F
When they arrived in Jerusalem and inquired concerning where the King of the Jews was to be born, the Scripture says that "when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him"—v. 3:
１
When they heard this news, they should have rejoiced; instead, they were troubled; this is for no other reason than that they were not genuinely seeking the Savior—cf. Prov. 4:23.
２
If one who believes in the Lord is not affected by the Lord as love in his inward emotions, he is not worthy to be called a Christian—2 Tim. 4:8; Mark 12:30; 1 Cor. 2:9.
３
A Christian who expects the Lord to come or who expects to be raptured should take this as a warning—2 Tim. 4:8; Titus 2:13; Rev. 2:28; 22:20; Matt. 24:40-44; 25:8-13.
G
After the magi were corrected by the Scriptures (2:4-6), they went to Bethlehem (vv. 8-9), and the star appeared to them again and led them to the place where Christ was, " and when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" (v. 10):
１
When the magi were corrected by the Scriptures and restored to the right track, the star appeared to them again; living vision always accompanies the Scriptures.
２
The priests were those who taught people the law (Mal. 2:7), and the scribes were those who knew the Scriptures (Ezra 7:6); both the priests and the scribes had knowledge concerning the birth of Christ (Matt. 2:5-6), but unlike the magi from the east, they did not see the vision, nor did they have the heart to seek after Christ.
３
Regardless of how "scriptural" we are, if we lose the presence of the Lord, we are absolutely wrong; the New Testament way to find and follow the Lord is to continually stay in His hidden presence—John 5:39-40; Isa. 45:15; Exo. 33:11, 14; cf. 2 Cor. 5:16.
４
It is easy to accumulate scriptural knowledge, but if we would have living guidance, we must live in an intimate relationship with the Lord; we must be one with Him—Matt. 2:10-14.
５
The magi saw Christ, and they worshipped Him; then they were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, so they departed into their own country "by another way" (v. 12); once we have seen Christ, we never take the same way, the way of religion apart from Christ, but we will always take another way.
Morning Nourishment
Micah 5:2 (But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, so little to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come forth to Me He who is to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are from ancient times, from the days of eternity.)Matt. 2:10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
When the magi arrived in Jerusalem, Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him (Matt. 2:3)…Why was all Jerusalem troubled at the birth of the One for whom they were waiting? This is religion. I am afraid that many who are seemingly for the Lord’s return will be troubled by His coming.
Then Herod called the chief priests and scribes of the people together and inquired of them where the Christ was to be born (v. 4). The scribes were those among the people who had doctor’s degrees in theology. Immediately, they answered, “Bethlehem.” They gave him the right book, the right chapter, and the right verse. They quoted Micah 5:2, but did any one of them go to Bethlehem? Not one! They were troubled by the news, but no one cared to go and see what had happened. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, “New Testament Service,” pp. 278-279)
Today’s Reading
Then the magi left Jerusalem, and, “Behold, the star which they saw at its rising led them…When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matt. 2:9-10). When the magi came into religion, they missed the star; but when they left religion, the star appeared to them. They could not find living guidance in Jerusalem. They did not receive the heavenly vision in religion; they had to leave. When they departed from Jerusalem, behold, the star went before them. In principle, it is the same today.Micah 5:2 was the holy writing, the Holy Scripture, prophesying that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. However, by that verse alone you could not find Jesus. You would know in what city Jesus was to be born, but you would not know on what street or in what house…Even if you have the knowledge of the Scriptures, you still need the instant, up-to-date, living star to lead you to the very street and the very house where Jesus is. You may have the Bible knowledge, but you still need the living guidance…It is easy to accumulate scriptural knowledge, but if you would have living guidance, you need to live in an intimate relationship with the Lord; you need to be one with Him.
The Word says that the star “led them until it came and stood over the place where the child was” (Matt. 2:9). The heavenly star led the magi to the very spot. This is all we need…How can we find Christ and serve Him? Not merely by Bible knowledge but by the living star. Not one found Christ merely according to Bible knowledge; those who followed the heavenly star found Him and worshipped Him. Do we need the knowledge of the Scriptures? Of course we do. It helps, but there is a condition: the living, instant guidance, the guidance of this very moment to lead us to the very spot where Jesus is, is indispensable. Without this living guidance we may know the Bible, but we may not be able to arrive where Jesus is. It is the living guidance that brings us to Jesus so that we may worship Him and offer our gifts to Him.
The magi saw Christ, and they worshipped Him. Then we read in the Bible some significant words—they were divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod; therefore, they departed “by another way” to their country (Matt. 2:12)…After we have seen the living Christ, we will take another way; we will not go the same way we came…We came the wrong way; now the Lord has adjusted us so that we will go on by the right way. We should not go back through Jerusalem…If we have seen Christ, we need to take another way. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, “New Testament Service,” pp. 279-280)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1990, vol. 1, “The Triune God to Be Life to the Tripartite Man,” ch. 9; CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, “New Testament Service,” chs. 5—6