The Way of the Wise - Bible Baptist Church

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The Way of the Wise

Text: Matthew 2:1-12

Today we’re diving into a story that’s not just history—it’s a masterclass in vision, dedication, and results. The story of the Wise Men in Matthew 2:1-12 isn’t just about a journey; it’s about a mindset that defines greatness in God’s kingdom. These weren’t kings or scholars with titles we recognize; they were seekers. They asked the question that changes everything: Where is He who is born King of the Jews? And God called them wise. They will instruct us on how to search for Christ in our lives.

The way of the wise isn’t a mental journey

Wisdom isn’t passive. It’s not a theory you study; it’s action you take. These men didn’t sit around debating. They got up, left their comfort zones, and pursued the kingdom of God.
The pursuit was costly—it demanded their resources, their safety, and their focus. But that’s what wisdom requires: a relentless search for what’s good, what’s righteous, where is Christ in this?
You and I face the same challenge every day. Where is the meekness in this situation? Where is the love? Where is the faith? In the same way these men are wise in their search for God’s kingdom, you and I have to dig around and diligently hunt for God’s kingdom in our lives.
Identifying it is only step one. Eternal life—real, fulfilling, purpose-driven life—requires pursuit. Knowing isn’t enough; it’s the doing, the pressing forward, the persistence that sets the wise apart.
- You don’t want to say, I know what love looks like here, but I don’t care. (That’s where Israel was when Jesus was born. They tell Herod, We’re aware of God’s prince, he’s supposed to be in Bethlehem, but we don’t care.)
- Some of your theology stops at knowing because you put the premium on KNOWING, but that’s not where the LORD puts the value. It’s a start, but he requires the pursuit because the wise men get where they’re going by pursuing.
Wisdom is the pursuit of the good according to the apostles.
- Paul would say to the Romans, To those who patiently continue in well doing SEEK for glory and honor and immortality, get eternal life…and glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.
- Paul said to the Colossian church, Seek those things which are above, meaning PURSUE those things!
Peter said, Do you want to love life and see good days? keep your mouth from evil, and false accusations: avoid evil and do good; SEEK peace, and PURSUE it.
Jesus said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Meaning PURSUE the kingdom of God and these other things will be taken care of.
In Acts chapter 14, the apostles encouraged other disciples to continue in the faith, and that they must enter into the kingdom of God through much tribulation.

The way of the wise requires humility

Finding Christ and finding the kingdom of God requires humility because what’s godly is not always where you thought it would be nor is it where you want it to be.
- These wise men figure a king is born in a palace so they go to King Herod in Jerusalem to find this prince. They were shocked to find that the king of the Jews, Jesus Christ, was not in the palace.
Humility is the vehicle that gets you everywhere in God’s kingdom
- We need an all-terrain vehicle to get to drive around the mountains. We need a rocket to get to space. You don’t climb a mountain in a race car. The right vehicle gets us where we’re going. The secret weapon for wisdom is humility.
- In God’s kingdom, the right vehicle is humility. This is what gets you where you’re going. Humility puts you in the presence of God.

The way of the wise is rewarded with nobility

These wise men were searching for nobility, Where is the king of the Jews? Their search led to nobility in other ways as well. These wise men are immortalized not because they were born noble, but because they sought out the King of kings.
Discovery is work and it’s also an honor
- People’s names get attached to discoveries in science, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and medicine. Andre Ampere discovered a relationship between magnetism and electricity and so that is called AMPERAGE or AMPS. Alessandro Volta provided a measuring stick for electricity and so we have VOLTAGE or VOLTS.
- It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Nobility is the honor of kings.
- These were more NOBLE than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and SEARCHED the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
- Diamonds, gold, nor silver are found laying around in the street. They must be discovered in the rock. They must be mined out. Oil is not on tap. It is drilled for and the search is costly and dangerous, but it’s worth the pursuit!
Discovery happens by pursuit, cost and sacrifice. The cost for these men was the unknown travels ahead, their money, their time, and the distance they would have to travel. The cost of the pursuit of God’s kingdom is your responsibility (buy the truth).
The way of the wise is the rewarded way
- Faith is pursuing God who is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
- The point of the wise men’s pursuit was to offer gifts to the Messiah.
- Not only was the journey costly, but their offerings were as well. Wise men offer offerings that meant something to them (vs 11).
- Your search has the purpose of offering something to the LORD. When I find that God is in the gentleness, then I offer myself to be gentle as to the LORD.
Their search was a testimony to Mary, to Herod and the Jews, and is a testimony to us.
But not only would they bring their gifts, but they would receive the gift of life
- Verse 12 they are given the way of life to return with the Savior in their heart
- Acts 15:13-17 James’ interpretation