Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw 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. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born....Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."...After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. [Matthew 2:1-12 NASB]

Forget your Christmas cards. You know the ones. Mary and Joseph with Jesus in a manger, surrounded by sheep and cattle, with shepherds (and a little drummer boy?). And in their midst are three wise men with their gifts.

It makes for a pretty Christmas card and a compelling church pageant, but it is not the Bible. The magi (wise men) didn't show up at the manger. Matthew doesn't describe the birth of Jesus, but goes on to tell of events that occurred a year or two after His birth. The Magi didn't go to a manger, they went to the house where Jesus lived with Joseph and Mary. After Herod found out when the star appeared, he ordered the death of boys born in and around Bethlehem two years old and younger.

The identity of the magi is unknown. We know only that they came from the east of Israel, but we are not told their nationality. The fact that they were looking for the King of the Jews indicates that they may have been descended from Jews who were taken into captivity generations before. But that is purely speculation.

The word "magi" means that they were scholars, or "scientists". The fact that they followed a star into Judea indicates that they were possibly astrologers; considered a science at the time. The number of magi who made the trip is also unknown. Tradition says there were three, one bearing each gift. But the Bible doesn't limit the number of magi to three. There may have been a large caravan.

There is a lot of speculation about the star that they followed. I think that it was probably not a natural phenomenon like a star or comet. It simply didn't behave in a natural manner. First, it led the magi from the east to the west. Apparently, it disappeared, because they had to stop and ask directions from Herod, the current self-proclaimed "king of the Jews". Herod inquired of the Biblical Scholars where the Messiah was to be born, and they told him, "in Bethlehem, Judea." When they left Herod, the star appeared again, this time leading them Southeast to Bethlehem (about six miles from Jerusalem). Then the star stood still over the house where Jesus lived. Can you look up and tell which star is directly over your house? I can't either. Even if you have sophisticated equipment, and can pinpoint a star it is constantly changing position in the night sky. They don't just stand still. God provided a supernatural light, described as a "star", to guide the magi to Jesus.

When the magi saw Jesus, the first thing they did was fall to the ground and worship Him. Then they offered costly gifts worthy of a king.

We can follow the example of the magi who left everything they knew to find the Messiah. Stepping out in faith, they followed the light, not knowing where it would lead them. Upon finding Jesus, they worshiped Him. They never sought fame or glory for themselves. We never learned there names (nor much of anything else about them.) They didn't write any books or go on tour saying "Look what we have found! Are we great astrologers, or what?" Obeying the direction of God, they quietly left the area. Again, they didn't argue "But we came so far!" They simply obeyed.

All of the focus was where it belonged - on Jesus.