Wise Guys Worship
Matthew 2:1-12
December 15, 2024
Jay Haugh

A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah, all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord. —Isaiah 60:6 ESV

“And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,” declares the Lord of hosts. —Haggai 2:7-8 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod, the king… —Matthew 2:1 ESV
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah [fruitful one], who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” —Micah 5:2 ESV

…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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” —Matthew 2:1-2 ESV
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” —Numbers 24:17 ESV

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” —Matthew 2:3-6 ESV

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” —Matthew 2:7-8 ESV

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. —Matthew 2:9-10 ESV

They rejoice exceedingly, with great joy, in the presence of Jesus.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. —Matthew 2:11 ESV

They don’t worship Him for what He has done, but simply because of who He is.

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. —Matthew 2:11 ESV

Gold represents His kingship and divinity.

Frankincense represents His priestly work and worship.

Myrrh represents His death.

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. —Matthew 2:12 ESV

Big Idea:

Jesus Christ is the real shepherd King for ALL people.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Memory Verse: Matthew 1:21 NIV
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.

Read Matthew 2:1-12
How does Herod’s reaction to the news of the Messiah’s birth reveal his character and priorities? In what ways might Herod’s fear and jealousy be present in our own lives or in our culture today? How can we be more like the magi than like Herod?

How can we, like the magi, seek out and worship Jesus so that we may worship Him with our whole hearts, minds, and souls? What practical steps can we take to deepen our relationship with Him? What have you done recently that has helped you in this way?

While we don’t know exactly where the magi came from, it could have taken them more than a year to arrive in Israel. With a journey that long, there were likely hardships that may have caused the magi to consider turning around. But they didn’t. We also have hardships on our journey through life. When things get hard and seem complicated, what do you do?

The religious leaders knew where the Messiah was to be born but didn’t go to see Him. Herod asked the magi to report back to him. Do you ever rely on others to do for you what you should be doing yourself? For example, do you ask others to pray for you, but you don’t spend time in prayer yourself? In what ways is it important to be a self-feeder? In what ways are we called, as a body of believers, to support and edify one another in community?

When the wise men saw the star again, they “rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” What brings you joy in your faith? How do you cultivate a heart of rejoicing, especially when the journey feels long or unclear? What is your level of joy during Christmas?

The magi offered costly gifts to Jesus that acknowledged His kingship and purpose. If you were to give Jesus a gift today that reflects your worship and love for Him, what would it be and why? How might you worship Christ through your time, talents, resources, and attitude in this season?

The star served as a guide that led the wise men to Jesus. What led you to Jesus? How can your life be a “star” that points others to Christ? Who in your life might be searching for Jesus, and how can you help guide them?

The star led the wise men to Jesus, meeting them where they were as astronomers. In what ways has God uniquely guided you based on your background, gifts, or interests? How can you be more attentive to His guidance in your life?