1. God with the Wise
Matthew 1:18 – 2:12 (p )
December 5, 2010

2. God’s titles & names – describe who and what he is and does
The God Who Is With Us
God’s titles & names – describe who and what he is and does
Emmanuel / Immanuel = “God with us”
Isaiah 7:14
Jesus = “the Lord saves”

3. God with the Wise - Magi Magi God revealed himself to the Magi
considered to be wise; hence “wise men”
studied astronomy/astrology
came ‘from the east’ (not Israelites)
God revealed himself to the Magi
The star (2:2, 2:9b)
God’s people – They went to Jerusalem home of Herod the King, chief priests, teachers of the law (religious leaders)
God’s Word – prophet Micah said the Messiah would come from Bethlehem (Mic 5:2, 4)
They followed!

4. God with the Wise - Magi Magi’s response: JOY WORSHIP OFFERING
2:10 “they were overjoyed” (TNIV); “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” (NASB)
WORSHIP
2:11a “the bowed down and worshiped him”
OFFERING
2:11b “they opened their treasures [resources] and presented him with gifts”
ANOTHER WAY
2:12 “having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route [way]”
Magi – Symbolic of God’s open invitation to ALL people

5. God with the Wise – Herod & Religious Leaders
Herod & religious leaders were considered powerful & ‘wise’
Herod
cold, calculating, shrewd
people feared him
Herod sought wisdom from others:
Religious leaders for the birthplace of the new king
Magi for info about the star, and to report the whereabouts of the baby after the Magi find him

6. God with the Wise – Herod & Religious Leaders
Herod & religious leaders had a chance to respond with worship & offering (like the Magi)
But did they?
No! They held onto their own forms of ‘wisdom’ instead.
1 Cor 1:25 “The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

7. Responding to God
Emmanuel, our God with us, reveals himself in many ways:
in your personal area of passion, interest, study, etc
community of faith
Word of God / Bible
How do we respond?

8. Responding to God Will you reject him like Herod did?
Will you embrace him like the Magi did?
Recall: Joy, Worship, Offering, following another Way