The Visit of the Magi, Matthew 2:1-12
Matt 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem1 of Judea in the days of Herod2 the king, [a]magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews3? For we saw His star4 in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the [b]Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea5; for this is what has been written [c]by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem6, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd7 My people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them [d]the exact time the star4 appeared. 8 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.” 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother8; and they [e]fell to the ground and worshiped Him9. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by God10 in a dream11 not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Footnotes
- Matthew 2:1 A caste of wise men specializing in astronomy, astrology, and natural science
- Matthew 2:4 Gr Christos (Christ)
- Matthew 2:5 Or through
- Matthew 2:7 Lit the time of the appearing star
- Matthew 2:11 Lit prostrated; i.e. face down in a prone position to indicate worship
Commentary
The star, the light, the quiet herald of the greatest gift ever given. As this narrative continues to unfold, the mystery of God’s ways is further revealed to us. The humility of Jesus’ birth in a stable, the unexpected glory bestowed on lowly shepherds in the night, and the silent celestial movement that showed gentile priests where to find Him, all speak to the wonder of a God whose ways are higher than our ways, who had been writing this story since the beginning of time.
God had told us what to look for hundreds of years before. In this passage, we see the scribes reference OT prophecy directly, when explaining to Herod where the Messiah would be born. In case you find any differing references in either the Old or New Testament, Bethlehem, the town five miles south of Jerusalem, was also called Ephrath (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1165). Old Testament prophecy may also be the link for the wise men’s presence, as well. “Perhaps, through the science of astronomy, they observed a new star and for some reason correlated that with the birth of a king. Why they would associate this star with Israel is uncertain. ‘It is entirely conceivable that these men had made contact with Jewish exiles, or with the prophecies and influence of Daniel, and thus were in possession of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah’ (Kent p. 6)” (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1165-1166). If they had heard OT prophecy, they may also have understood the angel Gabriel’s revelation to Daniel regarding the timeline of the Messiah’s coming, being 483 years from the time Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple. They may also have been watching a rare heliocentric astrological configuration, which occurred in March of 5 B.C. and which would not occur again for another 40 million years. This occurrence has been studied by Rick Larson, who determined that “the ‘king’ star (Regulus) crossed the ‘king’ planet (Jupiter) within the constellation of the lion (Leo), ‘king’ of the animals, three times… More than that, the constellation of the lion (which is called that in every language, as far back as records go) has an association with the kingly tribe of Judah. The lion of Judah. The message was all there” (https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/holidays/how-did-the-magi-from-the-east-know/?fbclid=IwAR1yqt1gn9HSQn-7c3esKsC3e9DovT83xDptILHT7ZfPmu_tBczZUUpE8ZY).
Again, very early in the story of Jesus, we see this gentile group of people who are redeemed by the coming of the Messiah. So, who were they? “Wise men were originally the priestly caste among the Persians and Babylonians” (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1165). “The Magi first appear in history by being identified as a tribe of the emerging Median nation in the 7th cent. B.C. Within this tribe there was a strong tradition which favored the exercise of sacerdotal and occult powers within the frame of their religious system, on the part of those who were capable of such activity” (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol. 4, pg. 31). In other words, they were often practicing sorcerers. The Enyclopedia goes on to say they also often possessed great political power, hence the common reference to the Magi as ‘kings’. In the OT (Jer 29:3, 13), Nebuchadnezzar’s chief Magi, Nergal-sharezer, is mentioned by name as one of the principal officials in the court. In secular history, “King Xerxes, son of Darius, is mentioned as having consulted the Magi when formulating his plans for the invasion of Greece” (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol. 4 pg. 32). Daniel was also promoted to chief of the Magi while he was a Babylonian captive and was able to interpret the king’s dream, while the other Magi were stumped (https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/holidays/how-did-the-magi-from-the-east-know/?fbclid=IwAR1yqt1gn9HSQn-7c3esKsC3e9DovT83xDptILHT7ZfPmu_tBczZUUpE8ZY).
From their first mention in the 7th cent. B.C. to the time of Jesus’ birth, they went through many iterations of religious practice and political power, sometimes being stripped of their power in certain geographies, and other times overthrowing the ruling body to regain control. By the time of Herod, both the Jews (under Maccabean rule) and Persians (primarily under the priestly and governmental control of the Magi), had lately gained their independence from Seleucid domination (which had been a result of the conquests of Alexander the Great). Part of the office of the Magi was to elect the king of their realm, so the men who entered Jerusalem looking for Jesus were men who were appointers of kings in Persia (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol 4 pg. 34). Given their political station in Persia, imagine Herod’s concern when they showed up in Jerusalem, claiming they were there to honor a new king. “In Jerusalem the sudden appearance of the Magi, probably traveling in force with all the imaginable oriental pomp, and accompanied by adequate cavalry escort to insure their safe penetration of Roman territory, certainly alarmed Herod and the populace of Jerusalem, as is recorded by Matthew.” In an abrupt entrance that could have looked like a border incident, “their request of Herod regarding him who ‘has been born king of the Jews’, was a calculated insult to him who had contrived and bribed his way into that office” (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol. 4, pg. 34). As a remark on this passage, the three gifts have led us to the picture of three men, but the Bible doesn’t actually say how many were in the convoy. Culturally and for security purposes, it would have been standard for them to travel in numbers.
