Wise Men Worshipping

Matthew 2:11

What a rare sight we have before us. Seldom do we find the wise of this world worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ. Compelled by both the Word of God (Rom. 1) and observation, we generally expect to find the worldly wise worshipping the creature rather than the Creator. But God has his elect even among the wise. Here are truly wise men, for they are spiritually wise. These men were wise, because they were taught of God. And those who are taught of God are well taught. Even if they are utterly illiterate in carnal learning, they are indescribably wiser than their peers, for they have the mind of Christ and understand all things (1 Cor. 2:12, 15, 16).

The Star

Those who are truly wise, spiritually wise, seek divine direction in all things; and those who seek direction from God shall have it (Prov. 3:5-6). If we would have our lives well ordered, we must seek to live by faith, seeking and obeying the will of God in all things. The written Word makes moral, spiritual, doctrinal decisions easy, if we are willing to submit to the will of God. There is never an excuse for error regarding these things.

It is, however, very often a matter of great difficulty determining what we should do in the ordinary course, choices, and decisions of life, where no moral, spiritual, doctrinal issue is involved. Yet, it is written, “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Of this you may be sure: -- As God sent a special star to direct these men in their way, he will send special stars in providence to direct our steps day by day to walk in his will and in his way, if we seek his will and his way, and not our own.

The Place

These wise men, though obviously wealthy, were not turned away from worshipping Christ because they found him in a poor man’s house, a village cottage, rather than in a gorgeously decorated palace. .Is this the Christ, the Savior of the world? Is this the King of the Jews and the Prince of the kings of the earth? Yes, this is he! Though he was rich, yet, for our sakes, he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich!

Their Worship

Being taught of God, these men saw in the face of the child the glory of God. They knew him to be the Only-begotten of the Father full of grace and truth, and worshipped him. They did not worship Herod, though he was a king. They did not worship Mary, though she was a virtuous woman. It would have been shameless idolatry for them to worship those sinful creatures. But “they fell down, and worshipped him.” All who know Christ fall down before him, adore him, and submit themselves to him as their Lord, their God, and their King. This is the wisdom of the wisest of men. By this it is made manifest that they know him and are known of him.

Wise Men Giving Matthew 2:11

All who seek Christ find him. All who find him worship him. All who worship him consecrate themselves to him. And all who consecrate themselves to him honor him with their substance. All who know and worship the Lord Jesus Christ bring their gifts to him.

Gave Themselves

They first gave themselves to the Lord (2 Cor. 8:5). Then, they brought their gifts. If we would give anything to God and be accepted of him, we must first give ourselves to him. Our gifts must be a reflection and a representation of the fact that we belong to God, lock, stock, and barrel. Otherwise, our “gifts,” be they ever so great, are but a cloak to cover our hypocrisy.

Their Gifts

These wise men gave what they gave freely, without constraint of law, without seeking gain for themselves, with no strings attached. They did not seek to control what was done with their gifts, because, when they “opened their treasures,” their gifts were presented to the Lord. Without question, Joseph was the one who handled, used, and distributed the gifts as they were needed and where. But the gifts were not given to Joseph, or to Mary, or to the Church. They were given to the Lord.

Those who make gifts to churches, missionaries, pastors, or individuals, and then attach strings, telling them how to use the gifts, do not give at all. They seek to manipulate and control. Still worse, they insult the people responsible for handling “their” money. The strings attached say, “you cannot be trusted.”

These men gave generously, willingly, with cheerful hearts, according to their ability, as the result of deliberate purpose on their part (2 Cor. 8:12; 19; 9:6-7). What man in his right senses would even think about coming to the King without a suitable gift, expressing his love for and devotion to his sovereign? These wise men gave, because they loved Christ. They gave as unto the Lord.

They gave gifts of “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Gold was a gift for royalty. Frankincense was an essential ingredient in the incense offered only to God (Ex. 30:34). Myrrh was used as both perfume and medicine, to make life more pleasant, pain more bearable, and burial less repulsive. The gifts of the wise men, then, were gifts of gold to Christ as our King, frankincense to Christ as our God, and myrrh to Christ as a man who came here to die.

Though the wise men themselves had no idea how their gifts would be used, the Lord God condescended to use the gold they gave to supply the physical, material needs of Joseph, Mary, and the Lord Jesus during their long period of exile in Egypt.

This is God’s way. As faithful churches, pastors, and missionaries carry Christ into the world by the preaching of the gospel, their physical, material needs are bountifully supplied by God as he directs willing men and women to give generously, according to their ability, as unto the Lord. The poor, helpless, useless gods of men, need bake sales, rummage sales, raffles, bond issues, pledges, and laws to squeeze money out of men.