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Worship Jesus
Worship Jesus
When the Magi came before Jesus, they fell down and worshiped Him (Matt. 2:11).
The word translated 'worship' here is from the Greek word 'proskuneo'. It has been pointed out that 'proskuneo' is literally to "kiss the hand towards one", and was usually done along with 'bowing down'. It was sometimes used of an 'inferior' acknowledging the position and power of a 'superior' (cp. Matt. 18:26). Yet it also was used to mean 'to worship, to reverence'. The King James translated it "worship' in all 60 occurrences of this word. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament states: " Almost three-quarters of the instances of προσκυνεῖν in the LXX [Septuagint] relate to veneration and worship of the true God and Lord or to that of false gods."
We can gain insight into how this word was used in regard to Jesus as we read of Satan's tempting Him. Satan came and said to Him: "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Here he requested that Jesus 1) fall down (pipto) and 2) worship (proskuneo). Such 'worship' was in addition to the 'falling down before' him. To this Jesus replied: “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve’ ” (Matthew 4:9-10). We see then that Matthew has Jesus using the word 'proskuneo' for that worship which is given to God.
In Matthew 15, Jesus quotes Isaiah as saying: " This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (15:8-9). Again we see the word 'proskuneo' meaning to worship and not just a literal 'kissing the hand toward".
When Peter met Cornelius, Cornelius "fell down at his feet and worshiped him". Peter immediately refused this, lifting him up, and saying, "Stand up, I too am a man" (Acts 10:25-26). The angel in Rev. 19:10; 22:9 also refused to let John do worship him, for he was a fellow servant of God and thus unworthy of such worship. The angel THEN instructed John to WORSHIP (same word) God. After ascribing unto the Lamb the same praise as they had given unto God, (cp. 4:9-11 and 5:12-13), it says the elders 'fell down (pipto) and worshiped' Jesus (Rev. 5:14). Paul used this word saying that when a visitor to the assembly has "the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face (pipto), he will worship God and declare that God is really among you" (1Cor. 14:25). God himself instructed the angels of God to worship the Son (Heb. 1:6).
When used in regard to Jesus, such bowing down is to acknowledge Him as the Son of God and thus to worship Him. This worship of Jesus began when the Magi came to worship Him (2:2, 11). When Herod learned what they were going to do, he (falsely) said he too wanted to come and worship this king Jesus.
We see people worshipping Him when they acknowledged His power to heal them miraculously: the leper wanting to be healed (8:2); the ruler wanting his servant to be healed (9:18); the Syrophoenician woman wanting Him to cast out the demon from her daughter (15:24). While they may have 'bowed the knee', it was done in acknowledgment of His great character. These are all translated 'worship' by the ASV.
When the apostles saw His power as He walked on water and calmed the storm, they worshiped Him saying: "truly you are the Son of God" (Matt. 14:33). After Jesus was raised from the dead, the women met Him. They then took hold of his feet and worshiped Him (28:9). When the disciples afterward met Jesus, they worshiped Him. These all indicate something more than just the bowing of the knee, such were done as acts of reverence, respect, and praise. They worshiped Him.
Luke adds that, when the apostle beheld him ascend into the heavens, they worshiped Him. Those that acknowledge his ascension unto glory continue to do so for He is worthy.
Hugh DeLong
