Are You a Fool or a Wise Man?

The biblical story of the visit of the Wise Men at the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem is recorded for us in Matthew 2.

It was ironic that the vast majority of Jewish people, who should have been looking for their Messiah, were unaware of the birth of Christ; whereas these Gentile Magi, who were not God’s people at that time, did seek to acknowledge this King.

Not only was Christ a King by virtue of His lineage from David, but also by virtue of the fact that there were those in the world who were official king-makers (as the Magi were) who recognized Him as such.

In his first chapter, Matthew has shown us Jesus deserving royal honor.

In his second chapter, he has shown us Jesus receiving honor as He is being recognized by the Wise Men.

This event reinforced that Jesus Christ had the  right to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

But, in contrast we see in Matthew 2 some other characters that were fools and not “wise men”, King Herod and the chief priests and scribes that he consulted.

As you may recall, the Magi arrive in Jerusalem and inquire of Herod, the “so-called” King of the Jews, “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.”

The Scriptures say, “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”

Herod was “troubled.” That word, in the Greek, appears in the active voice and means “to be shaken up, stirred up, or agitated.” He was panicky and upset. In fact, I can’t think of a stronger word than this one in reference to this type of reaction.

Herod was agitated with good reason, after all he was the king of the Jews, in his own mind. Having been given the title by Caesar Augustus, he had fought hard to keep it and maintain it, and now, all of a sudden, a new king had apparently arrived who was going to take his throne.

Now, we see the other group of fools, the chief priests and scribes.  In other words, the corrupt politicians and cold-hearted theologians.  They should have been anticipating this moment.  But instead, they were too indifferent and focused on their own power and financial gain that they turned against Christ.  They continued in their hatred for Christ until, and even well after, His death.  They missed it!

But, the Wise men found Him!  And when they did, they presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.  What a picture of complete adoration of the child King!

What about you?  Are you a fool like Herod and the chief priests, or are you wise like the Magi?  The answer is found in these ways:

The Three Different Responses to Christ

1. Hostility

Herod was afraid that this little baby would interfere with his life. Jealous and fearful, he sought to eliminate Him. And some people still felt that way thirty-three years later, successfully completing Herod’s original plot.

Some people feel that way today. Jesus is an interference in their life. He bothers them, upsetting their plans, and if they had their choice, they too, would eliminate Him.

Jesus cautioned His disciples about the hatred and the hostility of the world toward Him and His servants: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you” (Jn. 15:18). “…the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (Jn. 16:2b). And, of course, we see the hatred and the hostility exemplified by Herod.

The second category of responses is that of…

2. Indifference

This response is characterized by the chief priests and the scribes, who were so engrossed in their bandying about theology, so engrossed in their political intrigues and their games to get power, and so engrossed in making money in the Temple at the expense of the people, that it didn’t even matter to them that their Messiah had been born.

There are many who are indifferent like that today.

Studdart Kennedy’s poem satirically captures the seriousness of modern-day indifference:

When Jesus came to Golgotha
They hanged Him on a tree
They drove great nails through hands and feet
And made a Calvary.

They crowned Him with a crown of thorns
Red were His wounds and deep
For those were crude and cruel days
And human flesh was cheap.

When Jesus came to Birmingham
They simply passed Him by.
They never hurt a hair of Him,
They only let Him die.

For men have grown more tender–
They wouldn’t give Him pain,
They only just pass down the street,
And leave Him in the rain.

Still Jesus cried, “Forgive them,
For they know not what they do,”
And still it rained the winter rain
That drenched Him through and through.

The crowds went home and left the streets
Without a soul to see,
And Jesus crouched against the wall
And cried for Calvary.

But thirdly, there is the response of…

3. Adoring Worship

This was characterized by the Magi. Worship is clearly the best of the three choices that can be made with regard to Jesus.

By His Grace,

Bryan Ries, Pastor

Blue River Baptist Church of Edinburgh, Indiana

Psalm 34:8

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