The Gifts of the

1. Matthew 2:1-12 The Gifts of the

2. What kind of giving pleases God? • 1782 Famine in France • Marquis de Lafayette • Grain prices high • Estate Manager - “This is the time to sell” • Lafayette - “No, this is the time to give!” • Real love is often measured by our willingness to let go of what we possess • The thing we grip most tightly is often the very thing God asks us to hand over to Him!

3. The Wise Men • Few biblical stories are as well known • But clouded by myth and tradition • Middle Ages legend • They were kings • They were three in number • Their names were Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior • Represent the sons of Noah - Shem, Japheth, and Ham • One is often pictured as an Ethiopian • In Matthew 2, we are not told • Their number • Their names • Their means of transportation to Palestine • The specific country or countries from which they came

4. The Magi – v. 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 • “Wise Men” = “magos” • Magi = Latin for the Greek “magos” • Behold! = astonishment, strong attention getting word!

5. The Magi • First appear in history in the 7th century bc • A tribe of the Medes in eastern Mesopotamia • Semites — like the Jews and Arabs — descendants of Noah’s son Shem • Like Abraham from ancient Ur in Chaldea • Soon associated solely with the priesthood within the tribe • Skilled in astronomy and astrology • Had a sacrificial system like the one God gave to Israel through Moses • Involved in sorcery and were noted for their ability to interpret dreams • Magic and Magician are derived from Magi

6. The Magi • Combined knowledge of science, agriculture, mathematics, history, and the occult • Religious and political influence grew • Became the most prominent and powerful group of advisors in the Medo–Persian and then the Babylonian empire • They often were referred to as “wise men” • “The law of the Medes and Persians” was founded on the teachings of these magi • Daniel 6:8, 12, 15 • Esther 1:19

7. The Magi • King Makers • No Persian was ever able to become king without mastering the science and religion of the magi • Controlled judicial appointments - Esther 1:13 • Jeremiah 39:3 - Nergal–sar–ezer the Rab–mag, chief of the Babylonian magi - with Nebuchadnezzar when he attacked and conquered Judah • Book of Daniel • The magi were the highest–ranking officials in Babylon • The interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream • Daniel 2:48 - “Ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon”

8. The Magi • Daniel was highly regarded among the magi • His great wisdom • Daniel 2:24 - successfully pleaded for the lives of the wise men who failed to interpret the king’s dream • Daniel 6:4–9 - The plot against Daniel resulting in the lions’ den was by the satraps, not the magi

9. The Magi • Daniel 9 & 12 • Prophecy of the 70 weeks until Messiah • The magi learned of the one true God, the God of Israel • They understood His plans for the coming glorious Messiah/King • The “magi from the east” • Literally “from the rising” of the sun • True magi came to see Jesus • They were waiting for His sign!

10. A Great Question • “Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews?” • The Magi were sincere seekers of God • Why? because of the way God led them and responded to their needs • This is the Search we are all on • They saw His Star in the East - Why a star? • The shepherds in their fields, and the Magi as a sign in heaven • God always reveals Himself in a way we can understand • They have come to worship Him • Our heart’s need is to worship the Creator! • Following the light God gives will always lead us to Christ!

11. The Quest of the Magi - vv. 1-10 • 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, • 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.” • When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. • 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. • So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: • ‘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.’”

12. The Quest of the Magi - vv. 1-10 • Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. • 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.” • 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. • When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

13. The Star of Bethlehem • God gave the Magi the sign of His star in the east • Much speculation about the identity of that star • Jupiter, the “king of the planets” in conjunction with Regulus – the King star • Some say the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn • Others that it was a low–hanging meteor, a comet, or simply an inner vision • The Bible does not specifically identify the star • We cannot be dogmatic • It may have been the glory of the Lord - the same that shone around the shepherds when Jesus’ birth was announced to them by the angel - Luke 2:9

14. The Star of Bethlehem • What is clear • The magi were not following the star - they had to inquire about where Jesus was born • They saw His star in the east • The star reappeared and then stopped over Bethlehem

15. The Purpose of the Magi • They came from the east to Palestine • To find the One born King of the Jews and • To worship Him! • Worship • Full of meaning • The idea of falling down, prostrating oneself, and kissing the feet or the hem of the garment of the one worshipped

16. The Purpose of the Magi • They were true seekers after God • Jeremiah 29:13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart’ • When He spoke to them, they recognized God’s voice and responded • They recognized the light God gave them • A sign that led them to Jerusalem • God will use extraordinary and even miraculous means as necessary to get our attention • But He uses the Scriptures to speak His Truth to us • It was the Scriptures that guided them to Bethlehem • When we follow the light of Scripture, we will not walk in darkness!

