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Why Did The
Magi Come?
by Wayne
Blank
The visit of the "magi," or "wise men," to the
Messiah after His birth is one of the most famous events of Bible History.
But who were they? Where did they come from?
Who sent and guided them to Jesus Christ?
First, an excerpt from The Encyclopedia Britannica to
explain who they were:
"Magi (singular Magus) were members of an ancient Persian
clan specializing in cultic activities. Their name is the Latinized form of
Magoi, the ancient Greek transliteration of the Iranian original. From it the
word magic is derived."
That's a somewhat surprising revelation.
"Magicians" from Iran (Persia became known as Iran only
in the 20th century) came to worship Christ?
But, were they "magicians" in the way that the word is
now defined?
Were they even "magicians" in that sort of way in
their own time? Again, from The Encyclopedia
Britannica:
"As long as the Persian Empire lasted there was always a
distinction between the Persian Magi, who were credited with profound
religious knowledge, and the Babylonian Magi, who were considered to
be impostors."
But why did the LORD have them come?
The shepherds of Judah (i.e. the shepherds of Bethlehem were Jews)
had already been sent to witness that the Christ had been born (Luke 2:1-20).
So why then did the LORD have gentiles come from such a long
distance to do the same thing?
The answer is even found in The Encyclopedia Britannica:
"Christian theological tradition has always stressed that
Gentiles as well as Jews came to worship Jesus."
That reality of course is plainly stated in the Holy Bible:
"2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy
salvation, 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face
of all people; 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and
the glory of thy people Israel." (Luke 2:30-32 KJV)
"12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 12:18 Behold my
servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I
will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. 12:19 He
shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the
streets. 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and
smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto
victory. 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles
trust." (Matthew 12:17-21 KJV)
"A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of thy people
Israel"
When one understands who the Magi really were, it becomes much
more obvious why the LORD chose them to represent the Gentile world's
welcoming of the Messiah of all people i.e. because of their "profound religious knowledge."
The star that guided them even itself
was symbolic of the fulfillment of the prophecy "a light to lighten the Gentiles."
Although many have assumed that there were three Magi that came,
which there could have been, based on the three gifts of gold, incense and
myrrh that they presented to the newborn Savior, the Holy Scriptures do not
state precisely how many Magi there were on that journey - there could have
been two, or three, or a hundred.
"2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east
to Jerusalem, 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of
the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
2:3 When Herod the
king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 2:4 And
when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together,
he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 2:5 And
they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the
prophet,
2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land
of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall
come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily
called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star
appeared. 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go
and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me
word again, that I may come and worship him also.
2:9 When they had heard the king,
they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,
till it came and stood over where the young child was. 2:10 When
they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 2:11 And
when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and
myrrh. 2:12And being warned of God in a dream that they should
not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
2:13 And when they were departed,
behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise,
and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there
until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
2:14 When he arose, he took the young
child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 2:15 And
was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he
was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all
the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two
years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of
the wise men. 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was
spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard,
lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children,
and would not be comforted, because they are not.
2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 2:20 Saying,
Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel:
for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
2:21 And he arose, and took the young
child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 2:22 But
when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father
Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a
dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 2:23And he
came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:1-23 KJV)
About the author
I was born and raised as a Roman Catholic, but I have had
nothing what-so-ever to do with that organization since the early 1970s, the
time that I began basing my Christian beliefs solely upon the Word of God, the
Holy Bible. I have never been a member of any other
church organization.
My church membership today is that of
the Biblical Church of God. According to the Holy Scriptures,
"church" actually means the people, the "called out ones,"
who truly live by the Word of God (see Can
You See The Church?). I now strongly disagree with the Church of
Rome and any other Christian-professing church organization,
Catholic or Protestant, that contradicts the pure Word of God as written in the
Holy Scriptures.
I write the studies for those who
choose to visit the website and read what is made available. If you are willing
to accept what the Bible plainly says, there is a very good chance that you
will find Daily Bible Study useful and enjoyable.
Wayne Blank
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