The Visit of the Magi--I Have Questions!

I. Introduction:

Text read: Matthew 2:1–12 “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, saying, “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.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

Resist the Lullaby effect.

We had heard that so many times, that it has become too familiar to many of us.

Other’s interpretations have become our assumptions.

Art, movies, and countless Christmas plays have rounded out the hard edges of the story.

Actual historical settings have been lost.

Here’s an example of what I mean, and it will also serve as a reminder of Mike’s sermon last week.

I had never taken a hard, academic, historical-geographical look at this passage before being asked to teach it.

I discovered that I had more questions than answers, and pursuing the answers to these questions has been so edifying, that I wanted to deliver this sermon to you this morning in as close a parallel as I could to my own journey through it!

So let’s start with some easy warm-ups.

What were the “wise men” in Matthew 2?

Kings of three different nations, representing the three sons of Noah.

Sages from India that were later baptized by Thomas when he went there as a missionary.

Middle-Eastern Magicians/Astrologers who served in royal courts as spiritual advisors.

How many Wise men were there?

Three

Twelve

We have no idea.

When did the Wise men arrive?

When Jesus was a newborn.

When Jesus was a toddler.

When Jesus was a pre-teen.

How did the Wise men travel?

By foot

By horse

By camel

We have no idea.

What was the star that they followed?

A supernova

Jupiter as it traveled retrograde through Virgo.

A comet

A conjunction of several planets with the star regulus.

We have no idea.

Goal: To discover the historical/political setting behind the story of the Wise Men and see with new eyes the meaning of their worship.

I will pursue this goal with you through three questions, two observations, and one appeal.

Question #1: Who were the Wise Men?

Matthew 2:1-2.

Herodutus’ Histories, Book 1.101: “Deiokes then united the Median race alone, and was ruler of this : and of the Medes there are the tribes which here follow, namely, Busai, Paretakenians, Struchates, Arizantians, Budians, Magians : the tribes of the Medes are so many of number.”

So a Median tribe, one of 6.

They were best known for being very curious and willing to talk to and learn from everyone.

Acquired knowledge from other ethnic groups in their region and passed it down to future generations.

Herodotus also identifies them as the priestly tribe, officiating over all the state sacrifices.

They interpret dreams for the royal family (Cyrus, Xerxes).

They were highly involved in education, both public and in the private education and tutoring of the children of powerful families, especially the royals.

They chose the next king, or at least validated the succession of the crown, in the Babylonian, Persian, and Parthian empires.

They established and maintained the first public library in the world.

While they would learn anything anyone had to teach them, their two most sought bodies of knowledge had to do with the two ways that they believed that the gods spoke to men:

Dreams

The Stars

A biography of Pythagorus details how he, as a young man, went to Egypt to study mathematics but was captured as a prisoner when the Persians invaded and conquered Egypt in 525 BC.

Pythagorus was then educated by the Magi before being given his freedom and returning to Greece.

He credited his advancement in geometry and mathematics to his time with the Magi.

So the next time you calculate the missing side of a right triangle, you can thank the Magi.

Their impact on wider society:

The Proto-Indio-European language root “Magh,” means “great” or “powerful.”

Impossible to know if the root originated because of their tribal name or vice-versa, if they were called by that name because they were great and powerful.

This root came into Greek in the root word “Mega”

Came into Latin in the root word “Magnus”

Magistrate

Magisterium

Their tribal name definitely is directly the root of all words associated with Magic, as their knowledge and skill in science and religion, to vastly less-educated masses, looked like occultic knowledge and power, although the most reliable sources do not indicate that they claimed this power.

Their appearance in scripture:

In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar won the battle of Carchemish, giving him control over what was once the Assyrian empire, including northern Israel. He was also victorious over Pharaoh Neco II, who had been the overlord of Judah, so Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem in 605 BC and took plunder from the temple and children from the noble families of Judah, including Daniel.

The book of Daniel follows the story of this young noble prisoner of war in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar and those who came after him.

In Daniel 2, The newly-crowned Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar needs a dream interpreted, and withholds the description of the dream, testing to see whether his advisors actually do have a connection to the gods.

Daniel 2:2 “Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.”

The Magi are mentioned alongside other classes of wise men that were overtly involved in occultic practices. In contrast, the Magi were more the ancient scientists and philosophers.

Daniel is not among the wise men in the room because he is still a youth in training.