As we discussed before, Herod was the son of Antipater and was decreed king in 43 B.C. Once he discovered the mission of the magi, the scribes he summoned to explain the messianic prophecy to him would have been mainly Pharisees, functioning as lawyers and judges of the law. Based on the prophetic interpretation they offered Herod, they clearly expected a literal fulfillment of the prophetic scriptures found in Micah and Isaiah. Micah and Isaiah were contemporaries, and their prophecies are interrelated. The scribes would have been expecting a child, or baby (per Isaiah 9:6), born in Bethlehem (per Micah 5:2). After hearing this, Herod ‘secretly’ called the magi, despite the fact that they had likely sought out Herod openly. I suspect he summoned them secretly, however, because he knew he wanted to ask the question of when the star appeared, intending to use that timeline to murder children at his earliest opportunity.
It’s interesting to me that Jesus’ family was still in Bethlehem after the census was over. Some translations say the magi found the baby in a house, possibly a home rented during Mary and Joseph’s stay in the city of David (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1165). I wonder if the journey from Galilee to Bethlehem had exhausted all their funds, and they didn’t have the means to get back. In any case, their extended stay worked providentially into God’s plan, in order that the Pharisees would validate scriptural prophecy, the Magi would find Jesus in the town that was foretold, and that Herod’s ire would force the family to flee, which would later fulfill other prophecy that God’s son would be called out of Egypt.
As far as means are concerned, let’s take a look at the monetary value of the gifts. The magi must have been wealthy themselves, in order to travel that long and far. Certainly, gold has always had great value, and the other gifts would have been costly, as well. Given that the scripture already established that Mary and Joseph were poor (we discussed that in a previous blog about the sacrifice they brought to the temple for Jesus’ presentation), they likely had no savings, so there is some speculation that these gifts were, in part, used to fund the family’s flight to Egypt, which we’ll look at in the next blog post (The Word in Life Study Bible, pg 1620). In today’s economy, some experts value the gifts in the millions of dollars.
As for the significance of each of the gifts, some have suggested that that the gold was a gift for royalty, but hold that the frankincense was to honor a priest and the myrrh for a prophet (https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/holidays/how-did-the-magi-from-the-east-know/?fbclid=IwAR1yqt1gn9HSQn-7c3esKsC3e9DovT83xDptILHT7ZfPmu_tBczZUUpE8ZY). Other traditions agree they were representative of Jesus’ royalty, His deity, and His future as the Suffering Savior, respectively. Certainly, the wise men recognized His deity, since we are told they ‘worshiped Him’ (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1166). It is telling that, just as the others who witnessed the Savior, the Magi experienced exceeding joy and prostrate awe, even though they hadn’t spent their lives studying Jewish prophecy and awaiting the day they would see Him. The Holy Spirit moved in them, and the profoundness of the experience did not escape them.
After the Magi worshiped Jesus, we now see an eighth divine revelation or angelic visit surrounding Jesus’ life and purpose – Elizabeth, Zachariah, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and now Magi. Once the gifts were delivered, the Magi were warned by God in a dream, not to return to Herod. The authors of the gospels had different themes, styles, and purposes, but one of their primary motives was to validate and corroborate the Messiahship of Jesus. As we see divine revelation and intervention time after time in Jesus’ young life, the reader surely begins to think, “This truly must be Him.”
See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2019/02/06/the-family-flees-to-egypt/
Scripture References
1,6Mic 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.
1Lk 2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
2Lk 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
3Jer 23:5 Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.
3Jer 30:9 But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
3Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
3Mt 27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”
3Lk 19:38 shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
3Lk 23:38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
3Jn 1:49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
4Nu 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth
5,6Jn 7:42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
7Jn 21:16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
8Mt 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
8Mt 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.
9Mt 14:33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”
10Mt 2:13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
10Mt 2:19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
10Mt 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,
10Lk 2:26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
10Ac 10:22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”
10Heb 8:5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”
10Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
11Job 33:15 “In a dream, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,
11Mt 1:20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Jer 39:3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the [a]Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the [b]Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
Jer 39:13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard sent word, along with Nebushazban the [a]Rab-saris, and Nergal-sar-ezer the [b]Rab-mag, and all the leading officers of the king of Babylon;
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