Study of MATTHEW 2:9-12

Read Matthew 2:9-12


Matthew 2:9-12

The magi had followed the star for months. They had seen it in the east and had followed it to Jerusalem to find the one it foretold. The irresistible star paints a picture for us. It tells something of how a sinful soul is led to Christ by the Gospel.

The star went ahead of the magi and it led them to stop over the exact spot where the boy king was staying. The Word of God leads the sinner to Jesus in the same way. It shines from afar at first to invite the sinner to follow and then it rests on the salvation that is found in him.

The supernatural light in the night sky was just as irresistible to these to star gazers as the light of the Gospel is to the saved soul when it first catches a glimpse of the beautiful truth that lies in the pages of Scripture. Bunyan captures this irresistible draw very well in his masterpiece, The Pilgrim’s Progress. In it he writes of the first encounter between a Christian (to be) who feared over the eternal destination of his soul and of the wise Evangelist who preached the Gospel to him:

“Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils? The Man answered, Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the Grave, and I shall fall into Tophet. And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to Prison, I am not fit to go to Judgment, and from thence to Execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.

Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a Parchment-roll, and there was written within, Fly from the wrath to come. The Man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully, said, Whither must I fly? Then said Evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder Wicket-gate? The Man said, No. Then said the other, Do you see yonder shining Light? He said, I think I do. Then said Evangelist, Keep that Light in your eye, and go up directly thereto: so shalt thou see the Gate; at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.” – Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan

To the Christian, the Word of God is mesmerizing. It is irresistible. To the world, the words that lead us to Christ are boring repulsive and ugly.

Both the believer and unbeliever look on the Gospel, but only one sees its worth and pursues it, only the believer finds it irresistible and follows its instructions to find eternal life in Jesus.

When the magi found Jesus they found joy. The star had drawn them to the Eternal Star that gives new life to men. The Christian who finds release from the burden of his sin also finds Jesus. He finds the easy yoke and the light burden promised later by Matthew. Like the magi, the saved soul cannot help but worship. He cannot but help to be overjoyed that the irresistible draw by his merciful God led him to a better reward than even he imagined.