Raleigh
Bible Study Materials
THEY BOWED DOWN AND WORSHIPED HIM
Matthew 2: 1 - 12
24 Dec 2023
Questionnaire
THEY BOWED DOWN AND WORSHIPED HIM
Matthew 2:1-12
Key Verse: 2:11
“On 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, frankincense and myrrh.”
1. Read verses 1-2. When and where was Jesus born? (1a) Who were the Magi and what initiated their journey? (1b-2; cf. Numbers 24:17-19) What enabled them to sacrifice and endure the hardships required to make such a journey? What is “worship”? (Psalm 96:7-9; refer to “Westminster Catechism”1) How can we enter into genuine worship? (Deuteronomy 6:5; John 4:24; Hebrews 10:19-22)
2. Read verses 3-8. What does King Herod’s and the people’s response to the Magi’s visit reveal about them? What does the prophecy teach us about Jesus? Why does a human being need the Shepherd King?
3. Read verses 9-10. What made the Magi overjoyed and why? What does the star represent to us today? (John 5:39; 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16) How can we find true joy?
4. Read verses 11-12. Notice the verbs that describe the Magi’s encounter with the child Jesus. What do they tell us about the Magi’s heart response to Jesus? What was the meaning of their gifts?
5. In light of this passage, who is Jesus? (2, 6, 11) In what sense is Jesus worthy of our worship? (Revelation 5:12) What can we learn from the Magi’s pilgrimage and worship? Why is it so important for us to worship Jesus?
Westminster Larger Catechism, Question One: “What is the chief and highest end of man? Answer: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.”↩︎
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