THE * KING’S BUSINESS
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professedly in order that he might wor ship Him, but as thè succeeding verses ghow, His whole object was that he might destroy Him. Herod sought to leave no /loophole in his scheme for the destruction of the King whom he feared would sup plant himself, But he left a serious loop hole, he had left God out of his calcula tions ; so, in spite of all his schemes, all his plans came to nothing. v. 9. When {And) they had {, having) heard the king, they departed {went their way); and lo, {and lo), the star, wjiich they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” As soon as the wis'e men had received the desired information they started immediately for the King whom they sought. They were governed by one all controlling desire; to find God’s King, and worship Him. They were not much interested in the splendor of Jerusalem: they were wholly occupied with the glory of the King. Again God led them by the star and led them to the very spot where the young child was. They were more accustomed to being led by stars than being led in any other way : God always’ adapts His leading to our necessity. v. 10. "When {And when) they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” While Herod and all Jerusa lem had been troubled by the thought that the Christ was come, the wise men of the east “rejoiced with exceeding great joy” to find Him. Those who enjoy the largest privileges oftentimes least appreciate them, and those who have the least light are frequently most eager for more (cf. Matt, 18:10, 11). There is an eagerness to hear about Christ today in heathen lands that is sometimes lacking in so-called Chris tian lands. There is no greater joy to the true heart than that of finding Jesus (1 Peter 1:8).
v. 11. "And when (omit, when) they were come .{came) into the house, they '{house and) saw the young child with Mary his mother, (_;) and {and they) fell down, (down) and worshipped him'. {;) and when they had opened {opening) their treasures, (omit ,) they presented {offered) unto him gifts; {,) gold , and {gold and) frankincense, (omit ,) and myrrh.” When the magi entered the house they “fell down ¿nd worshiped Jesus.” Worship may not have meant to them all that it means to us, but it is right to wor ship Jesus (Heb. 1:6). As Jesus Him self has -said plainly that we are to wor ship Jehovah God only (Matt. 4:10), it is evident that Jesus must be a divine being, that He must be Jehovah in human form. The magi did not worship Mary, the mother of Jesus. They "saw” her but they did not worship her. When they had worshiped the Lord Jesus, they presented unto Him their gifts. This is the true order, -first, worship, then giving. They gave Him their very best, gold and frank incense and myrrh (cf. Ps. 72:10, 11). They, were evidently “wise men” not only in name, but in fact. Many today give Him only their poorest; they gave Him their best. Note carefully the conduct of the wise men: ( 1 ) They sought Jesus. (2) They found Jesus. (3) They rejoiced over Jesus. (4) They worshipped Jesus. (S) They gave gifts to Jesus. v. 12. “And being warned o f God in a dream that they sh 6 uld not return unto Herod, they departed into their own coun try another way.” Up to this time God had led them by a star, He now guides them in another method, by a dream. God’s purpose in warning them not to return to Herod was in order to secure the safety of His son. All of Herod’s cunning plans had come to nothing.
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