When the wise men disappoint the King, he sentences them all to death, including Daniel and his friends.

Daniel prays to God and is able to do what the Magi are best at (dream interpretation) when they failed.

Dan 2: 31-35 records the vision that the King saw, of a statue made of four different metals and with feet of clay mixed with iron.

A stone not cut by human hands strikes the statue on the feet and breaks it and then grows into a mountain.

Daniel the gives the interpretation in Daniel 2:36–45

God’s kingdom will come in the time of the fourth kingdom to rule over God’s people—Rome.

The kingdom will come in a small way but grow to cover the whole earth.

It will overshadow and undo all the power of the previous three kingdoms.

He saves the lives of all the wise men and is put in charge of them all, as a teenage boy, because God was clearly with him.

Daniel 2:46–49 “Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.”

Daniel received other visions (Ch 7, 8, and 9) that gave more information about the coming of Messiah.

Daniel 7:13–14 ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Messiah will be a man and will be God.

Messiah will come during the fourth kingdom and will judge it.

All nations should worship this Messiah.

Daniel 9:24-27 lays out the famous 70 weeks of Daniel, which many believe lays out the timeline for the arrival of the first advent of Messiah.

The Magi would have kept this information and added it to their knowledge that was passed from generation to generation.

This is why they were looking for a coming Jewish king around the time that Jesus was born.

During the Roman era, while Jerusalem was under Roman control, the east was under the control of the Parthians. They reinstated the Magi to all the same seats of power that they had once enjoyed.

Advisors

Educators

Judges

Kingmakers

Priests

“Scientists”

In summary, then, the Magi:

Holders of ancient knowledge.

Educators

Deeply religious

Scientists before their time

Kingmakers

When John Henry Hopkins wrote “We Three Kings” in 1857 for the General Theological Seminary’s Christmas pageant, he started off with:

“We three kings of orient are...”

Should be “We moderately-sized company of ancient scholar-priests from Parthia are....”

Doesn’t quite roll off the tongue.

Question #2: What can be known about the Star?

Not much. This will be a shorter segment.

What the text says:

The Magi saw the star “When it rose” or “In the East” vs 2.

Same Greek word.

ἀνατολή anatolē 11× pr. a rising of the sun, etc.; the place of rising, the east,

It was a sign that the king had come, but not location-specific.

Nobody in Jerusalem had noticed or was intrigued by it.

They did not know where to go when they got to Judea vs 2.

After inquiring of the priests, they left for Bethlehem.

They saw the star again over Bethlehem, implying that it had disappeared (vs 9).

They re-sighting of the star brought them joy and indicated the house (vs 10).

If it was a natural event, we need to identify an astronomical occurrence that is:

Unexpected.

Visible to the Magi

Unremarkable to other observers.

Bright, then disappears, then re-appears.

Can indicate a particular home in a city.

Several arguments are made for several possible natural phenomena, but they all fail.

Planetary conjunction in 7 BC.

Noted by Jewish, Babylonian, and Chinese astronomers.

Would have been constant, not intermittent.

Would have been predictable.

Could not have indicated a house.

Supernovae on March 14 of 5 BC.

Noticed by the Chinese and Babylonian Astronomers.

No record that it was noticed by the Jews.

Lingering light was visible for 70 days.

Didn’t re-appear.

Couldn’t have indicated a particular home.

Haley’s comet in 12 BC.

Would have appeared, disappeared, and reappeared.

Could maybe have pointed to a home, if it looked like an arrow in the morning.

Way too early.

Comets were signs of death, not birth to ancient astrologers.

The “Revelation 12 Sign.”

Rev 12:1-6 can be read as a combination of astronomical events.

It happens on a predictable cycle.

It occured on Sept 1, 3 BC.

Would have been able to be known by the Magi, who had detailed star charts.

Would have been unknown to the Jews.

Cannot ever be seen, because it happens during the day.

Herod the Great was already dead.

No good natural phenomena.

John MacArthur and others have seen reason in the text to interpret the word “star” most figuratively, and not as a literal celestial object.

One possible Greek word for “star” in scripture , Astron, ἄστρον,only ever means a normal celestial body.

The other word, Asteer, ἀστήρ, usually has a figurative meaning, frequently pointing to an angel.

If it is an angel, or even the Shekinah glory, we are free to imagine it leading the Magi through the desert much like the pillar of fire did the Hebrews.

