Outsiders

Pete Kersker - Dec 31, 2025

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2 NIV)

We've already seen that Matthew and Luke wrote about the birth of Jesus from two different perspectives. Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience.  Luke wrote to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Matthew communicated to his Jewish audience, though, that Jesus was not born just for the Israelites. He was born to lead all nations to the LORD.

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel'" (Matthew 2:3-6 NIV).

Matthew's account of the Magi actually gives us insight into two different groups of outsiders (non-Jewish people). The Magi were wise men from the (potentially really far) east. Herod was a leader put in charge by the Roman Empire. Their reaction to the birth of Jesus was completely different.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." (Matthew 2:7-8 NIV).

The Magi, as we read on, came to worship this Jewish king because they wanted to honor and even worship him. Herod said he wanted to do the same, but he really wanted to prevent Jesus from becoming king. Herod did not trust that Jesus was sent by God.

After [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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 (Matthew 2:9-11 NIV).

Jesus was not sent just for his Jewish family who needed to be reconciled with the LORD. He was sent for everyone; outsiders included. Actually, everyone in Jesus' day was an outsider who needed to be brought back to the LORD. We are all  still outsiders today. That's why we need Jesus' help. He offers that help to all of us outsiders. We decide how we will respond.

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, [the Magi] returned to their country by another route (Matthew 2:12 NIV).

Have you ever thought about yourself as an "outsider" that Jesus was sent to help?
How do you respond to Jesus' offer to help you come back home to God?