Wise Men Seek the Habitation of Jesus
- Elijah McSwain
- Aug 26
- 10 min read
8/25/2025
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Matthew 2:1-11 NKJV — Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
In ancient biblical days, the birth of Jesus was one of the most highly anticipated events ever to take place. Many people eagerly anticipated the prophetic arrival of the Creator, Savior, Redeemer, and Deliverer into the world. The birth of Jesus, as foretold long ago, stirred many regions of the world with news of His arrival. The writing of Matthew chapter 2 reflects this very realism as wise men who were likely from the region of Persia were overjoyed at His entry from afar. They were intrigued by the coming of Jesus, connected to the luminary symbol that God placed in the sky as a sign of Jesus’ arrival.
The wise men were astrologers who studied stars. The star they saw in the east captivated their attention, prompting them to inquire about the star and the person it symbolized.
Therefore, these men embark on a journey to discover the answer to their inner emptiness related to their curiosity about Jesus. They wanted to know with certainty who He was, as they were drawn to this divine and miraculous event performed by God's hand.
In the same respect, the birth of Jesus is still among the most talked-about events in human history. People are attracted to this significant event, and they consequently seek Scripture regarding its truth and importance. The reason for such a gravitating pull of curiosity being present concerning the initial moments of the life of Jesus is a result of God drawing people to Himself through the desire of wanting to know about Jesus. As God places an inward desire for people to search out the truth, it is wise on our part to engage in doing so. As we consider wise people still seek Jesus, we need to realize that wise men seek the dwelling place of Jesus. In analyzing this thought, Wise Men Seek the Habitation of Jesus, two main movements will connect us to this idea of what is outlined in Matthew 2:3-9. The first prevailing thought is that wise men are attracted to the habitation of Jesus and secondly, wise men are guided to the habitation of Jesus.
Wise Men Are Attracted to the Habitation of Jesus
The main focus of the opening verses in Matthew chapter 2 highlights the wise men coming from the east to ask about the whereabouts of Jesus, saying that “where is He who is born King of the Jews?” (v. 2). This indicates that the wise men were drawn to Jesus’ dwelling place. They wanted to find out where Jesus was living. Upon the wise men having curious minds about the King of the Jews, the circulation of their inquiry reached the ears and attention of King Herod. Therefore, in verse three, King Herod and all of Jerusalem were troubled by the news of the one regarded as King of the Jews. They were alarmed because they saw it as a threat to King Herod's throne. The news of this prompted King Herod to gather all the chief priests and scribes to ask where the Christ was to be born. (v. 4)
So, they said to him in Bethlehem of Judea, for it is written, “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not among the least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (vv. 5-6). In verses seven to nine, upon hearing this, Herod secretly called the wise men to gather information about the appearance of the star. After learning about the star, he sent the wise men to Bethlehem to find the child and report back so he could pretend to worship Jesus. But King Herod’s pretense of worship was an attempt to bring harm to Jesus. After hearing the instructions of the king, the wise men left and followed the star until they reached the habitation of the Christ child. This summary of our text highlights the importance of the wise men being drawn to Bethlehem to find Jesus.
The Significance of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, which means House of Bread, was a small town located approximately five to six miles south of Jerusalem. Despite its size, it was a place of significance in the ancient world, resulting from God's appointment of Bethlehem as the place of Jesus’ arrival into the world. Micah 5:2 (NKJV) stated this truth: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
Bethlehem was located in the district of Ephrathah, which means the place of fruitfulness. How fitting that the birthplace of Jesus is engraved within Scripture, aligning it with ancient prophecy, connecting to its fulfillment, and intertwined with rich biblical meaning. The Bread of Life, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, known as the House of Bread, within the district of Ephrathah, the place of fruitfulness.
McComiskey addressed that “The focal point in redemptive history is none other than the insignificant town of Bethlehem, showing that Israel’s future greatness does not depend on a great human king but on divine intervention to bring greatness out of nothing.” 1 John 6:35 (NKJV) records, “And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” Those who desire Christ seek Him as the living bread. William MacDonald asserted, “Those who come to Him find enough in Him to satisfy their spiritual hunger forever. Those who believe on Him find their thirst forever quenched.” 2 The place where those who hunger and thirst spiritually can be filled in Christ.
Psalm 107:9 proclaims, “For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Charles Spurgeon wrote, “There is an abundance in the supply which is well worthy of notice: the Lord does nothing in a niggardly fashion; satisfying and filling are his peculiar modes of treating his guests; none who come under the Lord’s providing ever complain of short commons. Nor does he fill the hungry with common fare, but with goodness itself.” 3 The mighty deeds of Jesus would be very impactful in the lives of all those whom the infant child would later touch in His adult life.
