The Magi worshiping Jesus

Matthew 2:1-12 (New International Version)

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^[b] and have come to worship him."

³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.⁴When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
⁶" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'^[d]"

⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

⁹After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

一、中心內容：Message

內容：Content
1>主耶穌在伯利恆降生，東方的博士為了朝拜祂，前來耶 路撒冷詢問。Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Magi from the east went to Jerusalem and asked about him.（v1-2）
2>希律王聽了大感驚慌，並召集祭司長和民間的教師，前 來探詢究竟。King Herod was disturbed, he asked for all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law about Jesus.（v3-4）
3>祭司長和民間的教師，根據先知的預言來回答希律王。The chief priests and teachers of the law replied by what the prophet has written.（v5-6）
4>希律王以朝拜耶穌為藉口，企圖從東方博士口中得音訊，以 便將耶穌殺害。King Herod, by making an excuse to worship Jesus, found out the information he needed in order to kill Jesus.（v7-8）
5>東方博士在明星的指引之下，終於順利朝拜主耶穌，並 且獻上禮物 Under the guidance of the star, the Magi came to the house, worshiped Jesus and presented their gifts. （v9-11）
6>上帝在夢中指示他們從另一條路回家，不將消息傳給希律王。God instructed them to go home by another road, not to go back to Herod.（v12）

主題：Theme
1>東方博士拜耶穌。The Magi worshiping Jesus.
2>人算不如神算。

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit?

1>降世為人的耶穌基督。（v1）
2>將作猶太人的王的耶穌基督。Jesus who is to become the King of the Jews（v2）
3>配得朝拜敬奉的耶穌基督。Jesus who is worthy of worship（v2、v11）
4>將牧養以色列子民的耶穌基督 Jesus who will shepherd the people of the Israel（v6）
5>啟示人的上帝。God who reveals to His people（v12）

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?


1>一樣降生兩樣情
耶穌基督的降生是一個事實，但是這一個事實卻彰顯出截然不同的 兩樣情境。The birth of Jesus Christ is a fact, but it highlights two entirely different situations. 首先，有幾個星象家（博士）從東方來到耶路撒冷；他們問：「那出生要作猶太人的王的在 哪裏？我們在東方看見了他的星，特地來朝拜他。First of all, Magi came to Jerusalem and asked: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” 因為那顆星在前面指 引，所以他們就歡欣快樂。They rejoiced because the star was there to guide them. 他們進了 屋子，看見小孩子和他的母親馬利亞，就俯伏朝拜這孩子，然後打開寶盒，拿出黃金、乳香、沒藥等禮物獻給他。以上是一樣情！Once they entered the room, they saw the infant and his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshipped him. Then they presented their gifts: gold, incense, myrrh.
但是另一方面，我們看到希律王，他的態度跟東方來的博士截然不 同。But on the other hand, we see that king Herod’s attitude toward this situation was completely different. 因為當他聽到耶穌基督降生的消息之後，就顯得著急 不安；整個耶路撒冷的人，也因為受影響而感到不安。Because when he heard about the birth of Jesus, he was disturbed, so was all Jerusalem. 希律王甚至以「朝拜耶穌」作為藉口，企圖從東方博士口中獲得音訊，以便將耶穌基督給予殺 害，以免影響他的權位。這又是另外一樣情！King Herod used the excuse of wanting to worship Jesus as a pretext in attempt to get the information he needed to get rid of Jesus in order to preserve his power.
俗語說：幾家歡樂幾家愁，耶穌基督的降生，也可稱為：有人歡樂、有 人不安。
反省：主耶穌的降生與我何干？我有什麼感受嗎？我是歡欣快樂呢？還 是無關痛癢？Reflection: How does the birth of Jesus Christ affect me? How do I feel? Am I joyful or not?

2>先知預言的實現
當希律王聽見耶穌基督降生的消息之後，心中著急不安；整個耶路 撒冷的人，也因為受影響而感到不安。希律王就召集了所有的祭司長和民間的經學教師來，詢問他們說：「基督該誕生在甚麼地方？」他們就 回答說：「在猶太的伯利恆，因為先知曾這樣寫著：猶大地區的伯利恆啊，你在猶大諸城邑中並不是最小的；因為有一位領袖要從你那裏出 來，他要牧養我的子民以色列。³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.⁴When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
⁶" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'^[d]"
事實證明沒有錯！耶穌基督就如同先知所預言的，降生在伯利恆！It indeed happened. Jesus, was predicted, was born in Bethlehem. 顯然，耶穌基督的降生，不是一般平凡嬰孩出生的事件，乃是上帝獨生聖子的降世，是出自上帝永恆的計劃，也是舊約時代先知預言的實現! The birth of Jesus Christ is an extraordinary miracle. It is the plan of God and the recognition of Old Testament prophecy.
反省：針對聖經先知的話語，我是否真正相信？我是否竭力追？Reflection: Do I believe the prophecies in the Bible? Do I pursue them?

3>為耶穌獻上禮物
當東方來的博士，在耶路撒冷與希律王告辭之後，隨著明星的指引 繼續前行，果然來到耶穌基督降生之處。他們進了屋子，看見小孩子（耶穌基督）和他的母親馬利亞，就俯伏朝拜這孩子，然後打開寶盒，拿 出黃金、乳香、沒藥等禮物獻給他。¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
這些博士不僅有備而來，甚至是真心誠意的前來朝拜。The Magi were well-prepared and sincere as they went to worship Jesus. 因為當時黃金、乳香、沒藥，是極為貴重的禮物。And the gifts that they prepared were precious. 因此，他們為耶穌基督所做的，是十分美善的一件事。也是世世代代讓人紀念的一件事。Therefore, their behavior toward Jesus was a very gracious act.
反省：每一次前來朝見、敬拜、事奉耶穌，是否為祂帶來任何禮物？Reflection: Do I bring any gifts to offer as I go to worship Him weekly?

4>人算比不上神算
希律王雖然表面上聲稱要去朝見耶穌基督，但是心中所籌算的，其 實是要除掉耶穌基督，所以吩咐東方來的博士，將耶穌基督的降生地點告訴他。Even though King Herod pretended wanting to worship Jesus, he was contemplating in mind. He asked the Magi about the birth place of Jesus, so he could get rid of Jesus.
此舉，就人的角度來看，其實是十拿九穩的。因為東方來的博士，根 本不明就裏，因此不疑有他、甚至信以為真。The Magi were suspecting anything and in fact, they believed the King. 但是所謂人算不如天（上帝）算。因為上帝看透人心，祂非常清楚希律的動機，並非為朝拜耶穌基督，乃是為殺害耶穌基 督。But God sees through people and knows the motive of King Herod; he wanted to get rid of Jesus.
因此，上帝便藉著使者，在夢中啟示東方來的博士，指示他們從另 一條路回去。換句話說，就是吩咐他們千萬不能將主耶穌的處所告訴希律王。顯然，人算不如神算！Therefore, through angels, God instructed the Magi to return by another road. In other words, God did not want King Herod to know where Jesus was.
反省：我凡事都靠自己籌算？還是更多尋求上帝的旨意？多讓上帝 來帶領？Reflection: Do I seek God’s will? Do I let God lead the path?

四、我的禱告 / 實際應用Prayer / Life application