Visit of the Magi

The arrival of Magi (traditionally called “wise men” or “kings”) from the East to worship the infant Jesus, guided by a star and bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Though recorded only in Matthew’s Gospel, this event has become central to Christian Christmas tradition, symbolizing the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles and the universal scope of his kingdom.

The Biblical Account (Matthew 2:1-12)

The Arrival

The Setting (Matthew 2:1):

• After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea
• During reign of King Herod
• Magi came from the east to Jerusalem

Their Question (Matthew 2:2):

• “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”
• “We saw his star when it rose”
• “We have come to worship him”

Who Were the Magi?:

• Greek: magoi - could mean wise men, astrologers, priests
• Likely from Persia, Babylon, or Arabia
• Scholars, possibly Zoroastrian priests
• Students of astronomy/astrology
• Wealthy (expensive gifts)
• Number not specified (tradition says three based on three gifts)

Herod’s Reaction

Herod Disturbed (Matthew 2:3):

• King Herod disturbed
• All Jerusalem with him
• Fear of rival king
• Threatened power

Consulting Authorities (Matthew 2:4-6):

• Called chief priests and teachers of law
• Asked where Messiah to be born
• They answered: Bethlehem in Judea
• Quoted Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem…out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel”

Secret Meeting (Matthew 2:7-8):

• Herod called Magi secretly
• Found out exact time star appeared
• Sent to Bethlehem: “Go and search carefully”
• “When you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him”
• Deceitful intent (later kills infants)

Following the Star

The Star Reappears (Matthew 2:9-10):

• Star they had seen went ahead of them
• Stopped over where child was
• They were overjoyed
• “They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy”

Interpretation of Star:

• Supernatural phenomenon? Miracle?
• Natural astronomical event (conjunction of planets, comet, supernova)?
• Symbolic/theological rather than literal?
• Fulfills Numbers 24:17: “A star will come out of Jacob”

The Worship

Finding Jesus (Matthew 2:11):

• Came to the house (not stable—some time has passed)
• Saw child with Mary his mother
• Bowed down and worshiped him

The Gifts:

• Opened treasures
• Presented gifts:
  • Gold: Gift for king, royal wealth
  • Frankincense: Incense for deity/priest, worship
  • Myrrh: Burial spice, anointing oil, foreshadows death
• Symbolic of Jesus’s identity: King, God, Sacrifice

The Warning and Return

Dream Warning (Matthew 2:12):

• Warned in dream not to return to Herod
• Returned to their country by another route
• Protected Jesus from Herod’s plot

Consequences:

• Herod, realizing he was outwitted, ordered massacre of infants (Matthew 2:16-18)
• Holy Family fled to Egypt
• Remained until Herod’s death

Theological Significance

Revelation to Gentiles

Universal Salvation:

• Magi = Gentiles, non-Jews
• First to worship Jesus from outside Israel
• Fulfills promise to Abraham: “All nations blessed through you”
• Gospel for the whole world, not just Jews

Light to Nations:

• Isaiah 60:3: “Nations will come to your light”
• Isaiah 60:6: “All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense”
• Gentiles seeking Jewish Messiah
• Reversal: Foreigners recognize king while his own people (Herod, Jerusalem) troubled

Contrast with Jewish Leaders

Magi:

• Traveled far distance
• Searched diligently
• Worshiped with joy
• Brought costly gifts

Jerusalem Religious Leaders:

• Knew scripture (could quote Micah)
• Yet didn’t go to Bethlehem (5 miles away!)
• Head knowledge without heart response
• Indifference vs. the Magi’s devotion

The Gifts’ Symbolism

Gold:

• Metal of kings
• Jesus as King of Kings
• Royal dignity
• Also: Provided finances for flight to Egypt?

Frankincense:

• Used in temple worship
• Priestly offering
• Jesus as High Priest
• Divine worship due to God
• Sweet aroma pleasing to God

Myrrh:

• Burial spice (used for Jesus’s burial, John 19:39-40)
• Foreshadows suffering and death
• Prophet, Priest, and King who dies
• At birth, gifts point to cross

Prophecy Fulfilled

The Star (Numbers 24:17):

• Balaam’s prophecy: “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel”
• Messianic prophecy
• Star as sign of ruler

Bethlehem (Micah 5:2):

• “Out of you will come…a ruler over Israel”
• Fulfilled precisely

Gifts from Nations (Psalm 72:10-11; Isaiah 60:6):

• “May the kings of Tarshish…bring tribute”
• “All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense”
• Nations bringing gifts to Messiah

Christian Tradition and Observance

Epiphany

The Feast:

• January 6 (Western tradition)
• January 19 (Eastern, using different calendar)
• “Epiphany” = manifestation, revelation
• Celebrates Christ revealed to Gentiles

