We are the gift, not just because of what we give, but because of the kind of giver that we are.
Sermon Title: THE GIFT: GOLD
Sermon Text: MATTHEW 2:1-12 (NIV)
Sermon Series: THE GIFT
By: PTR NIC SY
Sermon Notes:
MATTHEW 2:1-12 NIV
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5 In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
How can you and I be the real gift on Christmas, beyond what we actually give?
house | Greek: oikia | “a place of dwelling”
magi | Greek: magos | “a Magian, an (Oriental) astrologer, by implication a magician”
I. IN WHAT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO
“The Magi knew so little, came so far, and gave so much. The teachers of the law knew so much, were so near, and did nothing.”
Ray Pritchard
It’s possible to know the Bible and ignore the King.
It doesn’t matter what we know but what we are willing to do with what we know.
Are we ignoring Jesus or are we willing to sacrifice for him?
II. IN WHO THEY WERE WILLING TO WORSHIP
worship | Greek: proskuneo | “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand; to fawn or crouch to, to prostrate oneself in homage.”
“Although we read that the Magi met Herod, we do not read that they worshipped him. But when they found this tiny baby, rocking in his mother’s arms, these great men fell on their faces before him. To this baby they gave the honor due a king. What Herod craved, the baby received.”
Worship is not a performance that we put on or an obligation that we do; it is an outward action that reflects the worth of God.
What does our actions reveal about our worship?
III. IN WHAT THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE
In giving gold to Jesus, the wise men were acknowledging him as king.
Our gift of gold is an affirmation of who Jesus is and who we’re not.
What do we bring for the king?
We are the gift, not just because of what we give, but because of the kind of giver that we are.