17. Finding the Will of God • They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy • The Magi believed and acted on the Scriptures as soon as they heard them • The Jewish religious leaders, even though they studied and knew the scriptures, failed to find the Messiah - and He was only 5 miles away from them!

18. Finding the Will of God • Follow the light God gives you • God will confirm His will with His Word • Obey God without question • He will lead you each step of the way!

19. The Worship of the Magi - v. 11 • They came into the house to worship Him • These events probably occurred several days or weeks after Jesus was born • From 2:11 - Jesus’ family was now staying in a house rather than the stable where He was born • Mary and Joseph offered “a pair of turtledoves” (Luke 2:24) instead of the normal lamb (Leviticus 12:6–8) says they were poor

20. The Worship of the Magi • They saw the child with Mary, His mother • A child who came to die for your sins because God the Father loved you so!

21. The Worship of the Magi • They saw the child with Mary, His mother • They fell down and worshiped Him • Fall down and worship Him, just like the Magi • He is the Messiah, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world! • They worshiped only Jesus! • Only He was worthy of adoration

22. The Worship of the Magi • They saw the child with Mary, His mother • They fell down and worshiped Him • They opened their gifts • Giving is a response to Him in worship • They came prepared to give! • They committed their lives in pursuit of Him! • Their giving was not an addition to their worship, but an integral part of it • Right worship is the only basis for right giving and right learning and right service

23. The Gifts of the Magi • Gold • Always considered the most precious of metals • The universal symbol of material value and wealth • A symbol of royalty • Matthew presents Christ as the King of the Jews • He is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” • Appropriately being presented with royal gifts of gold

24. The Gifts of the Magi • Gold • Frankincense • A costly, beautiful–smelling incense • Used only for the most special of occasions • In the grain offerings at the Tabernacle and Temple • In royal processions • At weddings if it could be afforded • Origen said frankincense was the incense of deity • In OT it was sprinkled on offerings as a symbol of the people’s desire to please the Lord • “The sweet smell of sacrifice” • Speaks of Christ’s priestly role of offering the sacrifice for our sins

25. The Gifts of the Magi • Gold • Frankincense • Myrrh • A valuable perfume • Represents the gift for a mortal, emphasizing Jesus’ humanity • Mixed with wine it was also used as an anesthetic • Mixed with other spices it was used in preparation of bodies for burial

26. Our Giving • Picture of all of our giving, especially Christmas giving! • Gold – 1st and foremost - for the glory of God

27. Our Giving • Picture of all of our giving, but especially Christmas giving! • Gold – 1st and foremost - for the glory of God • Frankincense - The sweet smell of sacrifice! • Like God’s giving - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. . .” • God gives purely because He loves us! • Our giving is rarely to the point of sacrifice but God gives without limit! • We usually give when some one cries out for help! • God gives to those who neither realize their need nor appreciate His gift • Our giving is usually done to friends - God gave His own Son who died for the ungodly!

28. Our Giving • Picture of all of our giving, but especially Christmas giving! • Gold – 1st and foremost - for the glory of God • Frankincense - The sweet smell of sacrifice! • Myrrh - Giving out of the death of self • Live in total obedience to Him • Think of Jesus first, then others, and lastly, yourself • This is the only way you can give!

29. The Return of the Magi - v. 12 • Warned by God • They were warned by God not to return the way they had come • God will keep you from the evil one if you walks in obedience to Him! • Departed by another way • Anyone who comes to Christ will go home differently and be a new creature! • 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

30. The Gifts of the Magi • Worship • God calls each of us to come and worship the King • God expects our worship to be giving of self to Him for His glory! • God expects us to leave by “another way” after we worship the King!

31. Matthew 2:1-12 The Gifts of the