Matthew 2:1 ¶ Now when
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the
Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these
things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ
should be born. 5 And they said unto him,
In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And 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. 7
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them
diligently what time the star appeared. 8
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for
the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I
may come and worship him also.
Notice the text says wise men, not the three wise men of
Christian mythology. The wise men of the east are linked to magicians,
sorcerers, astrologers, and the Chaldeans of Babylon.
Genesis 41:8 And it came to
pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for
all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them
his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh
also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they
also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Daniel 2:1 ¶ And in the
second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams,
wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the
magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to
shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
This brings up an important point that even the wise men of the
heathen will acknowledge Jesus. They too were looking for the Messiah to
appear.
James 2:19 Thou believest
that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Philippians 2:10 That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; 11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
One interesting side note is that famous authorities of Christian
history like Augustine of Hippo and John Wycliffe, called the Morning Star of
the Reformation, regarded the pagan writings of Greek philosophers like Plato
and Aristotle as inspired by God when their writings confirmed Bible truths.
The capacity of pagan wise men to see something that God has revealed goes
along with the saying that even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Verse 2 refers to the King of the Jews. This title is used
again.
Matthew 27:11 And Jesus
stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the
King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Matthew 27:29 And when they
had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his
right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail,
King of the Jews!
Matthew 27:37 And set up
over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
But this kingship was a reference to His spiritual authority and
to Christ’s future reign for a thousand years as you can see He resisted being
declared a political king during His time in human flesh.
John 6:15 When Jesus
therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a
king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Everything in God’s plan of reconciling mankind to Himself had a
time and a place. And much to their dismay over the next 2,000 years the Jews
rejected His kingship for that of a human ruler.
John 19:15 But they cried
out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I
crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Matthew 27:25 Then answered
all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
But He will return to assume His rightful place as King over all
the earth.
Revelation 11:15 And the
seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon
the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it
with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the
LORD of hosts will perform this.
Here, the reference to the King of the Jews was a threat to Herod.
Verse 2 refers to his star in the east. Notice the
immediate context of the heathen prophet, Balaam’s speech, in Numbers 24:17-19
and the prophetic relevance of it.
Numbers 24:17 I shall see
him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out
of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners
of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also
shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have
dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
Balaam starts with a Star, upper case “s” [then] lays out a
prophecy of King David to come.
2Samuel 8:2 And he smote
Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with
two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive.
And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
What means all the children of Sheth in Numbers 24:17?
Sheth is the exact same word in Hebrew for Seth, Adam and Eve’s son. Perhaps
this was a variant spelling that the King James translators found in the
rabbinical writings where this Sheth was referred to as everything from a local
king of Moab to a city in Moab to be destroyed. However, this could be a
prophecy also of Christ, whatever else it means. Note the Star with the
uppercase ‘S’. Notice a common theme of
the following verses.
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Psalm 45:6 ¶ Thy throne, O
God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Luke 1:78 Through the
tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
2Peter 1:19 ¶ We have also
a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise
in your hearts:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus
have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the
root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
It is possible that prophetically all the children of Sheth
represents the children of Seth, all the children of mankind who will oppose
Christ at the end. Of course, this requires some conjecture and supposition
although it does seem likely to be a veiled reference to the Messiah whether
Balaam understood it or not. So, the verses above seem to be clear prophecies
of Christ to come in both of His advents.
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