Born a King, Priest, and Savior (Matthew 2:1-12).Sunday December 21, 2025
Intro:
When the Lord Jesus Christ was born into the world it was an invasion of a new human life. Completely human, but unlike any life ever lived; not only in manner, but in substance.
Isa 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she [“they” in Mat 1] will call His name Immanuel.”
The kind of birth and His name says volumes: Born without sin and God with us. Not God in our midst, but God as one of us.
Today, in our passage, we encounter Him as King, Priest, and Savior.
Mat 2:1-12 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER [Mic 5:2] WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" [2Sa 5:7]
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
New and living way:
“the magi left for their own country by another way.” The word “way” is the same as ‘the new and living way’ in Heb 10:19-20. Christ was bringing to humanity His way.
Mic 5:2 His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."
The new way would not be new at all. In fact, it is the oldest way. But since the fall, no living human being had trodden it. Now, by gift from the King of Israel, this way would be given to mankind.
Magi:
Mystery surrounds them. Gentiles. They traveled about 1,000 miles over about 4-6 months by faith. The star they followed was of a supernatural origin.
Herod:
He was racially Arab (Idumean), religiously Jewish, culturally Greek, and politically Roman. All in order to achieve status, power, and wealth. He was troubled by the news, feeling threatened, which was the response of his character.
Herod had killed three of his sons in his drive to retain his crown.
Caesar Augustus had said, “it is better to be Herod’s pig than his son” (pun: Greek for pig; hus and for son huios).
When Herod hears that Bethlehem is the place, 5 miles down the road, he is invited as well. He’s not only inhumane but lazy. He could have sent guards or even men with the magi.
Herod represents the fallen nature, born in Adam, separated from God, an enemy of God who rejects the grace of God. Herod is an extreme case but not an isolated one; Herod is mankind without the grace of God’s gospel.
Faith leads the magi to Jerusalem and Scripture leads them to Christ.
The star reappears and leads them to the house (not stable) where the family lives.
Furthering the contrast of magi and Herod: while Herod is filled with trouble; the magi:
Mat 2:9-10 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
My guess is that Mary told this story to the disciples and communicated the wonder in herself as she could scarcely believe here eyes that in front of her little house a group of eastern mystic priests were besides themselves, bursting with joy and tears.
Gold:
The metal of kings throughout the East. It filled the tabernacle and the temple, it outlined the ark of the covenant, and composed the mercy seat. It depicts deity as well as sovereignty.
To this day, gold is the most sought after metal; a standard of monetary economy.
Psa 2:6-7 "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain." 7 "I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
Frankincense:
More than twice the price of gold. Primary ingredient in the sacred incense burned twice daily in the Jerusalem Temple (Exo 30:34–38).
Incense speaks of prayers and deity. God became a man, the High Priest (not of Levi but of Judah; in the manner of Melchizedek), and offered the one true sacrifice to the Father so that He could glorify the Father by saving us.
The incense represents the intense love of lovers (Song of Solomon), the fragrance of beauty and emotion and memory.
Myrrh:
More than twice the price of gold. Was the chief embalming spice in Egypt.
Joh 19:39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight
Myrrh was an anesthetic mixed with wine as a pain killer.
Mar 15:23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.
Perfume & cosmetic: one of the main ingredients in the holy anointing oil (Exo 30:23–25) and in ancient perfumes (Est 2:12 – Esther’s beauty treatments include six months with oil of myrrh; Song of Solomon mentions myrrh 9 times).
Mat 2:11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
What can we give to Him?
It is vital to know that these gifts directly represent who Jesus Christ is. They are not just any gift. We give to Christ directly in responding in kind to who He is.
Gold / King: He is our only Sovereign. He is our only wisdom. He is our only providence and our only protection.
When you obey Him, you are properly offering His sovereignty back to Him.
When you follow Him you are offering His wisdom of life and law back to Him.
Frankincense / Priest: He is our high priest. He is our offering who gave Himself for us once and for all. He offers prayers for us daily. He leads us in worship of God the Father as our example. He gave us great gifts including God the Holy Spirit.
When you pray you are offering back to Him His own intercessory ministry.
When you worship God in song you are offering back to Him His own praise of the Father. When you study and behold His word in awe, you are offering Him His deity, for though heaven and earth will pass away, His words will never pass away.
Myrrh / Savior: He is our Savior. He gave Himself for us on the cross. He died in our place so that we would live. He took the curse of death upon Himself and defeated it fully.
We give back to Him by laying down our lives for others. Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for others.” |