“Far be it from Me...

Isaiah 60:3, The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

Matthew 2:1-2, 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, 2 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.” 

Worship—“to fall upon their knees and touch the ground with their foreheads as an expression of profound reference and adoration.”

Matthew 2:3-11, When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 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. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘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.’” 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 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.” 9 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. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. 

Three responses to the birth of Jesus: 

1.  The response of Herod

Matthew 2:3-11, When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled

Troubled—“to be agitated, stirred up, anxious, distressed, to strike one's spirit with fear 

                  and dread."

2.  The response of the religious leaders

Matthew 2:4, 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.

Isaiah 29:13 [NIV], The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.  Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”  

“It is a sad day when the Herod's of this world are more concerned about Jesus than those who say they love Him."

3.  The response of the wise men

Matthew 2:10-11, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.

Honor—“to value, admire, appreciate, esteem, respect and revere.”

Matthew 2:11, And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gold:  A gift for a King. 

Frankincense:  A gift for a Priest. 

Myrrh:  A gift for one who was to Die.

“With these gifts, the wise men were acknowledging that Jesus is the true King, the perfect High Priest and in the end the great Savior of all men.” 

Matthew 2:12, Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they [wise men] should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 

1 Samuel 2:30 [NKJV], But now the Lord says:  ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor…’

Psalm 91:14-15 [NKJV], Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him… 15 I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 

Matthew 13:54-58 [NKJV], When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57 So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  

1 Samuel 2:30 [NKJV], But now the Lord says:  ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.’

Q—How are you currently responding to Jesus?

-Are you currently troubled?

-Are you currently disinterested?

-Are you currently honoring Him? 

1 Samuel 2:30 [NKJV], But now the Lord says:  ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.’