By Jim Barnette, Ph.D.
Samford University and Brookwood Baptist Church, Mountain Brook
The wise men’s worship
Matthew 2:1–11
Jesus is the supreme ruler. (1–6)
We often speak of these men as “kings.” Matthew, however, does not identify them as “kings” but as “magi” — where we get our word “magician.” These were not magicians as we understand them, but rather priests who studied the stars and who believed that positions of the stars were signs of future events. They were followers of Zoroaster, the latter part of whose name means “star.” Put in our terminology the magi were a combination of astrologers, astronomers and philosophers.
The magi were likely from Persia (modern-day Iran), and their journey to the Holy Land had to have been demanding and difficult. They traveled some 1,000 miles to honor the newborn King. These sojourners would have begun their quest on horseback to cross the mountains and rocky terrain, traveling the main trade route of their era. They followed the Euphrates River up through what is now Iraq. They crossed the harsh and desolate Syrian desert. They would then pass through the lush Jordan Valley.
After three or four months of a long, hard journey they reached the gates of Jerusalem. One might speculate as to whether these men ever wondered if the long journey to find the King would be worthwhile. But their marvelous quest reminds us that God will bless the seeker.
As the Lord assures us in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Some oppose Jesus’ rule. (7–8)
Herod was not a Jew but an Idumean who had been appointed king of the Jews by Rome. But the magi were seeking a “child born to be King of the Jews.” Herod’s paranoia is well-documented. At different points during his cruel reign he had his mother, his favorite wife and three of his sons put to death, each time because of his perception that they were conspiring to overthrow him.
When the magi arrived and told Herod of this newborn King, Herod responded with the same fear of a coup. The murder of the male infants in Bethlehem is consistent with the paranoia that he showed, even against his own family.
Herod sought the location of this child’s birth, claiming that he desired to pay homage to the new King. His own leaders informed him the child would be born in Bethlehem based on Micah 5:2. Upon hearing this Herod sent the magi to Bethlehem with instructions to return and report to him. The magi were unaware of Herod’s intention to kill the child.
Jesus’ rule should lead us to worship Him. (9–11)
At the climax of their journey the magi arrived in Bethlehem and found “the place where the child was” and they were “overwhelmed with joy.” After worshipping Him, they gave the King three gifts. The symbolic meaning of these gifts tells us they were not so much the magi’s gifts to Jesus but Jesus’ gifts to us. Gold represented the royalty of our Sovereign Lord. Frankincense was used by the priests in worship, and now it is presented to the great High Priest who mediates between ourselves and God the Father. This High Priest sacrificed His life for the sake of our deliverance, and the myrrh used for burials reminds us of this ultimate sacrifice.
The account of the magi reminds us how God meets us where we are. In His revelation of Christ’s birth God gives these astronomers a sign they can understand and follow. That sign — the star — would lead them faithfully to the newborn King.
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