Quick Devotional from Matthew 2:2 (Observation from the Greek)

 

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 2:2.  Here is my translation:

“2 λέγοντες
Saying

SENTENCE “ Ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων
Where is the one born King of the Jews?

SUPPORT εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ
For we know the Star in the east

SENTENCE καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ ””
and came to worship Him

Here are some observations:

1. In the context this is the wise men asking those in Jerusalem a question.  The wise men came from the east and was searching for the Messiah, the special King of the Jews.
2. The first sentence the wise men stated was a question: “Where is the one born King of the Jews?”
   1. Note this is a question about someone’s location: The King of the Jews.
   2. Matthew 2:1 earlier said this was “in the days of Herod the king,” yet these wise men weren’t looking for Herod.  We know that because the wise men were asking about “the one born King of the Jews.“
   3. The term “born” of course is passive voice, since this is something done to the this particular King of the Jews.  Whereas Herod has to actively plot to become King with this one He is made King by God and made King from birth!
3. In the second sentence the wise men tells us why they were asking around about the one born the King of the Jews; this is indicated in the Greek by the conjunction γὰρ indicating reason.
4. Two clauses follow each with a different aspect being covered of why they were asking around concerning this King of the Jews since birth.
5. The first clause is “we know the Star in the east.”
   1. These wise men would have been from places east of Jerusalem.  Even the name “Magi” which is what the Wise men are called have the word originate from Persia.  So these men somehow knew about a star that signal where the Messianic King will be born.
   2. How specifically these wise men knew about the birth of the Messiah we are not told.
   3. What we do know here is that they know they were around the vicinity of the location where the Messianic King would be born.
6. The second clause says “and came to worship Him.”
   1. This show their purpose in light of the function of the infinitive verb “to worship.”
   2. Keep in perspective that for these wise men they traveled very far to worship Jesus.
   3. This shows the importance of worship isn’t about pleasing ourselves or our comfort first.

Application:

• Like the wise men, it is wise to seek Jesus.  For those of you not saved, have you trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  For believers, seek Him daily in prayer and the Word of God!
• Remember these wise men they traveled very far to worship Jesus.  If you ever have to travel far to go to a biblical church or a sound Bible study realize that you are not the first to travel far to worship God!
• There is an interesting irony: These are wise men.  Yet they realize there are things they don’t know.  They were willing to ask questions concerning Jesus.  Will we be humble enough to realize that wisdom doesn’t mean we know it all but we know we need the help of others as we seek Jesus?
• How is your worship of Jesus going?  Is it just something you engage in during the Winter Holiday season or is it a daily lifestyle?
• We can err and emphasize too much of the wisemen seeking Jesus or even our own seeking of God; don’t forget the greater act is God becoming a man in the person of Jesus.  That’s the greater act.  In fact the reason why we seek Him is because He first sought us, working in our hearts, moving our hearts to know the truth through the Word of God, etc.  Have you thank Him and praise Him for the first coming of Christ to live a perfect life and die for our sins?