1Start
When wise men came to Jerusalem looking for a newborn king, the king already on the throne was troubled (Matthew 2:1–3).
2Read Together
Herod ruled Judea under the Romans and guarded his power fiercely. He called the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Christ was supposed to be born (Matthew 2:4).
Matthew 2:3–6 · King James Version
3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
3What It Teaches
The scribes knew the answer right away. Micah had written that a ruler would come out of Bethlehem, a town about five miles south of Jerusalem (Micah 5:2).
The wise men traveled a long way and had to ask where to go. The scribes could quote the verse, and Matthew records no trip by any of them. Knowing about Jesus and going to him are two different things.
Herod said he wanted to worship the child too, but he meant to kill him (Matthew 2:8; 2:16). The wise men “fell down, and worshipped him,” and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).
God warned the wise men in a dream, and they went home another way (Matthew 2:12). He guided the seekers and protected the child.
4Talk About It
The scribes knew where the Savior would be born, and the wise men went to find him. What is one thing we know about Jesus that we could act on this week?