Week 1: A King for the Nations

When we think of the nativity scene, most of us picture the image we have seen many times on front lawns, in Christmas decorations, and reenacted on church stages—sometimes with live characters and animals. We picture the shepherds and three wise men gathered around a little stable worshiping the baby Jesus as angels and livestock look on in wonder. In some ways, this scene represents the heart of God’s sovereign plan—a hodgepodge of men, animals, and heavenly creatures all paying homage to the Creator of the universe. As common as this scene may be, it does contain a few historical inaccuracies that will be discussed in today’s lesson.

But of all the visitors that came to see Jesus at His birth and during His infancy, the wise men stand out as being enigmatically peculiar. Their story is told in the Gospel of Matthew. Understanding what makes their presence so remarkable requires a bit of background information. Matthew’s Gospel was most likely written sometime before the Romans destroyed the Jewish temple in 70 AD. Since Matthew’s overarching purpose was to present Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, we can assume that his audience was primarily Jewish. Therefore, the fact that Matthew focuses on Gentiles (the wise men) in this passage draws even more attention to the universal appeal of Christ’s advent.

Matthew begins this account of the wise men sometime after Jesus’ birth. Based on verses like Matthew 2:16 and other historical information, we can confidently say that Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 4 BC. He was probably around two years old when the wise men came to visit Him (long after the shepherds came who worshiped Him on the night of his birth). Matthew includes the wise men in his Gospel account because he wanted his Jewish readers to see that Jesus was the One who fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus proved Himself to be the promised seed of Abraham, the son of David, the king of Israel, and the Savior of all people (Andreas Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles Quarles, The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown, pg. 137).

Although we do know for certain that the wise men were not kings (as often claimed by Christmas tradition), identifying these foreigners, sometimes referred to as Magi, remains difficult. At one time, the term “Magi” was used to refer to a group of priests who specialized in interpreting dreams for kings, as in the case of Daniel and his time in Babylon (Daniel 1:20; 5:7). But by the time of the New Testament, some of those who were called Magi were known to dabble in much darker arts. These men studied astrology, prophecy, and magic and were enthralled with predicting future events. As for the Magi who visited Jesus, Matthew 2:1 tells us that they traveled from the East, most likely from Persia or Babylon (D. A. Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, pgs. 110-111).

By all rights, these men who were Gentiles should have had no interest in a Jewish Messiah. Their presence and their purpose to worship Christ were completely unexpected. Why would Gentile sorcerers have any interest in a Jewish Messiah? It seems that these men knew something that Jesus’ own people had overlooked. God’s Promised One had arrived, and He was not just the King of the Jews—He was the Messiah of the nations.

In this week’s Treasure Story, we are going to examine Matthew’s account of the wise men. In this story, Matthew will offer us a glimpse into God’s extraordinary plan to redeem all things to Himself. God has been working since before creation to deal with the problem of sin, and now the most important player in His master plan has arrived. The Messiah, Jesus, has come, but not everyone recognized Him or was pleased with His arrival. In fact, it was an unlikely group of men—a few Gentile wise men—who recognized the true identity of the boy born in Bethlehem.

Visitors from the East: Matthew 2:1-2

Although a very unimportant city at the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem was the place God chose for the birth of His Son. It was also a place with a rich history because of another royal birth, a fact Matthew’s audience would have recognized immediately. Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David, the greatest earthly king of Israel. Located south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the whole region of Judea were ruled by Herod the Great during Jesus’ time. Herod was not Jewish, but the Romans—who ruled much of the known world including Judea—crowned him as “king of the Jews” (Leon Morris, Pillar New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1, pg. 35).