It can be present or not at the will of God. It can be as specific as He desires it to be.

This is the much simpler explanation that preserves the details of the text.

Why did God do it this way?

He was drawing the Magi to the birth of the Savior, and they studied the stars to know what the gods were doing.

He condescended to their medium.

He will later communicate with them through a dream for the same reason.

While many Jews left with Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah to return to Judea, many stayed in Babylon and lived among the Babylonians, Persians, Seleucids, and Parthians.

A Parthian-era census of their empire found over 1M Jews living in the greater Babylonian region.

The Magi had many similarities in their religion to Judaism.

The Persians and Parthians treated the Jews as valued citizens of their empire.

Jewish religion and religious texts would have been familiar to the Magi.

In fact, some scholars think that these particular Magi who came to seek Jesus may have been Jewish proselytes.

Regardless, the Jewish scriptures would have been available to the Magi to help interpret the appearance of this new “star.”

Prophesied by Balaam in Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”

First fulfilled by David, who conquered Moab. 2 Samuel 8:2.

Ultimate fulfillment by Christ as the “star” and ultimate “scepter” that will rise out of Judah and subdue not only Moab but all the hostile nations of the world.

Jesus uses imagery similar to this in describing himself in Revelation 22:16 ““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.””

This was foretold by the Holy Spirit in several passages, and the Magi may have seen themselves in fulfillment of these as well:

Isaiah 60:3 “And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

Isaiah 60:6 “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.”

Question #3 Why Were Herod and “All Jerusalem” Troubled?

We need to consider the historical and political background of the story.

Judea was dominated by the Babylonians, then the Persians, and then the Greeks.

The Greek Seleucids persecuted the Jews ferociously because they refused to worship the Greek gods.

Led to the abomination of desolation by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 BC.

Sparked a rebellion by Judah Maccabees that led to a nearly 20 year war between rebel Jewish militias and the Seleucid empire.

In 142 BC, the Seleucids formally recognized Judea as an independent sovereign nation, led by descendents of Judah Maccabees.

Hasmonean dynasty: Levites. Horribly dysfunctional governors. Corrupt.

A civil war between competing Hasmoneans caused Jewish nobles to invite the Romans to take over, which they did in 63 BC, annexing Judea without a fight.

The deposed Hasmoneans resisted Roman rule and tried to continue to have control, but they were out maneuvered by Antipater, an Idumean (Edomite) who was friends with Julius Caesar.

Antipater was made Procurator of Judea in 47 BC and installed his two young sons, Herod and Phasel, as regional governors under him, hoping to establish a new Roman-backed Judean nobility.

Antipater was poisoned by a Hasmonean noble in 43 BC and died, leaving his two young sons as governors of Judea.

The Hasmoneans asked the Parthian empire to assist them in regaining the Jewish throne, so they came.

In 40 BC, Parthia invaded Judea and took Jerusalem.

Phasel was captured and commited suicide.

Herod fled to his mother’s family in Petra, then made his way through Egypt to Rome.

The Magi, who came with the Parthians, appointed a Hasmonean Jew, Antigonus II, as “King of the Jews.”

Herod told the Roman Senate what happened.

Herod was crowned “King of the Jews” in Rome.

There were now two people with this title, but Herod was committed to being the only one.

Mark Antony sent Herod back to Judea with 11 legions and 6,000 cavalry to retake Jerusalem.

3 year seige, with a “pause” near the end so that Herod could marry a beautiful Hasmonean princess, Mariamne I, in an attempt to make his rule more appealing to the Jews.

After Herod retook Jerusalem in 37 BC, he became psychotically committed to keeping his throne.

Murdered his father-in-law and two sons.

Eventually murdered his wife.

Cesar Augustus once said that it was better to be Herod’s pig than his son.

When Parthian Magi arrived again, looking for the “King of the Jews,” it reminded everyone of the invasion of 40 BC.

Likely had an armed escort, but not an invasion force.

Looking for the Jewish king.

Were they trying to instigate a rebellion?

Herod doubtlessly considered killing the Magi.

There had been peace for 30 years with Parthia, and Rome wanted to keep it that way.

He would use them first to find the new Jewish King.

Observation #1: The Wisdom of the Magi Made Them Seekers of Messiah.

For so many, worldly wisdom leads to secularism.

