More Will Be Given • Matthew 2

40:21 Teaching begins

Notes

We know that Jesus’ coming into the world was God’s way of saying peace on earth, good will toward men.

But sending His Son into the world was a dangerous undertaking. There were enemies that wanted to kill Him.

What we see is that God knew they were coming centuries before they thought of it. He is well able to protect those who are His and to accomplish His will. Though this world is dangerous to those who seek the Lord, He protects and gives peace.

I’m reading in Matthew chapter two.

1. These magi are a unique work of God.

A. Magi is plural of magus. They were a priestly group found in various ancient nations. They studied the stars to find wisdom to direct affairs on earth. They were counselors to the ruling classes.

B. God evidently revealed Himself to this particular group of men.

1. It doesn’t say how it happened. Did they begin reading the Jewish Scriptures? Did God give them dreams?

2. Somehow they noticed this star, or more accurately, this source of light in the heavens, and in some way God communicated to them its significance, that His Messiah, the King of the Jews, had been born. And that’s all they knew.

C. These men responded to the revelation they received from God.

1. What do you do when God shows you something? He reveals things to you—now what? The answer is: He showed it to you so that you would respond to it, and He would give you more.

2. On the night Jesus was born God revealed the news to shepherds. Angels appeared and praised God and told the shepherds. They responded to that revelation by saying, let’s go see what the angel told us. They searched and found the Messiah on the day of His birth, just as the angel told them. Of all people, they got to see the Messiah on day one.

3. I don’t think the magi immediately dropped everything and start off for Israel. I don’t think it took two years for them to make the journey. But they did think about it and they decided to respond to the revelation they had been given in just the same way as the shepherds. If this is the King of the Jews, the Messiah, let’s seek Him, let’s find Him, let’s worship Him.

D. This is a principle. When God shows you something, it’s for you to respond to Him. If you respond to Him and seek Him, then He gives you more.

2. The magi arrive in Jerusalem, explain what they are doing, and throw the city into turmoil.

A. All they know is that the King of the Jews has been born. They don’t really know where to find Him. A natural way to start: Go to the center of the worship of God on earth and ask for directions. They are God’s people and probably way ahead of you and they can help you get where you want to go. Is that a fair guess?

B. It seems probable that with their high status as magi they come in to Jerusalem as foreign dignitaries, almost as ambassadors. They go right to Herod, exchange a few diplomatic pleasantries, then get to the point. We’re here because the King of the Jews has been born and we want to worship Him.

C. Nobody knows what they are talking about. King of the Jews? The Messiah? Born, you say. Hmmm. Really?

D. Herod is troubled. Anxious, fearful, worried, apprehensive about the future. Not hope, dread. He has been king of the Jews for the last 37 years. He got in good with Caesar Augustus and Augustus made him king in return for services and loyalty. He’s thinking, what do you mean, the King of the Jews has been born. I’m king!

E. All Jerusalem is troubled because Herod is troubled. He has been almost paranoid about anyone trying to take his place. He planned, fought, intrigued his way to power. He has already killed two of his sons and his favourite wife because he suspected their motives. Caesar Augustus knew that Herod kept Jewish kosher food laws because he was trying to appeal to the Jews that he ruled. So Augustus’ little joke was that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than to be Herod’s son.

3. Herod takes steps to safeguard his rule and oppose this danger of another king, even if it’s the Messiah Himself.

A. He calls a meeting with the chief priests and experts in the Scriptures to ask them where the Messiah is to be born. They know the answer, Micah 5:2. It has to be Bethlehem.

B. Then he calls a secret meeting with the magi.

1. He says, guys, I know where you need to go: Bethlehem. I have been assured by our best men that that’s where He is to be born. Now I have a favor to ask: when you find Him let me know so I can worship Him too.

2. This is secret because Herod doesn’t want to make a big deal. Killing the Messiah would probably not be cool, so let’s be secret about this.

4. The magi find what they have been seeking.

A. They leave Herod and they see the star they saw in the East. Probably not a star but some phenomenon in the heavens. It moves! It can’t be a star. But it’s up there.

B. They rejoice exceedingly.

1. It’s been a two year process since discovering the star. Seeing it, realising that it’s from God, and that it has meaning. The Messiah of God has been born. They decide to follow up, make a long, dangerous, demanding journey. Then the shock of coming to the center of God’s worship and they haven’t heard anything, they don’t know what you’re talking about.

2. But here’s the star again. They know that this is from God, that God wants them to find His King, He wants them to get there. The last two years has not been in vain. They’re not there yet, haven’t seen anything yet, but they are rejoicing greatly because they know everything that they have experienced is about to be fulfilled. This is it!

