Wise Men

Men seek wealth, honor, power and may be filled with a certain pride of achievement, but it doesn't last, they always want more.

1 Tim 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

They are never truly satisfied until they seek and find the Lord.

Mat 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,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Tradition has it that they were three kings, but they were astronomers and probably more then three. Perhaps these were influenced by Daniel and his revelations?
The wise men knew what they were looking for and were looking for a sign. They came to worship the Messiah. They were following a star, a sign in the heavens. We are not to go to seers, diviners, or sorcerers for spiritual direction, but many do. We go to the LORD. The wise men had to hear from the scriptures to know where the Messiah was to be born.

Worldly Counsel

Mic 3:7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

The people had no idea that a king had come. Herod was troubled and filled with jealousy and fear. Perhaps the people knew of Herod's ways and feared for what would be coming. Herod was a ruthless cruel king even killing members of his own family.

Counsel from the Scriptures

Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
They needed further revelation from the prophetic scriptures.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

A ruler is born in Bethlehem who came from old, from everlasting. The everlasting king of the Jews is born in Bethlehem.

Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Herod sends the wise men to Bethlehem to inform him when the Messiah is found. The lying King said that he would worship him too, but the devil was in him. He would try to destroy the Messiah. Satan opposed Jesus from the start and will oppose his servants today and until he is judged by Jesus, the Christ, at the end time.

Gifts for the Messiah

Mat 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

I remember once riding a motorcycle with a full moon before me. The trees seemed to move by swiftly, but the moon remained in its distant position. Real stars are like the moon, distant and unreachable.A rocket may go to the moon, but the stars remain distant. To go to the sun, a star, you would burn up. This was a special star, a glowing star made by God that led the wise men to where the Christ child was staying.

Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

True worshippers rejoice at the presence of the Lord. The scribes and pharisees and the people that the Messiah came to bless, were uninterested and at the most frightened. How will you feel at the presence of our Lord?

Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The baby no longer was in the stable. This meeting occurred sometime afterwards, for they were living in a house, but still in Bethlehem. It was not a permanent home, there home town was Nazareth.
The wise men fell down and worshipped him. They knew he was the Messiah. The Lord that guided them by the strange star also guided them in their hearts by His Spirit.
The wise men brought gifts to the messiah:
gold for his royalty as king of kings
frankincense, a sweet smelling fragrance for the great high priest, (Exo 30:34-37) who would offer himself a sacrifice, being the atonement for our sins.
myrrh, a spice for his burial. They wrapped the body with white linen, using aloe and Myrrh, as spices. (John 19:39-40)

Warned in a Dream from God

Mat 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

They were following God and hearing him in a dream. They were believers connected by the spirit of God to God the Father. They obeyed the Father and not the wicked king. They went home another way, not giving any information to the King.
When it comes to living and walking in truth, we obey God before earthly authorities. The apostles said it well when they were told to not witness for God.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

There are many perils in the lives of those serving our Lord. Satan is our enemy and he controls most of the world. God is our help, His Spirit our guide. As he guided the wise men and Joseph, he will guide us. We are of the light and the truth. Our God is greater then the god of the world.
Wise men and women still seek Jesus. We give him the gift of our needy lives and he gives us eternal life and the gifts of his Spirit. He makes us vessels of honor for his glory.

Into Egypt

Mat 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

The angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream, apparently soon after the wise men departed with a warning and a command from God. Arise now, take the baby and Mary and flee into Egypt. Joseph had heard from the Lord before and believed. The just shall live by faith obeying God. There was no need to question, we are to obey. God sees the future and He is our guide.
He was told to stay until he heard again from God. How many of us let God direct our paths? Do we go as the Spirit leads us and do we stay until He says to move again? This requires a closeness to God, to be able to know his will. God wanted to be sure Joseph understood, because Jesus was in danger from Herod. " Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

Mat 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Mat 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Herod was so mad with jealousy, that he would kill his potential rival, to be sure of this, he had all the children under 2 years old killed who were in the region of Bethlehem. Another prophecy is fulfilled.

Mat 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Jer 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Rachel had been buried in Bethlehem.

Mat 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Mat 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

All is clear, come home again. Satan seeks to steal and kill and to destroy but we have the Lord protecting us. Who satan has divided and scattered, the Lord will bring back home.

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.

Jesus of Nazareth

Mat 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

The angel having told Joseph to return to his home, because Herod was dead. Historians have said that when Herod was near death that he ordered the most prominent leaders in Israel to be held. When Herod died, they were to be put to death. No one would mourn Herod's death, but there would be tears shed over the death of these beloved people. This is the way of satan, he is a destroyer. The work of satan is to destroy that which is good, to try to take as many to death and hell as possible. Hell is the place of torment that souls are kept until the final judgment. After the judgment, satan, death and hell will be thrown into the lake of fire, a place of eternal torment.
Satan knows that his end is eternal torment in the lake of fire. He wants to deceive all he can by false light; the lusts of the world and the pride of life, so that when he is destroyed, many others who were created for Gods pleasure, would be destroyed with him. That is why Jesus came, to destroy the work of satan. To save you and me from sins payment. To restore us to the place of children of God, beloved children who belong to the God of creation who is good and loving and merciful. Come to Jesus and be saved from the destroyer.

Mat 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Archelaus was ruthless like his father Herod. Because of this Joseph being warned in a dream, did not return to Bethlehem.

Mat 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Nazareth comes from the Hebrew word "netzer" meaning "branch" or "sprout." It is used figuratively for that which is lowly or despised. The Messiah was lowly and despised by the world who knew him not.

Who are the wise?

Prov 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Prov 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Prov 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Godly Contentment

Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Phil 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Be yoked with Jesus, not the devil and he will give you the desires of your heart.