Sermon Outline

December 25, 2005

“What Made These Wise Men So Wise?”
Matthew 2:1-12

The wise men were not present on that first Christmas but they play a significant part of this wonderful event.

There is a lot we don’t know:

▪We don’t know how many there were.

▪We don’t really know who they are:

▪We don’t really know were they are from?

Three lessons from the story of the wise men:

▪The wise men remind us that what we seek we find.  (vv. 2:9-10)

▫The wise men were unwavering in their search for Jesus.

▫Apparently from the time the star first appeared it took them almost two years to locate Christ.

▫They were probably teased mercilessly.

▫In the temporal realm we can’t be anyone we want to be.

▫In the spiritual realm, it’s different.  God has set up a system that could best be described as:  What you seek, you will find.

The Bible says a lot about this:

Deut. 4:29 - But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jer. 29:13 - You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Luke 11:9-10 - ^ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ^10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

▫The whole concept of “seeking God” is an enormous biblical concept that impacts every aspect of our lives.

▫Everything spiritual you seek is attainable if you want it bad enough.

▪The wise men remind us that true life is really about focusing on Jesus.  (vv. 2:1-5a, 12)

▫The wise men were very focused and discerning in their search.

▫They had to be focused because of Herod’s involvement.

▪The wise men remind us that it is not enough to know about Jesus; but rather we must also meet Jesus.  (vs. 2:11)