The visit of the Magi and massacre of the innocent. Matthew 2 The visit of the Magi and massacre of the innocent.

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; it shall crush the forehead of Moab     and break down all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17 (ESV)

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. 2 Samuel 7:16 (ESV)

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,     and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 (ESV)

The Jews looked forward to a day in which the king and the kingdom of Israel would be restored.

Three groups of people

Three groups of people The Magi

Three groups of people The Magi Herod and his court

Three groups of people The Magi Herod and his court The Jews

Ironies in this account

Ironies in this account The Magi

Ironies in this account The Magi The gospel of Matthew is written to encourage Jews to view Jesus as their messiah and king,

Ironies in this account The Magi The gospel of Matthew is written to encourage Jews to view Jesus as their messiah and king, yet the first people to come worship the king were gentiles.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 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)

Ironies in this account The Magi The gospel of Matthew is written to encourage Jews to view Jesus as their messiah and king, yet the first people to come worship the king were gentiles. Why were gentiles the first to come?

Ironies in this account The Magi The gospel of Matthew is written to encourage Jews to view Jesus as their messiah and king, yet the first people to come worship the king were gentiles. Why were gentiles the first to come? How did they find out about the prophesy?

The king of the Jews was never supposed to be just the king of the Jews.

The king claimed all nations would acknowledge him. The king of the Jews was never supposed to be just the king of the Jews. The king claimed all nations would acknowledge him.

The king claimed all nations would acknowledge him. The king of the Jews was never supposed to be just the king of the Jews. The king claimed all nations would acknowledge him. Thus, these gentiles demonstrated the truth of God’s word.

Jews had lived in the east (the Persian Empire) since the time of the Babylonian captivity.

Jews had lived in the east (the Persian Empire) since the time of the Babylonian captivity. While there they came into contact with the leaders and thinkers of their land.

These learned men took the prophesies seriously. Jews had lived in the east (the Persian Empire) since the time of the Babylonian captivity. While there they came into contact with the leaders and thinkers of their land. These learned men took the prophesies seriously.

Ironies in this account Herod and his court

Ironies in this account Herod and his court Herod reacts with deception and violence to the news that a king might have been born.

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Matthew 2:16 (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; it shall crush the forehead of Moab     and break down all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17 (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; it shall crush the forehead of Moab     and break down all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17 (ESV)

Ironies in this account Herod and his court Herod reacts with deception and violence to the news that a king might have been born. Herod was an Idumaean. He was an Edomite.

Ironies in this account Herod and his court Herod reacts with deception and violence to the news that a king might have been born. Herod was an Idumaean. He was an Edomite. He took the prophesy seriously.

Ironies in this account The Jews

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.’”

Ironies in this account The Jews They lived in Jerusalem, a mere five miles from the baby in Bethlehem.

Ironies in this account The Jews They lived in Jerusalem, a mere five miles from the baby in Bethlehem. The magi probably took a year to organize their expedition, and it took them another year to travel to the baby.

Ironies in this account The Jews They lived in Jerusalem, a mere five miles from the baby in Bethlehem. The magi probably took a year to organize their expedition, and it took them another year to travel to the baby. The Jews appear to be indifferent.

The magi’s act of devotion may have had lasting consequences.

The magi’s act of devotion may have had lasting consequences. We need to guard against the sin of indifference.