Christmas Series
06/03/2019, by John Kincaid
Lesson 2082: Herod & the Wise Men - Matt.2:1-12
Imagine wise men in royal robes, kneeling in a stable to worship a baby in a cattle trough.
They brought expensive gifts:
gold, which acknowledges the royalty of Jesus the King;
frankincense, a fragrance burned in the temple, for Jesus the future priest;
and myrrh, used for medicine and embalming, predicting Christ's suffering and death.
Myrrh appears 3 times in the Gospels: wise men, Jesus on the cross Mark 15:23, Jesus’ burial John 19:39
Herod was an Edomite, hated by Jews. He was not the rightful king; his job was in jeopardy.
The people of Edom were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother.
Herod was insanely jealous, insecure, wicked, failing as king; contrast the true king of the Jews.
Herod was sneaky; he asked when the star appeared, trying to pinpoint the age of the child.
Amazingly, Herod did not send anyone to follow the wise men. Even the Jewish religious leaders didn't go to see if the Messiah had been born. Matt.2:3-4
Just think how much the scribes knew about the Messiah, but how little they used it.
Herod did not trust anyone around him; he thought that they were all plotting against him.
He probably wanted to kill the Magi, because their question implied "Where is the real king?"
Wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. Matt.2:12 They went home by another way.
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