magi moments matthew 2: 1-12. a faithful god who gives light matthew’s work was predominately for...

Magi MomentsMagi Moments

Matthew 2: 1-12Matthew 2: 1-12

A Faithful God WhoA Faithful God WhoGives LightGives Light

Matthew’s work was predominately for Matthew’s work was predominately for JewsJews

Surprisingly, we find very early on a group Surprisingly, we find very early on a group of Gentiles seeking the new baby king.of Gentiles seeking the new baby king.

They are called They are called MAGIMAGI


We Three Kings of Orient AreWe Three Kings of Orient Are

Don’t know how many there wereDon’t know how many there were

Probably not from the far east or orient as Probably not from the far east or orient as we think of it todaywe think of it today


Pretty certain they were not kingsPretty certain they were not kings

Many incorrect notionsMany incorrect notions

Martin Vincent, Martin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Word Studies in the New TestamentTestament


Herodotus: Magi were a priestly cast of the Herodotus: Magi were a priestly cast of the MedesMedes

They were active in Babylon and They were active in Babylon and Mesopotamia in Old Testament timesMesopotamia in Old Testament times

Probably from what would today be Iran Probably from what would today be Iran and Iraqand Iraq


Originally monotheists who followed the Originally monotheists who followed the religion of Zoroastrianismreligion of Zoroastrianism

Offered blood sacrificesOffered blood sacrifices

Had a hereditary priesthoodHad a hereditary priesthood


Involved in demonic, occult practicesInvolved in demonic, occult practices

Divination of dreamsDivination of dreams

SorcerySorcery

AstrologyAstrology


Our word MAGIC is derived from their Our word MAGIC is derived from their name.name.

They were also the wise men of their They were also the wise men of their cultureculture

They were the scientists, philosophers, They were the scientists, philosophers, mathematicians, doctors, and mathematicians, doctors, and legal legal authoritiesauthorities


They helped craft lawsThey helped craft laws

Our word Our word MAGISTRATEMAGISTRATE is a descendent is a descendent of the word MAGIof the word MAGI


Jeremiah 39:3Jeremiah 39:3

Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag mag (chief magi)(chief magi)

Daniel 1:20;2:2; 4:7; 5:11Daniel 1:20;2:2; 4:7; 5:11

They were serving in the court of They were serving in the court of NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar


We see them, therefore, beside DanielWe see them, therefore, beside Daniel

Nebuchadnezzar defeated and destroyed Nebuchadnezzar defeated and destroyed Jerusalem in 587 BCJerusalem in 587 BC

He took captives and selected choice He took captives and selected choice young men to be trained for his courtyoung men to be trained for his court


Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-NegoNego

Daniel 2:48Daniel 2:48

Daniel was a devoted follower of GodDaniel was a devoted follower of God


God sent him ahead to plant the seed God sent him ahead to plant the seed among these Gentilesamong these Gentiles

He informed them of the true God and His He informed them of the true God and His coming Kingcoming King

Daniel 2:40-44Daniel 2:40-44


SuetoniusSuetonius

““There had spread over all the Orient an old There had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief that it was fated at that and established belief that it was fated at that time for men coming from Judea to rule the time for men coming from Judea to rule the world.”world.”


TacitusTacitus

““there was a firm persuasion that at this very there was a firm persuasion that at this very time the east was to grow powerful and rulers time the east was to grow powerful and rulers coming from Judea were to acquire a coming from Judea were to acquire a universal empire.”universal empire.”


People say they are looking for a signPeople say they are looking for a sign

CreationCreation

Prophets—over 300 times in the Old Prophets—over 300 times in the Old TestamentTestament


The Magi saw and respondedThe Magi saw and responded

Jesus lived, died, and rose againJesus lived, died, and rose again

Matthew responded to the lightMatthew responded to the light

People around you saw and respondedPeople around you saw and responded


God has shown Himself in history and in God has shown Himself in history and in His WordHis Word

Where the Word is not available He Where the Word is not available He sometimes gives light in other wayssometimes gives light in other ways

Everyone here has more light than the Everyone here has more light than the Magi or anyone who has a visionMagi or anyone who has a vision


The Question Is: Are You Really Looking?The Question Is: Are You Really Looking?

A Loving God WhoA Loving God WhoSends HopeSends Hope

They went home another wayThey went home another way

They went home another way also in that They went home another way also in that they could never be the same again.they could never be the same again.

They had given their allegiance to JesusThey had given their allegiance to Jesus


They now became missionariesThey now became missionaries

Daniel was an Old Testament missionary Daniel was an Old Testament missionary of sortsof sorts

Matthew was a missionaryMatthew was a missionary


Our call is to be missionariesOur call is to be missionaries

We must prayWe must pray

We must giveWe must give

We must goWe must go

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