NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passage: Matthew 2:1-12
Discussion Questions:
— What makes Jesus worthy of our worship?
— What words or phrases might you use to describe Jesus to someone who doesn’t know Him?
— What gifts can you offer to Jesus as an act of worship?
Food for thought:
Much of life is driven by value. We want to know, “Is it worth it?” Advertising will speak of activities that are worth the time and of possessions that retain their worth. We speak of a person being “worthy” of a certain honor. Athletes play for “all they’re worth,” meaning to the full extent of their ability. Our challenge is to identify and pursue that which is most worthy.
The birth of Jesus occurred in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great. Wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem seeking to worship the newborn King of the Jews. Following a special star, they sought one with a legitimate claim to Israel’s throne.
In contrast, Herod was not Jewish by birth and was appointed to his position by Rome. As the reigning “king of the Jews,” this turn of events deeply disturbed Herod. Herod was known for his paranoia and violence, so the arrival of the wise men sent Herod into a deep panic. Thanks to his murderous reputation, all of Jerusalem was also on edge.
Herod sought the specific birthplace of this rival king. As a religious convert to Judaism, Herod had no clue about the prophecies concerning the Messiah. He called in the chief priests and scribes for help. The leaders shared that the prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Located five miles south of Jerusalem along the main road to Egypt, Bethlehem also had been the hometown of King David. With this revelation, Herod hatched a murderous plot and quietly enlisted the wise men as his unwitting spies.
Herod wanted to know exactly when the star appeared so he could approximate the new king’s age (see Matthew 2:16). Herod added to his dishonesty by claiming a desire to follow the wise men in worshiping the Child. He disguised his treachery under a cloak of spirituality. Herod ordered the wise men to come back when they had found the Child.
The wise men were overwhelmed with joy as they set out from Jerusalem. All the weeks and months of anticipation were complete; they had reached their goal. The Greek wording indicates that time had passed since the manger experience in Luke 2. Any portrayal of the wise men arriving on the night Jesus was born is sentimental but not biblically accurate.
When they found the house where Jesus and His family were staying, they worshiped Him and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold was a precious metal, just as it is today. Frankincense and myrrh were expensive perfumes or spices used in worship. Some scholars suggest that Joseph and Mary sold these gifts to finance their trip to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15).
The wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. While they initially did not perceive Herod’s wicked scheme, God warned them to go home using another route. Once again, they were obedient to God’s leading.
Today’s study leads us to ask ourselves, “Who or what is worthy of my worship?” Jesus the Savior is worthy of our worship. He is the one true King. We can be assured of this truth because His birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. When we worship, we acknowledge Jesus’ identity. He is the Savior of the world.
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible .
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by Lifeway can be found at Lifeway.com/SundaySchool .
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