SERIES: The Gift MESSAGE: The Gift of Gold SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-11

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1 SERIES: The Gift MESSAGE: The Gift of Gold SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-11 MESSAGE SUMMARY Today, we begin considering the Advent season the coming of God s Son into the world through physical birth. We will examine the three gifts given by the magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, looking at one gift each week. It s the sincere hope of our staff that Christ will occupy center stage in your life during this season and that the three roles Jesus plays, as signified by these gifts, would become a reality in your life now and always. STUDY GUIDE Since when is the night of any baby s birth silent? Christmas cards and carols have long been the source of much of the confusion about the nature and purpose of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and how that first Christmas night actually went down. Of all involved in the Christmas story, perhaps none have had their nature and purpose as muddled in confusion as the wise men from the East (Matthew 2:1) that visited Jesus and brought Him gifts. Out of Matthew 2:1-11, Pastor Skip gleaned three considerations that enable us to see past the confusion about the wise men as we take a closer look at the gift of gold that they brought Jesus. First, there was a question about a coming King (see vv. 1-2). Consider that these wise men unlike many in Israel were anticipating the birth of this King through their knowledge of the Scriptures and were willing to make a long and difficult journey, bringing Him meaningful, prophetic, and costly gifts. Mostly because they brought three gifts and because of the carol titled We Three Kings, there is a false notion that there were only three magoi, or wise men. However, it would have likely taken a large entourage of them to catch Herod s attention to the point of garnering an audience with him. Religiously, they are believed to have been Zoroastrians, followers of the monotheistic teachings of Zoroaster. In addition to whatever other religious teachings these magi studied, they were obviously students of the Old Testament. They asked a question that the prophet Daniel had primed their pump to ask: Where is He who has been born the King of the Jews? (v. 2). The amazing thing is that even foreigners were looking for this King. Look up Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5; 52:7-10; Jeremiah 33:14-16; and Zechariah 9:9. What do these passages say about this King? Next, we see the reaction of the current king (see vv. 3-8). It was the magi s use of the word King that troubled Herod. He was unnerved and deeply perturbed by the idea that there could be a Jewish-born king that would compete with him. He had risen to power on the coattails of his father, Antipater. History records that Herod took over for his father and was given the title of Herod the Great, King of the Jews. He retained his inherited power from a position of extreme paranoia, insecurity, viciousness, and cruelty. Herod felt threatened by others that he thought could take away his power and position, even to the point of killing his own sons and other relatives. It was he who attempted to Page 1

2 kill Jesus by ordering all newborn boys to be killed around the time of Jesus birth. Despite Herod s extreme measures, God s plan could not be thwarted. How do you focus on God s kingdom this time of year and not on the world s plan to minimize and eliminate Him? Finally, in the best part of this passage, we see the adoration for the only competent king, Jesus Christ (see vv. 9-12). Notice that the magi worshiped Him before they gave Him gifts. The lesson for us is that before we give anything to Christ, we must give our entire selves to Him in worship. You might say that the giving of themselves to Him through worship was the first gift they gave, and their second gift was gold. Throughout history, gold has symbolized wealth and is the typical metal associated with and used by kings. If you were ever to appear before a king with a gift, you had better bring gold. It reminds us that Jesus is preeminently the King, and these kingmakers the magi recognized that this was the King, the King of the Jews. Read 2 Samuel 24:24. What does this passage say about worship and its cost? Have you given Him your heart before you ve given of your time, talent, and treasure? In conclusion, ask yourself these questions: Are you like Herod, following the star of self, who purported to be a worshiper of God but was actually only a worshiper of himself? Are you following the star of the religious, who didn t even get up to go see if the Messiah had been born? Or are you like the magi, looking for the King to bow down to and worship? Jesus is the King, but is He your King? Are you a servant and subject of King Jesus? If Jesus is your King, then you will be different. Consider that the magi departed a different way after meeting Him (see v. 12). When Jesus becomes your King, you go away differently than how you came. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The magi s gift of gold speaks of the King who makes all things new. Adapted from Pastor Skip s teaching The BIG Idea Is Jesus the King of your family, your marriage, your work life, and your thought life? DETAILED NOTES I. Introduction A. Lots of people get information about Christmas solely from Christmas cards and carols B. Of all the people in the Christmas story, the group that has the most confusion surrounding it is the wise men 1. The text says nothing about their number 2. However many there were, it was enough to make Herod troubled an army or entourage 3. The text does not say they were kings from the Orient 4. They were spiritual advisors, kingmakers, probably from ancient Persia 5. They did not come on Christmas night; Jesus was a child when they came C. We begin with their gift of gold, the metal of kings II. Question about a Coming King (vv. 1-2) A. Many legends, myths, and traditions have developed around the wise men B. Wise men is the Greek word magoi, where we get magi C. Greek historian Herodotus said they came from ancient Media, or Persia Page 2

