

Other notes

Summary: The Savior, the Wise Men and the Vision of Isaiah From this study, the following may be noted: Oppressors and oppressed are sinners and both need the grace of the new Savior. Suffering does not produce people without sin. The prophet needs courage to tell oppressed people of their sins and their need for grace. Isaiah promised special blessings for the city of Jerusalem. Arabs would arrive with gifts and shepherds would appear. A great light, along with the glory of God, would shine upon Jerusalem. The Gospel authors saw these promises fulfilled in the birth of a child. “The hopes and dreams of all the years” are shifted from Jerusalem to a child born in Bethlehem. At his birth Jewish shepherds and Gentile Arabs came together in adoration of a child in a manger.

Jesus Through Middle-eastern Eyes, Kenneth Bailey

MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:

• Exalting Jesus in Matthew by David Platt

• Preaching the Word: Matthew commentary by Douglas Sean Osbourne

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• The Outline Bible, Wilmington

• Gospel Transformation Bible

• NIV Study Bible

• Jesus Through Middle-eastern Eyes, Kenneth Bailey