Stephen Hawking: The Grand Design, 2010: “One can’t prove that God doesn’t exist...But science makes God unnecessary. The laws of physics can explain the universe without the need for a creator.”

7 of 10 children raised in Christian homes who leave home and attend a secular university will leave the faith by the age of 25.

Worldly wisdom becomes a stumbling block to faith.

Even in Paul’s experience, the wisdom of the world was not well-represented in the church. (1 Cor 1:20-31)

1 Corinthians 1:26 “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”

James contrasts the wisdom “from above” and the worldly wisdom (Jas 3:13-18)

James 3:15 “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Instead of being a stumbling block to faith, the Holy Spirit used His word and the wisdom of the Magi, communicated through a medium that mattered to them, to draw them to the Savior.

They were wise enough to ask questions:

Asked the scriptures to interpret the star.

Asked the population of Jerusalem, the king, and the scribes where to find the new king.

They followed the advise and wisdom of others with humility. No arguments are recorded.

Followed the star

Followed the scriptures

Followed the answer of the scribes

Followed the command of the angels.

Observation #2: The Wisdom of the Magi Made Them Worshippers of Messiah.

Worldly wisdom often leads to pride, not humble worship.

1 Corinthians 8:1b “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”

The Magi, as kingmakers, knew what made for a good King.

The Magi, as men trained in sacred writings, knew the uniqueness of a God-Man.

Their wisdom drove them to worship the young child.

With their time: They spent months on the journey.

With their treasure: The cost of the gifts was considerable, but the journey itself would have also been very costly.

With their talents: They were professional priests, sages, and kingmakers, and they used these skills in their worship of Christ.

The story of the Magi is in scripture as a counterbalance to the story of the Shepherds in Luke.

The Shepherds,

Though involved facilitating in the temple worship in Jerusalem, are widely regarded as lowly, simple, and even dirty.

God comes to the lowest of the people and declares to them that God has come.

The Magi are the exact opposite.

Generations of learning and wisdom.

Teachers of kings for three empires.

Priests, scientists, and kingmakers.

The highest example of learning, wealth, and intellect that the ancient world can produce.

They come far, risk much, and spend lavishly to worship the King of Kings.

The only proper response to the coming of Jesus is worship.

The shepherds came a short distance empty-handed, but they worshipped the child with sincere hearts and then spread the word as the first evangelists.

The Magi came over hundreds of miles with chests of treasures that accompanied the adoration of their hearts and then snuck away.

What they have in common is the desire to worshipfully adore God come down.

One Appeal: To Give Your Everything to Jesus

Episcopal Clergyman Phillips Brooks had a notable career.

Had was the spiritual mentor of Abraham Lincoln and preached his Eulogy in 1865.

Traveled to the Holy land in 1868 and was inspired to write the hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” which was first performed by the children in his church for their annual Christmas pageant that year.

Was used by the Lord to explain Jesus to Helen Keller in 1887, after which both Helen and her translator, Anne Sullivan, placed their faith in Christ.

Helen Keller famously said, “I’ve always known that there was a God, but until now, I’ve never known His name.”

Brooks captures the life-changing experience of encountering Christ in his hymn, which is his most well-known legacy.

His hymn is a fitting place for us to close.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, Jesus came for you.

Rich as a king or poor as a shepherd?

Instructor to the wise or illiterate?

Professional or Tradesman?

Life-long religious or Ceremonially unclean?

Jesus has come, God-in-the-flesh, to reach out to you.

No matter where you are or who you are, you are in desperate need of a Savior.

It has been said that all of religion is man’s attempt to reach up to God.

Christmas is celebrated because it is the time when God reached down to us.

The Baby born that first Christmas became the sacrifice that offers you forgiveness for your sins and restores your relationship with God.

In closing, we are going to sing Brooks’ famous Christmas hymn. As we do, consider this familiar scene again.

Verse 1

Verse 2

The next two verses of this hymn declare the saving work of Christ and our need to invite Christ to effect that work in our lives.

The Lyrics are a confession of faith in Jesus.

Perhaps, like Helen Keller, you’ve been familiar with this season but not with the Savior.

Perhaps you’ve even sung these words but have not placed your faith in the work of Christ.

I’d invite you, as we sing through these next two verses, to do so. Allow the lyrics to guide your heart as you worship Jesus and ask Him to change you.

Verse 3

Verse 4

Closing prayer.