““The Wisdom of the The Wisdom of the Wise”Wise”

Matthew 2:1-12Matthew 2:1-12

Chuck Swindoll: Chuck Swindoll: “Wisdom is “Wisdom is

the God-given ability the God-given ability to see life to see life

with rare objectivity with rare objectivity and to handle life and to handle life

with rare stability.”with rare stability.”

Will Rogers: Will Rogers:

“Common sense “Common sense isn’t as common isn’t as common as it used to be.”as it used to be.”

What is What is the Wisdom the Wisdom

of of the Wise?the Wise?

Matthew 2:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12

1 - After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, 1 - After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem came to Jerusalem

2 - and asked, "Where is the one who has been 2 - and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." and have come to worship him."

3 - When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, 3 - When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.and all Jerusalem with him.

4 - When he had called together all the 4 - When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. be born.

5 - "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, 5 - "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "for this is what the prophet has written:

6 - "`But you, Bethlehem, in the land of 6 - "`But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"Israel.'"

7 - Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out 7 - Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. from them the exact time the star had appeared.

8 - He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and 8 - He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." worship him."

9 - After they had heard the king, they went on their 9 - After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.the child was.

10 - When they saw the star, they were 10 - When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. overjoyed.

11 - On coming to the house, they saw the child 11 - On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. incense and of myrrh.

12 - And having been warned in a dream not to 12 - And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. by another route.

MAGIMAGI “Law of the Medes and the Persians” “Law of the Medes and the Persians”

(Esther 1:19, Daniel 6:8)(Esther 1:19, Daniel 6:8)

“ “MAGISTRATE”MAGISTRATE”

“ “Parthian Empire”Parthian Empire”

Matthew 2:3 Matthew 2:3

“troubled” “troubled”

= “shaken”= “shaken” or or “agitated”“agitated”

““WISE MEN”WISE MEN”

1.1. WISDOM COMES FROM WISDOM COMES FROM GODGOD

Billy Graham: Billy Graham: “Knowledge is horizontal. “Knowledge is horizontal.

Wisdom is vertical,Wisdom is vertical,it comes down from above.”it comes down from above.”

Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar

Numbers 24:17 Numbers 24:17 “A star shall come forth “A star shall come forth

from Jacob, from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise and a scepter shall rise

from Israel.”from Israel.”

““scepter”scepter” = = “kingship”“kingship”

James 1:5 James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, he should ask God,

Who gives generously to all Who gives generously to all without finding fault, without finding fault,

and it will be given to him.”and it will be given to him.”

11stst Corinthians 1:25 Corinthians 1:25 “The foolishness of God “The foolishness of God

is wiser is wiser than man’s wisdom than man’s wisdom

and the weakness of God and the weakness of God is stronger is stronger

than man’s strength.”than man’s strength.”

2.2. WISDOM ACTS ON WISDOM ACTS ON KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Charles Haddon Spurgeon: “Wisdom is the right use “Wisdom is the right use

of knowledge. of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. To know is not to be wise.

Many men know a great Many men know a great deal and are all the deal and are all the

greater greater fools for it. fools for it.

To know how To know how to use knowledge to use knowledge

is to have wisdom.”is to have wisdom.”

James 1:22 James 1:22 “Do not merely listen “Do not merely listen

to the word... to the word... do what it says.”do what it says.”

James 2:19 James 2:19 “even the demons “even the demons

believe and tremble!”believe and tremble!”

KNOWLEDGE KNOWLEDGE is not enough. is not enough.

WISDOM WISDOM is more than believing. is more than believing. It is more than knowing It is more than knowing

it is DOING!it is DOING!

3. 3. WISDOM GUIDES EVEN WISDOM GUIDES EVEN WITHOUT LIGHTWITHOUT LIGHT

Hebrews 11:1 Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance “Now faith is the substance

of things hoped for, of things hoped for, the evidence of things the evidence of things

not seen.”not seen.”

4.4. WISDOM SEEKS WISDOM SEEKS AND FINDS GODAND FINDS GOD

Deuteronomy 4:29 Deuteronomy 4:29 “If you seek Me “If you seek Me

with all your heart, with all your heart, you will find me.”you will find me.”

Matthew: Matthew: “they fell down “they fell down

and worshiped Him.”and worshiped Him.”

““they went back they went back a different way”a different way”

Colossians 2:3Colossians 2:3“In Christ are hidden “In Christ are hidden

all the treasures all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”of wisdom and knowledge.”

““THE WISDOM THE WISDOM OF OF

THE WISE”THE WISE”