Bible Studies
Matthew 2:1-12 – Following the Star
Key Verses: (NRSV)
- 1: “Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.” – Probably astrologers and, perhaps, aware of scriptural references to the coming of the Messiah, the wise men followed the signs to Bethlehem where they expected to find a new king.
- 3: “When King Herod heard this, he was frightened…” – Frightened of change? Frightened of disturbing the status quo? Frightened that his kingship was in jeopardy? Evidently, he was feeling very insecure by the message of the travelers.
- 10: “When they saw the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.” – Their travels had exceeded hundreds of miles and, possibly, two or three years. With their destination finally in sight, the truth of the situation overwhelmed them with tears of joy and happiness.
- 11: “they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.” – How they knew is unclear but the dedication of their spirit and openness of their hearts were evident in the manner in which they worshipped this young child.
- 11b: “they offered him gifts…” – Not only gifts befitting a king, but, possibly the resources used by Mary and Joseph to escape to Egypt.
- 12: “they left for their own country by another road.” – Travel plans had become altered. Their lives were changed. Things would never be the same as they once were.
- Are you seeking God?
Promises of the Gospel:
The specifics of how the wise men knew where to go, if there was a star or an alignment of planets, if they were from all parts of the world or simply from Babylon, or if there were more travelers than indicated by the three gifts mentioned by Matthew are not important facts in this story. This story models for us how we are to search for God in our lives, to what extent we are willing to go, how we respond to Christ’s love, and what we do once we find it. We are to follow the light of Christ, forever changed, to reflect the power of His love to the world around us.
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Very good article with heart searching and thought provoking questions.
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