How rich were the Magi?
It appears highly likely that the
riches given by the Magi helped sustain the family after Joseph's death. The
riches freely given by the wise men may have also funded Jesus' ministry. There
is no hint in the gospels that Christ ever asked for donations, although some,
out of generosity, did willingly support him. The Bible also
indicates that the group regularly gave money to the poor. Jesus
had enough finances not only to take care of his disciples but also to give to
the less fortunate. It is entirely possible that the rich Magi gave a big
enough offering to the Lord to fund his public preaching of the gospel!
BibleStudy.org
How
rich were the wise men, or Magi, who came to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:2)?
Did
they give enough money to support his ministry?
The
economic status of Jesus' family was anything but rich before his birth.
This
situation, however, would dramatically change with the appearance of the Magi
(wise men).
Before
the Magi's arrival, Mary and Joseph could not afford much beyond the
necessities of life given Joseph's job as a skilled craftsman or carpenter (Matthew 13:55).
The
family was not rich by any means but rather lived (in our modern terminology)
from paycheck to paycheck.
After
the birth of our Savior, the family travels to Jerusalem's temple to present
him before God and to give the required offering.
Unable
to afford the more costly offering of a one-year-old lamb and either a dove or
pigeon (Leviticus
12:6)
they give the fall less expensive two pigeons or doves (Leviticus 12:8,
Luke 2:24).
The
appearance of the Magi, shortly after the family arrives back in Bethlehem,
completely changes the financial status of the family.
These
"wise men" were influential
and rich members of one of Parthia's two ruling classes who were willing to
travel over 1,000 miles to worship (not merely honor, see Matthew 2:2) the King
of Kings.
The
Magi brought far more treasure, including silver and gold, as an offering to
Christ, than most people think.
In
his book, "The Lost Ten Tribes of
Israel . . . Found!" author Stephen Collins states the following
regarding the gifts given by the Magi.
"This Parthian delegation was offering tribute
money to a 'king,' and therefore would more likely have brought a whole train
of pack animals loaded with gold, frankincense and myrrh . . .
"The Parthians regarded Jesus as royalty, and it
was the ancient custom to give a royal personage a truly worthy gift when
coming into his presence.
"Since the Parthian Magi were directed to Jesus by
an angel of God, their sense of awe likely resulted in unusually large gifts
being given to Jesus" (first
revised edition, chapter 9)
After
the rich Magi leave Bethlehem, an angel tells Joseph to take his family and
flee to Egypt (Matthew
2:13-15).
Mary
and Joseph, who only recently barely afforded a temple offering of two birds,
now have the financial means to not only travel to Egypt (a fulfillment of
prophecy, Matthew
2:13-15)
but also to stay there at least five months!
The
family upon the death of Herod, then make the long trip back to Nazareth.
God
made sure, through the riches of the Magi, that his beloved Son had the
resources available in order for his life to be protected.
The
possible benefits received from the gifts left by the Magi do not end, however,
with the above!
Joseph,
Jesus' stepfather, dies sometime between Christ's twelfth birthday (Luke 2:43) and several years
before his ministry starts at thirty.
His
death leaves at least six children (not including Jesus) without a father and
breadwinner.
How
did Mary, as a widow, afford to raise and feed seven children total?
It
appears highly likely that the riches given by the Magi helped sustain the
family after Joseph's death.
Stephen
Collins writes the following in this regard.
"the Parthian Magi had lavished gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh upon Jesus when they had visited him shortly after his
birth . . . Jesus (as the firstborn son and head of the household after
Joseph's death) could have tapped that wealth to provide for his family's needs
without having to work as a carpenter" (ibid. page 399).
The
riches freely given by the wise men may have also funded Jesus' ministry.
Consider
the following possibility. There is no hint in the gospels that Christ ever
asked for donations, although some, out of generosity, did willingly support
him (Luke
8:3).
The
ongoing expenses for twelve men traveling for at least three years would have
been significant (remember, none of the disciples were rich and all had left
everything to follow him).
Judas
regularly stole from the disciple's collective money bag (John 12:6, 13:29), an act which
would be easily noticeable had the group had little cash.
The
Bible also indicates that the group regularly gave money to the poor (John 12:5, 13:29).
Where
did all this support come from, for group expenses, aid to the poor and so on
if not (at least partially) the Magi?
Jesus
had enough finances not only to take care of his disciples but also to give to
the less fortunate.
It is entirely possible that the rich Magi gave a big enough offering to the Lord to fund his public preaching of the gospel!
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