WISE MEN FROM THE EAST 

 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, 

behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? 

For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, 

he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 

So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 

'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; 

For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " 

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, 

determined from them what time the star appeared. 

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, 

"Go and search carefully for the young Child, 

and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, 

that I may come and worship Him also." 

When they heard the king, they departed; 

and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, 

till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 

And when they had come into the house,

they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, 

and fell down and worshiped Him. 

And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: 

gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, 

they departed for their own country another way.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, 

was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death 

all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, 

from two years old and under, 

according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Matthew 2:1-12, 16

The eastern astrogogers and soothsayers, find the Truth through the signs in the sky. 

When they came to Jerusalem, they used commonsense and went to Herod to find the King of the Jews. This was bad news to Herod and all Jerusalem! 

It is the star that led them to the Truth.

Those who seek GOD diligently, will find Him, whatever background they may be from. GOD will reveal Himself to them, where they are, and will lead them to the Truth. 

The wise men were free from religious tradition and bondage to a kingdom. Although they were not Jews, they sought the Truth and found Him and worshiped Him.

The religious leaders, through prophecy, knew where the King of the Jews was to be born.

Because they did not seek Him with an open mind and with a pure heart, they did not see the sign!

We don't read that the chief priests and scribes came to worship the CHRIST Child in Bethlehem!

Of course, when JESUS began His ministry with power, they plotted to kill Him, to preserve their religion! They wanted to hold on to their religion.

Herod heard about the birth of the King of the Jews from the wise men. He also got information about the timing of His birth from them. He learned from the religious leaders, that He would be born in Bethlehem. 

Herod angrily made plans to destroy the CHRIST Child. Herod wanted to hold on to his kingdom and his dynasty.

Which category are we in?

Like the wise men, having had some revelation of the Truth, diligently seek Him until we find Him and worship Him?

LIke the religious leaders, having a religious background and knowledge of the Scriptures, do not diligently seek the Truth and when He does show up, stand against Him because we do not expect to encounter Him that way?

Like Herod, seek out the Truth to actively work against His Kingdom so that we would not lose our rule and our kingdom!