Out of Bethlehem would come the King of kings and the Lord of lords. His name would resonate throughout the nations and every generation, touching the lives of those who would seek after Him.
The wise men looked upon the place of Bethlehem with hope, as out of its province would come the Savior of the world, a Liberator, a Deliverer, a Redeemer, God in human flesh through incarnation, and many other aspects of His deity. They were attracted to the place of His habitation in connection with the importance of His biblical revelation and person. They were seeking Jesus to encounter the truth. Likewise, people should look to Jesus; He is the place where redemption is found. He is the place where deliverance is found. He is the place where joy is found. The Lord is the place where sinners can be liberated from sin in their quest for Him. Isaiah 55:6-7 affirms, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”
The Correlation of Seeking the Place of His Habitation Today
Today, the habitation of God is not in the physical location of Bethlehem as it was in the biblical days of the wise men. His habitation is in heaven. One may ask, how do you seek Jesus’ habitation in heaven? The answer is found in the reality that we are to seek the heavenly and divine things of God, which is reflective of His habitation in heaven.
In other words, what exists in heaven and is manifested on earth should be humanity’s pursuit.
Mankind should seek the kingdom of heaven and all of His righteousness as depicted in Matthew 6:33. We are considered wise in the eyes of God when we submit to the things of godliness.
Wise men are to seek the things of heaven because heaven is a place of divine wisdom, a place of satisfaction, a place of joy, a place of peace, a place of hope, a place of righteousness, a place of holiness, a place of salvation, a place of restoration, a place of transformation, a place of refuge, a place of purpose, and a place of fulfillment.
All of these things the human populace should seek, as these things are encompassed within God. Many people pursue temporary things in an attempt to find purpose, fulfillment, security, etc., but these can truly only be found in the Lord. Jesus is the place of true satisfaction. Psalm 90:1 (NKJV) mentions “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” He is a safe abode that humanity should seek after. In the Lord, we are able to find everything that we need in the place of His habitation. Jesus grants fulfillment to those who actively seek after Him.
It is written that “He that dwelleth in God cannot be unhoused, because God is stronger than all; neither can any one take another out of his hands, John 10:29. Here, then, it is best for us…to seek a supply of all our wants in God alone.” 4
Wise Men Are Guided to the Habitation of Jesus
Notice in verse nine, when the wise men heard King Herod, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the east rose (as other translations state) and went before them until it came and stood over where the young Child was. It is vitally important to understand that God guided the wise men by the star in the sky as a roadmap or GPS to point them toward the King of the Jews. The New Testament Commentary verbalized “The star which they had seen in the east had evidently disappeared before they reached Jerusalem, but now it reappeared when its guidance was needed. Their exceeding joy at seeing it arose from the fact that without some guidance they might be unable to find the child they sought, and partly also from the fact that it was an assurance of God’s presence and approval. The star served another important purpose which was unperceived by the magi. It enabled them to find the child without making such inquiries in Bethlehem as would have directed public attention to him, and have interfered with his escape from a danger yet unforeseen.” 5The wise men needed the illumination of God in order to find Jesus.
The wise men wisely allowed the guiding light to lead them toward Jesus.
If it were not for the illumination of the light from the star, the wise men would have been lost in the darkness of the night as they traveled. The star purposefully guided them to the place of His habitation to behold the Christ Child. John Gill articulated, “This star had a motion, kept pace with them, and was a guide unto them, till it and they came to the place where Christ was; and then it stood directly over the house, so that they had no need to inquire of any person for him. It is certain from hence, that this star was indeed a very unusual one; its being seen in the daytime, its motion and standing still, its situation, which must be very low, and its use to point out the very house where Christ was.” 6
Likewise, today wise men are guided toward the Savior to be acquainted with Him by His radiant light. For the unbeliever, God uses the Light of Christ to guide the lost to the place of saving faith.
Matthew 4:16-17 (NKJV) is written “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John 8:12 (NKJV) affirms, “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 12:35-36 (ESV) remarks, “So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
Ephesians 5:13-14 (ESV) is penned, “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
For the believer, we are guided by the Light of God to lead us on the path of righteousness.
Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:130-133 (NKJV) states, “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.”
Psalm 37:5-6 (NKJV) implies “Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.”
God uses the Light of the World and the Bright Morning Star to guide both the saved and the unsaved to the place of Jesus’ habitation.
Are you allowing the light to illuminate your mind? Are you allowing the light to pierce the darkness of your soul? Are you allowing the light to lead you toward Jesus? Are you allowing the Light of Christ to draw you toward heaven?
Notes
Believer’s Bible Commentary
Spurgeon, C. H. n.d. The Treasury of David: Psalms 88-110. Vol. 4. London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.
The New Testament Commentary Vol. 1
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