Twelfth Night:

• Twelve days after Christmas
• End of Christmas season
• Traditional time to take down decorations

Three Kings Day:

• In many cultures (especially Hispanic), main gift-giving day
• More important than December 25
• Children leave shoes out for gifts from Magi

The Tradition of Three Kings

Names:

• Traditional names (not biblical): Caspar (or Gaspar), Melchior, Balthasar
• First appears in 6th century
• Legends developed over centuries

Three Continents:

• Medieval tradition: One from each known continent
• Europe, Asia, Africa represented
• Sometimes depicted with different skin colors
• Universality of gospel

Kings or Magi:

• Bible says “magi” (wise men)
• Tradition elevated to kings
• Based on Psalm 72:10-11 and Isaiah 60
• “We three kings” is hymn tradition, not biblical

Liturgical Significance

Colors:

• White and gold (royalty, celebration)
• Green begins after Epiphany (Ordinary Time)

Blessing of Homes:

• Traditional chalk blessing: 20+C+M+B+25 (year varies)
• Initials of traditional names
• Or: Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ bless this house)

Historical and Critical Questions

The Star

Natural Explanations:

• 7 BCE: Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces (triple conjunction)
• 5 BCE: Conjunction of Jupiter and Venus
• 4 BCE: Possible supernova or comet
• Chinese astronomical records from this period

Supernatural:

• Unique divine sign
• Doesn’t behave like natural star (stops over house)
• Miracle guiding Magi

Symbolic:

• Theological rather than astronomical
• Matthew emphasizing fulfillment of Numbers 24:17
• Literary device conveying truth

Dating Issues

When Did They Come?:

• Not at nativity (traditional nativity scenes combine events)
• Jesus in “house” not manger
• Possibly months or even up to two years later
• Herod killed boys “two years old and under” based on when star appeared

Historicity

Only in Matthew:

• Luke doesn’t mention Magi
• Luke has shepherds; Matthew has Magi
• Different sources, different audiences
• Matthew writing to Jews (fulfilled prophecy emphasis)

Herod’s Massacre:

• Not mentioned in other historical sources
• But Bethlehem was small (20-30 infants?)
• Consistent with Herod’s known cruelty
• Josephus records other atrocities

Arguments for Historicity:

• Detail about star (astronomical event)
• Fits Matthew’s purposes (Gentile mission)
• Gifts would have funded Egypt trip

Significance

The Magi’s journey reverses everything. Gentiles seek the Jewish Messiah. Foreigners worship while Jerusalem sleeps. Outsiders bring gifts while insiders plot murder. The light of the world shines in darkness, and those far away see what those nearby miss.

These wise men traveled hundreds of miles, following a star, seeking a king. They didn’t find him in a palace but in a peasant home. They didn’t encounter political power but infant vulnerability. And they didn’t turn away—they fell down and worshiped. Gold for the king. Frankincense for God. Myrrh for the sacrifice.

Every element prophesies: This child is royalty (gold), deity (frankincense), and destined to die (myrrh). The gifts tell the whole story—incarnation, life, death—wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem.

And Jerusalem? The religious leaders knew the scriptures cold. “Bethlehem,” they said, quoting Micah perfectly. But knowing isn’t following. They could cite prophecy without caring whether it was fulfilled five miles away. Head knowledge without heart transformation. Scripture without surrender.

The Magi represent all of us—Gentiles, outsiders, far from God, wandering in darkness, following glimpses of light. And the gospel is this: If we seek, we will find. If we journey, we will arrive. If we bow, we will encounter the King.

Herod feared a rival. The priests knew scripture but didn’t care. But Gentile stargazers came seeking truth and found Truth itself. They brought their treasures and laid them at his feet. They worshiped and went home “by another way”—transformed by the encounter.

The star led them. Their wealth blessed him. Their worship proclaimed him. And in that house in Bethlehem, the Magi became the first of billions of Gentiles who would bow before the Jewish Messiah, the Light of the World, the King of Kings.

“We have come to worship him.” That’s still the journey. That’s still the purpose. That’s still the joy: to seek the star, follow the light, find the King, and lay our treasures at his feet.

The Magi went home by another route. So do all who truly meet Jesus. Encountering the King changes everything. You can’t go back the way you came. The star has led you to transformation. And like the Magi, you return rejoicing, having seen his glory—the glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Epiphany. Manifestation. Revelation. The mystery hidden for ages now revealed: Christ in you, the hope of glory. The Gentiles included. The nations invited. The door flung wide.

We are all Magi, following our glimpses of light, seeking the King, bringing our gifts—such as they are—and finding, in a most unexpected place, the one for whom our hearts have always longed.