Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, I. The wise men SEEKING Christ. 1. They are presented to us here as seekers. 2. They were earnest seekers. 3. They sought Christ reverently. 4. God assisted them in the search. II. The wise men FINDING Christ. 1. They were seeking a person. 2. That person must be a king. 3. They sought a king and found a child. 4. Having found the child their seeking came to an end. 5. They worshipped Him. (J. C. Jones.)Jesus was the beginner of a new era, the founder of a new kingdom, hailed as a King alike at His birth and on His cross. I. THE SEEKERS. Magic not magicians; astronomers, not astrologers; scientists, not wizards. The coming of these wise men prophetic of the time when all the trophies of science should be laid at the Saviour's feet. II. THE SIGN. "His star." Various conjectures. God never lacks the means to guide earnest inquirers. III. THE SEARCH. Earnest. Gave up friends and home, and took a wearisome journey. Every follower of Christ must have the same spirit. No earthly joy is entirely satisfactory. Men will not earnestly seek Christ till firmly convinced of the unsatisfactory nature of other "things. Persevering: many discouragements. IV. THE SUCCESS. Not where they expected it, in the capital; not even in the best place in Bethlehem, yet where their soul-hunger was satisfied — the "house of bread." They came not empty-handed, trot presented first themselves, then their gifts. The typical nature of these gifts. Around the manger was gathered a prophetic group. (Richard Roberts.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, |
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