As Caesar’s regent in Judea, Herod was a successful king who completed some very impressive building projects during his reign. However, he did not earn his title “the Great” through acts of kindness or mercy:

“But Herod was also brutal and deeply suspicious, which provoked him to take murderous action. His wife Mariamne . . . for whom he had genuine affection, bore him several sons and daughters. But when he suspected that some of his sons were planning to take the kingdom, he not only killed his sons through Mariamne but eventually became convinced that Mariamne herself was involved and had her killed. Herod’s reputation for cruelty and paranoia was well established. Caesar Augustus is reported to have said that it was better to be Herod’s pig than his son.” - Andreas Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles Quarles, The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown, pg. 74

When the wise men arrived in Jerusalem seeking the source of the star, they sent shockwaves throughout Jerusalem and unsettled its suspicious king with their request. The phrase in Matthew 2:2, “he who has been born king of the Jews,” was particularly important. The wise men were not visiting a future king who would one day take the throne of Israel. No; they had come to see a ruler who by divine right was already king. In effect, their search called into question Herod’s entire kingship. Herod was not the rightful heir to the Davidic throne, and now his authority was being challenged.

During their visit with Herod, the Magi explained that a star had led them on their journey in search of the King of the Jews. In those days, many believed that the presence of a new star announced the arrival of important figures. But there was something far more amazing going on here than an astrological phenomenon. The wise men, Gentiles from a foreign land, had come to do something that hardly any Jews in Bethlehem had thought to do. These pagans had “come to worship” the Christ child (Matthew 2:2b).

The True King Revealed: Matthew 2:3-8

Of course, the deeply suspicious Herod was troubled by their arrival and what they claimed: the apparent illegitimacy of his reign. Literally, the word translated “troubled” means that Herod was “terrified” upon hearing this news. When Herod was afraid, “all Jerusalem” was also terrified at the consequences of this newborn’s arrival (Matthew 2:3). Herod never liked competition. Remember that he had killed his wife and sons for allegedly trying to usurp his throne. What would he do if someone had actually already taken his throne, as the wise men claimed?

In a state of paranoia, Herod called together all the religious leaders in Jerusalem. He had to know where the Christ child was to be born. In verse 4, Matthew very intentionally uses the word “Christ,” which is the Greek word for Messiah in order to make plain to his readers that the king to be born—the one sought by the wise men—was none other than the One God had promised.

Drawing from the prophet Micah, a man of God who had prophesied hundreds of years earlier, the religious leaders of Jerusalem revealed the exact location of the promised Messiah to Herod. This prophecy is found in Micah 5:2, although Matthew does not record verbatim the words from the prophet. By mentioning that the ruler “will shepherd” God’s people, Matthew seems to also include references from 2 Samuel 5:2 and 1 Chronicles 11:2. These other references fit Micah’s aim, which was to foretell that Bethlehem’s lasting significance would be its role as the Messiah’s birthplace. Here, the great leader who would shepherd and care for God’s people would be born (Leon Morris, Pillar New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1, pgs. 38-39).

Despite Herod’s reference to Christ as Messiah and the religious leaders’ thorough study of the prophecy, they still did not believe that the child to be born was the Promised Deliverer:

“ . . . Matthew, like Paul, faithfully records both the essential Jewish focus of the OT promises and the OT expectation of broader application to the Gentiles . . . Jesus is not only the promised Davidic king but also the promised hope of blessing to all the nations, the one who will claim their obeisance . . . That same duality makes the desires of the Gentile Magi to worship the Messiah stand out against the apathy of the leaders, who did not, apparently, take the trouble to go to Bethlehem.” - D. A. Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, pg. 88

How often have you been guilty of overlooking the obvious? Like the Jews in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, we are all guilty of being so consumed with our own lives and our own religious practices that we totally miss Jesus. In our churches, we become so preoccupied with the tasks and responsibilities at hand that we can forget why we even gather together on Sunday mornings—to worship. Our daily lives, jobs, hobbies, and family responsibilities can also distract us from our Savior. He should be the center of our lives and taking His Gospel to the nations should be our mission. But instead, we become preoccupied with less important things.

King Herod had also been preoccupied with lesser things until the wise men appeared from the East. He met with them in secret to find out exactly when the star had appeared in the sky. He then sent the Magi to the one they came to see, but not without further instructions. Before they left, Herod ordered them to report the child’s exact location back to him so that he could “come and worship him” too (Matthew 2:8b). The Magi made the perfect spies for the jealous king because they wouldn’t arouse suspicion the way soldiers or government officials would (Leon Morris, Pillar New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1, pg. 40).

