How Did They Know?

I. THE WISE MEN’S STORY (Matthew 2:1-11)

A. Their Journey (Matthew 2:1)

1. From the east
2. To Jerusalem
3. *Later to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:8-10)

B. Their Guide (Matthew 2:2, 9-10)

1. The star was originally seen in the east (Matthew 2:2).
2. The star reappeared when the wise men left their meeting with Herod (Matthew 2:9-10).
3. The star came and stood over the home where Jesus was (Matthew 2:9).

C. Their Arrival

1. The time of arrival
a. The approximate timeframe set—“when Jesus was born” (Matthew 2:1)
b. Herod’s research—He “enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared” (Matthew 2:7).
c. The description of Jesus
1.) The present description of Jesus
i. Herod sent the wise men to find “the young child” (Matthew 2:8).
ii. The star “came and stood over where the young child was” (Matthew 2:9).
iii. The wise men “saw the young child” (Matthew 2:11).
iv. Joseph was to take “the young child” into Egypt (Matthew 2:13).
2.) The previous description of Jesus
i. The angel’s message to the shepherds—“Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Luke 2:12).
ii. The shepherds “came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe” (Luke 2:16).
d. Herod’s execution of children two years and under (Matthew 2:16)
e. The overall timing review
1.) Jesus was born.
2.) Eight days old—Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:21).
3.) Forty days old—Jesus was taken to the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-38).
4.) One of two options now occur
i. Option 1
1. Jesus returned to Bethlehem with His family at this time.
2. He went from Bethlehem to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15).
3. After Herod’s death, Jesus returned home to Nazareth (Luke 2:39).
ii. Option 2
1. Jesus returned to His home in Nazareth (Luke 2:39).
2. Jesus and His family returned to Bethlehem somewhere near a year or two years of age. This is when the wise men would have sought Him (Matthew 2:11).
3. He went to Egypt to escape death (Matthew 2:13-15).
4. He returned to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23).
a. The family was returning to Bethlehem which was in Judaea.
b. The family instead went to Nazareth which was in Galilee.
2. The place of arrival
a. The wise men met with Herod at Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1-7).
b. The wise men went from Jerusalem to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:8-10).
c. The wise men found Jesus in a house (Matthew 2:11).
3. The purpose of arrival
a. They were seeking “he that is born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2)
b. They were “come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).
c. They came bearing gifts (Matthew 2:11)
1.) Gold
2.) Frankincense
3.) Myrrh

II. THE WISE MEN’S SOURCE

A. Balaam’s Prophecy (Numbers 24:17)

1. The content
a. A Star out of Jacob
b. A Sceptre out of Israel
2. The origin
a. Balaam was from Pethor (Numbers 22:5).
b. This was Pethor of Mesopotamia, east of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 23:4).

B. Daniel’s Prophecy (Daniel 9:25)

1. The content
a. 69 weeks from the commandment to restore Jerusalem
b. Messiah, the Prince would come and die
2. The origin
a. At the time of Daniel’s prophecy, he was in the Medes’ land (Daniel 9:1).
b. This was certainly the land of the east.