Matthew 2:1-12
Gold, frankincense and myrrh are
well known as the gifts of the wise men.
No doubt, these were meant to be representative of the products of the
nation from which they came, and as such, they represent the first homage or
respect paid by the Gentiles or the nations to the Jewish King and Messiah. A day is coming when all people everywhere will
acknowledge Him as King and Messiah.
These men were the first from among the Gentiles.
The three gifts do not mean there
were three wise men, nor do we know their names. Much ambiguity exists about the visit of the
wise men because Matthew's account is brief and therefore limited in detail. As the first representatives of the Gentiles or
nations to give homage to the King of the Jews, these men represent us. They represent the truth that God has caused
light to shine in the darkness. 1 John
4:9 tells us:
In this
the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the
world, so that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9, ESV
This then is what I wish to look
at today, how the love of God was made clear among us by the birth of His
Son. I believe we see this in the story
of the wise men and their journey to Bethlehem. My approach will be to consider who these wise
men were, their time and place, their journey and the person all these elements
led them to. In all these things, we
will see the hand of God.
Matthew 2:1 says:
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... Matthew
2:1, ESV
The term translated "wise
men" in our Bibles is the Greek word "μάγοι" (magoi). This is the word from which we get our word
"magic" or "magician."
The term "Magi" was used in the Septuagint, by Philo, Josephus
and by other writers of the New Testament era in both an evil and a good
sense. The evil sense refers to those
who practiced magical arts that we would term witches or warlocks. The good sense refers to Eastern (especially
Babylonian or Persian) priests or sages, whose research seems to have embraced
much deep knowledge that was a mixture of science and superstition. While this knowledge is alluded to in the
Bible, much of it remains lost to us.[1] However, the influences of idolatry and
demons in the religion of the Babylonians and Persians were great.
Speculation and theories as to
what country in the east these men came from would take volumes and many hours
to cover. At the period in question, the
priestly caste of the Medes and Persians was dispersed throughout what would
have been called the East. In addition,
the Jews were also dispersed throughout the same area. This would make the knowledge of the great
hope of Israel available to the sages of many places. The oldest opinion, though on insufficient
evidence, traces the origin of the wise men to Arabia. In favor of this view is that at the time
there was a close relationship between Palestine and Arabia. In addition, from about 120 B.C. to about the
sixth century A.D., the kings of Yemen held to the Jewish religion.[2]
Because these wise men lived in a
time where the Jews were widely dispersed, and because they lived in the area
of the world where these things took place, they were in a position to play a
role in the story of the Gospel. We are
not told the details of who they were and how they got there, but we are told
they came, worshipped and gave gifts.
The stories of the people in the
Bible and history are all stories of people in the right time and place. Abraham, Ruth, David and Esther are all
stories of the right person for the time and place of God's choosing. They did not start out that way. Abraham was from an idolatrous nation. Ruth was from an idolatrous people. David was a shepherd, and Esther lived in the
palace of a Pagan king, but God took each one on a journey that led to great
things. In addition, Pharaoh,
Nebuchadnezzar and Herod all had their place in the story. It all fit together so that as Romans 5:6
says:
You
see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the
ungodly. Romans
5:6, NIV
We almost never know the purpose
that God is working through us. However,
God has worked in each of our lives to bring us to this time and this
place. God even works in the bad things
that happen. I am not saying that the
bad things are not bad. I am saying that
God works in them. I think of Joseph,
the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Many years later, he told his brothers:
As for
you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about
that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis
50:20, ESV
It is strange that wise men from
the east should know before the people of the land that the King of the Jews
had been born, but God worked through history and circumstances that these men
should know. He has done the same for
you. However, the wise men did not know
all the details before they arrived.
They made a journey, a journey of hope and discovery.
They knew from the star that there
had been one born who was king of the Jews.
However, they did not know where.
Thus, they went to Jerusalem.
Matthew 2:2 says they asked:
"Where
is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come
to worship him." Matthew
2:2, ESV
It was from the Jews that they
then learned that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. However, it was not just the wise men that
were changed by all this. Matthew 2:3
tells us:
The wise men did not set out to
stir up trouble. They were following the
light they had. Why were there not more
who recognized His coming? Why did not
the Jewish people, the priests and scribes recognize the signs of His
arrival? Jesus said:
But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find
it. Matthew
7:14, NIV
The wise men saw the signs. They took these signs seriously and followed
them. It was a small gate and narrow,
and it took them on a journey of discovery, growth and learning. The priests, scribes and even the king had
more opportunity to see the signs. The
priests and scribes lived and studied the scriptures that had led the wise
men. Surely, these whose very lives were
immersed in the scriptures had more opportunity to see the signs. However, their hearts were hard and they did
not follow what knowledge they had.
Later on Jesus told them:
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.” When Jesus had said these
things, he departed and hid himself from them.
John 12:35-36, ESV
The Jews had the light. The light lived among them, walked among them
and talked to them. Yet, they did not
acknowledge, see or understand the light.
Jesus came to make the truth clear to them, but they were blind and
could not see it.
I wonder which you and I will
be. Will we be like the wise men who
responded to the truth they had, or will we be like the priests and scribes who
were able to tell the wise men where to go, but did not go themselves? It was only 5 miles. Why did not any of the people troubled in
Jerusalem go to see what the wise men were seeking? The wise men traveled many miles, and these
people could not be troubled to travel five.
This is also the reason the truth is not clear to many of our day. Jesus taught:
“Ask
and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be
opened." Matthew
7:7-8, NIV
The wise men traveled seeking and
they found what they were looking for.
Matthew 2:9-10 tells us:
After
they 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. Matthew
2:9-10, NIV
God provided supernatural guidance
on the last part of the journey. This
guidance led them to the place where the child was. Their search ended in a child, a person. They were overjoyed and they fell down and
worshipped. The NIV says they were
overjoyed which is toned down from what the original says. The original says they rejoiced with
exceedingly great joy, using the strongest language possible to express the
greatness of their joy.
The truth is not a philosophy, a
place or a point in time. The truth is a
Person, and when the wise men reached the end of their journey they were
overcome with joy at seeing the One who is the light of the world.
Jesus taught:
“I am
the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me." John
14:6, NIV
God sent His Son and made manifest
His love. The wise men saw the signs and
sought to know more. In their seeking,
they met the One who is the way and the truth and the life. While all Jerusalem was troubled over what
the wise men said, the wise men walked 1 hour and 50 minutes to Bethlehem to
see the truth for themselves. Why were
they the only ones?
Christmas has brought us again to
the star and the stable. The One born
King of the Jews invites us to come. God
has brought you to this point. Enter at
the small gate.