A Messiah for the Nations: Matthew 2:9-12

The wise men then continued on their way to find the one they had traveled so far to see. Matthew 2:9-10 tells us that the star guided them to the Messiah. Interestingly, Matthew records the star moving, literally guiding them like a beacon to Bethlehem and resting over the place of the child. The wise men were overcome with joy when they found the Christ child.

Seeing the child with his mother, Mary, the wise men fell on their faces in worship as they presented Him with gifts. These gifts can be connected to a prophecy given in Isaiah 60:3-6 where Isaiah foretold that the nations would come and worship the Messiah. Jesus was the Savior of God’s people in Israel, but He is also the Savior of the world. The salvation that Jesus offers extends to all people, including us. The story of the wise men is one of God’s first declarations in the New Testament that He has always been working to redeem all peoples.

With their purpose accomplished, the wise men began their long journey home, but not before God intervened to protect His newborn King. Herod had instructed the Magi to return to him with news of the boy, but God had other plans. The Lord warned them in a dream to leave Judea by a different route. They obeyed God’s command and never returned to Herod.

Despite His very humble entrance onto the world stage, the child the wise men came to see was the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ. Ironically, His own people missed His humble arrival. He was their legitimate King and the rightful heir to David’s throne, the One they had been waiting for. But He was born to rule all people, not just the Jews. From the beginning, God has been at work to redeem a people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, and the Gentile wise men who came to worship Him stand as one more proof of God’s work among the nations. Jesus came to be the Messiah to the nations.

Gospel Truths About God

God refused to allow His people to be separated from Him forever by their sin. He has been working since before the creation to redeem His people. His plan came to a climax with the birth of His Son, Jesus, who is the King of His people and the Messiah to the nations.

Gospel Truths About Man

Just as Herod begrudged the idea of submitting to the rightful king, so we refuse to submit to our Creator. Instead, we sin against Him. As a result of our rebellion, our relationship with God has been broken, and we stand under God’s wrath. We face an eternal punishment for our crime unless someone can pay for our sin.

Gospel Truths About Redemption

God’s love for His people is so great that He decided to cast the wrath brought on by our sin upon His own Son, Jesus. Jesus carried our sin upon His shoulders on the cross and gave His life to ransom us from the death penalty. Now Jesus stands as the rightful heir to David’s throne and as the Messiah who offers forgiveness to people of all nations who will turn to Him in faith.

For Your Edification (continued . . .)

Daniel 5:7
Micah 5:2
2 Samuel 5:2
1 Chronicles 11:2
Isaiah 60:3-6

Preparing My Heart

• Let the knowledge that God has been working from before creation to reconcile to Himself all the nations of the world drive you to worship Him. God’s plan is much bigger than just Israel, and it is definitely much bigger than you. He is restoring all people to Himself.
• How could the Messiah be born in Bethlehem without anyone from Israel noticing? He was their Messiah, their long-awaited King. Have you ever been guilty of missing the Gospel? Has it become so common or stale to you that you miss the daily impact God wants His Son to have in your life? If so, repent of your indifference and ask God to refresh your love for His Word and for the Gospel.
• When the wise men saw the young Jesus, they responded by bowing in worship. Jesus is still worthy of such worship. Spend some time before you teach this lesson in humble prayer, praising God for the great salvation He has given us through Jesus. 

• Your students need to capture the reality of who the wise men were. These were pagan Gentile astrologers who seemed to have no business coming to visit a Jewish Messiah. Their only reason for seeking the Christ was because God had drawn them there. They are proof that it has always been God’s plan to take the Gospel to the nations.
• Not only is Jesus the Messiah to the nations, but He is also the rightful King of His people. Jesus is the heir to David’s throne and, therefore, the only legitimate King of the Jews. On the other hand, Herod did not have a legitimate claim to the Jewish throne. Reference Matthew’s genealogy in the beginning of the book as further evidence of Jesus’ divine right to David’s throne.
• Understanding that God has always been working to redeem His people in Israel and a people for Himself from every nation only adds to the magnificence of His sovereignty. You and your students are a part of God’s eternal plan, a plan that was established before creation. Use this truth to inspire your students to discover their role as believers in taking the message of the Gospel to the world.