C. They come in to the house and they worship.

1. They humble themselves greatly before this child. These are distinguished men of years and experience. They are men of stature and dignity. This is a two-year old child. But they know that He is God come as a human. The Creator, the Judge of all the earth. All things are from Him and for Him. They bow down because that’s who you are in the presence of God, low, humble. It’s all about Him.

2. They present gifts to Him. Gold is valuable, precious. The frankincense and the myrrh are pleasing, aromatic, and also precious.

3. Why present a gift to God? That’s a question in Psalm 116:12 What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? What do you give God? Does He need money to buy something? How do you make a return to God? What do you give Him that has any value at all?

4. You know that the offering is really a substitute for the worshipper. It symbolises the Messiah, but it also symbolises me, the worshipper. That’s me I’m offering to God. Your life is the most valuable thing you have. When you offer it to the Lord, your life is valuable to Him, even more than perishable gold. Your life becomes a sweet-smelling aroma, pleasing to Him.

5. God has led these men from very far away to very close to Himself. He gave them a little light, a little revelation. They responded and God gave them more. Now they are in His very presence, offering their lives and becoming valuable and pleasing to Him.

D. Here’s the principle, Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

5. God shows that He is well able to protect His people and fulfill His will.

A. When the magi leave God warns them not to go back to Herod. They are used to following God’s leading. Whatever God says is fine by me. Who needs Herod when you’ve seen Jesus?

B. That very night the magi leave an angel warns Joseph to go to Egypt right now. Herod will search for the Child to destroy Him. Joseph obeys immediately. They leave that night. Nobody sees them go. No one can say anything to Herod.

C. Herod is enraged, seriously displeased. He was afraid it might be true—the King of the Jews has been born. When the magi don’t return he figures they found Him and they are playing me for a fool. Mocking me! So he strikes blindly to try to kill the Messiah. He’s got to be two years old or maybe younger. So he sends soldiers to kill every male child two years old and younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas. But God takes care of Herod. He lets him die naturally. What about those innocent children he killed? Now it’s judgment time. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

D. Then after Herod’s death God lets Joseph know: the coast is clear. You can come back now. They’re all dead who sought the Child. But then Joseph doesn’t want to live in Judea because Herod’s son is ruling, and God agrees. Go to Nazareth.

6. God knows what He is doing. He knows how to take care of His own. He’s fulfilling Scripture written centuries earlier.

A. God knew Herod would seek to kill Jesus. Sending Him down to Egypt was always part of His plan to protect Him. So He had it written down in the prophet Hosea.

B. God knew that Herod would kill the innocent children in Bethlehem, so He wrote it down in Jeremiah 31:15.

C. Then this last quotation of the prophets is not one single location. The meaning of it is that the prophets show that the Messiah would be despised and rejected by men.

1. Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. It’s not an exalted bough, it’s a twig, a shoot, a little growth. Humble and not a lot to look at or marvel over.

2. The branch is a word that is related to the name Nazareth. Nazareth was a dump filled with lowlifes. Not an exalted place. Nathanael called it rightly when he said, He’s from Nazareth? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? And the Messiah was known and crucified as Jesus of Nazareth.

D. God knew the dangers He was sending His Son into centuries before He did it. He used the dangers to fulfill His word. He shows He is well able to protect and defend His people.

7. So what?

A. This first coming of Jesus into the world was met with hostility and deadly force. We should not be surprised that His second coming will be much more intense. All the governments of the earth will oppose Him.

B. God wrote these things down thousands of years ago. He is sending us the message: He knows what men will do. He is well able to take care of His people.

C. We are not to live in fear of what the government will do, like Jerusalem lived in fear of Herod. They knew nothing of the coming of the Messiah, and when they did learn they did not respond to that light. Herod didn’t help by doing all he could to cover up the light.

D. We are to be like the magi and say, well I’m not from these parts, I’m a stranger here on earth. God has shown me that He sent His Son into the world. I’m here to seek what I have been shown. I’m responding to Him and seeing what more He gives, because there’s always more. When He helps me find Him I will worship Him. I will offer my life to Him. If there is trouble then I can depend upon Jesus to steer me and guide me through. He promised long ago that He would never leave me or forsake me so that I can confidently say, the Lord is my helper; what can man do to me?

E. Has God shown Himself to you? Did He reveal Himself to you in Jesus? Are you responding to Him?

1. Matthew 13:12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

2. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Let’s pray.