Who were the Magi?
Many grew up with nativity stories that featured camels bearing magi to greet the newborn king in the manger.
That’s true–sort of. Let’s look at the passage and rethink the story from a different angle.
Magi= wise men, seers, learned astronomers. Matthew 2:1-18 tells us they came from the east to Jerusalem.
East of Jerusalem at that time (much like today), the land stretched barren and relatively unpopulated. The “east” probably would have included the area of the Fertile Crescent, and the center of learning, Babylon.
While we do not know, exactly, who these magi/kings/seers were, we can surmise they were wealthy–or at least had wealthy patrons–to have made such a journey carrying their infamous gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When they saw a “star” in the sky, they decided it marked something important. They gathered what they needed and headed west–on a journey that probably took some time.
The text explains their motivation through their surprised question when they arrived in a somnolent Jerusalem, not celebrating:
“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.”
They knew they sought a male baby, he was the King of the Jews. They wanted to worship him, and they had seen his star.
Whatever that star was, there are plenty of suggestions–see Christianity Today or Reasons to Believe. The star was unusual in prompting such an enormous response at a time when travel was complicated, dangerous, and time-consuming.
We don’t know if they had access to the Hebrew Scriptures. The fact they understood who they sought suggests they believed a significant event had occurred.
Why are magi included in the nativity story?
The magi add a historic element to the story:
- Setting the time, during Herod’s reign;
- Indicating even those who were not Jewish understood the significance;
- *Demonstrating the emptiness of temple worship at the time;
- Helps us understand Herod and his scribes were not reliable witnesses.
Herod’s corrupt kingdom administration had influenced the temple authorities’ refusal to act in accordance with the Hebrew texts.
The magi’s visit also lets us see that Jesus did not remain forever in a stable. His family moved into a dwelling, and, as we see next time, Joseph was still having dreams from God.
What’s interesting about the Matthew passage is that while the narrator is omniscient, the opening scene at Herod’s court is basically told from the point of view of folks in Jerusalem, not the magi themselves.
Why did the magi come?
The magi made no pretense about why they had come. They would have traveled in an entourage of servants and guards–probably on camels, which you can read about here.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they expected the town to be buzzing about that new king. Instead, nothing.
But their question inspired others in that Judean hill country. Some must have remembered all the fantastic things that happened–Zachariah in the temple, the shepherds, Anna, and Simeon.
The questions eventually reached Herod’s court, and he, though only half-Jewish, understood something momentous had happened.
Maybe a minor temple priest’s story, shepherds, and the others were insignificant to a man under Rome’s authority. But wealthy magi from afar seemed to know something he didn’t–and expected him to have answers.
Before calling in the magi to confer in private, he called together all his priests and scribes. These men should have informed Herod of this coming. Herod asked them.
They knew the answer, anyone trained in the Hebrew Scriptures could have pointed him to the answer.
“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.”
An angry and suspicious King
If you were the king, wouldn’t you be angry you didn’t know the “usurper” to your throne had been born not a few miles away?
He called in the magi. Herod needed to know when this king had been born.
Perhaps the star the magi had followed had not been apparent in the Judean hill country; that may be the reason the local authorities missed its appearance.
(Did no one report angels appearing to shepherds? Were shepherds considered unreliable sources?)
The magi, having no reason to suppose a half-Jewish ruler would not share in their excitement, gave him the date.
Herod thanked them and sent them on their way. He covered his duplicity by suggesting they return and fill him in.
“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.”
Do you think he didn’t send spies to follow the magi?
The magi followed
“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.”
I wonder if the star had disappeared from sight, and it only reappeared after their meeting with Herod. Regardless, they followed it again to the house where Jesus was living with Mary and Joseph. They entered and worshiped that new-born king, giving him their gifts–valuable items if sold.
Like Joseph, they were responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and when they were warned in a dream, they returned to their home country a different way, without reporting to Herod.
Interestingly, it was that same night that Joseph got his next dream.
The feast of the Three Wise Kings is celebrated on Epiphany–January 6.
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