3 1. They were a priestly caste of Medes, from Parthia and Mesopotamia 2. They became advisors to kings and different monarchies 3. Skilled in philosophy and science, interpreters of dreams 4. Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic religion that worshiped Ahura Mazda D. Wise men appear in the Old Testament in the book of Daniel 1. Among the highest ranking officers in Nebuchadnezzar's court in Babylon 2. Daniel saved their lives and was placed as the chief of the magi (see Daniel 2) 3. Why would people from Persia come to Jerusalem asking the question in verse 2? a. Daniel had primed the pump of their ancestors b. Daniel 2; 9; Many Jews stayed in Babylon and had the Scriptures a. The magi had access to all the prophetic Scriptures b. Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 9:2 E. Even foreign pagan worshipers understood that somebody significant had been born, the King of the Jews III. Reaction of the Current King (vv. 3-8) A. Herod was troubled Greek tarassó, greatly perturbed, highly agitated B. Why was all Jerusalem troubled? Because Herod was troubled! C. Herod was troubled by the word king, a word of competition; Herod was called the king of the Jews D. Herod was not Jewish; he was an Idumean 1. He took over Judea after his father, Antipater, died 2. Herod killed any possible rivals 3. He was cruel and paranoid 4. He later attempted to kill Jesus Himself (see Matthew 2:16) IV. Adoration for the Competent King (vv. 9-11) A. The wise men went into a house and saw Jesus as a child B. Before they gave their gifts, they gave their hearts 1. They worshiped Him, then they gave their presents to Him 2. Before we give any of our time, our talents, and our treasure, we have to give ourselves, our heart C. Gold is mentioned 385 times in Scripture, more than any other metal 1. Was considered the most precious of all metals, the emblem of wealth and royalty 2. More than any other metal, it was associated with kings D. The theme of the gospel of Matthew is that Jesus Christ is the King 1. It's not surprising that he included the story of eastern Gentile kingmakers coming and presenting to Jesus the gift fit for a king gold 2. Church historian Tertullian believed that the gifts of the wise men fulfilled Isaiah 60:5 E. What the gift of gold practically meant to a very poor couple 1. We don't know what they did with the gold 2. Maybe they used it to finance their trip to and from Egypt (see Matthew 2:13-15) F. We worship the Lord because He is King G. In the New Testament Page 3

4 1. The kingdom of heaven is mentioned seventy times and the kingdom of God thirty-two times times the idea of a kingdom and a King associated with Jesus is mentioned 3. We should be worshiping Him not just as our Savior, but our King, our Sovereign H. John 12:12-13 I. Matthew 27:37; John 19:19 J. Revelation 19:16 V. Closing A. Do you worship Him as your King? Are you His subject, His servant? Is He on the throne, or are you on the throne? B. Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2 C. Jesus paid for you; He bought you; He owns you D. Are you like Herod, the religious leaders, or the magi? 1. Herod followed the star of self, though he claimed to be a worshiper 2. The religious leaders followed the star of religion; they knew all the right answers but had all the wrong actions 3. The magi were looking for a King, and when they found that King, they worshiped Him E. Verse Whenever Jesus becomes your King, you will go out differently than how you came in 2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 F. Is He really King? Does He have the authority in your marriage, work life, thought life? G. Revelation 4:10 1. Why wait? 2. Let's cast any kind of rulership or ownership we're holding on to down before His throne Figures referenced: Herodotus, Herod the Great, Antipater, Tertullian Greek words: magoi, tarassó Cross references: Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 9:2; 60:5; Daniel 2; 9; 12; Matthew 2:1-16; 6:10; 27:37; Luke 11:2; John 12:12-13; 19:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 4:10; 19:16 Topic: Christmas Keywords: Christmas, wise men, magi, gifts, gold, Daniel, King of the Jews, the King, worship, Jesus Christ, authority Page 4

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