I have been debating with myself whether or not to examine what Luke says about the birth of the Lord Jesus. I have decided against it, because if we did, then we might feel obligated to study what the other three gospels add to everything that Matthew says. It would extend our study to two or three times its current length. We have begun a study of the Book of Matthew, not a study of the four Gospels, or of the life of Christ. The Holy Spirit led this disciple of Christ to record some events from our Saviour’s life, but not others. We are going to try to confine our thoughts, as much as possible, to what Matthew tells us. And he skips over several things in regard to the birth of Christ, to tell us about other things.
These twelve verses are filled with mysteries, most of which I won’t be able to begin to untangle. But in the midst of the mist, there are some things that we can know, and with those “can knows” there are lessons that we should know. In so far as these wise men are concerned, let’s think about four interrogatory words – “who,” “what,” “where” and perhaps most importantly – “why”?
Please remember that there is never a superfluous word in the divinely inspired Word of God. We casual Bible-readers see words, phrases and ideas, but they don’t often arrest us as they should. Bethlehem of Judea was a community not much more than 6 or 8 miles south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem was the birthplace and hometown of King David and his father Jesse. Bethlehem was the place to which Naomi returned after her devastating stay in Moab. And Bethlehem was the community where Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruth, met her future husband Boaz – the grandfather of David. Every beginning Bible student knows these things, even if they have to stop and think back just a little.
But here’s the thing… I think that it was Micah who was with me last week, as I was putting out our map for Sunday School. I was making sure that I could find the communities that were mentioned in our lesson from Judges. We both noticed that following some place names on that map was a parenthesis with either a 1, 2 or 3. We concluded that some communities, in different tribes or countries, had the same name. Lo and behold, Bethlehem was one of those communities.
There was a miserable little town about six miles north-west of Nazareth with the name “Bethlehem.” It might have been very easy for someone, with only a little background information about Christ, to think that since He was raised in Nazareth, the Bethlehem of his birth, or at least the Bethlehem of this visit, was in the tribe of Zebulun. But no, this event took place in the Bethlehem “of Judea” – the city of Christ’s birth.
There are no unnecessary statements in God’s Word – our task is to discover their importance. We need to slow down in the reading of God’s word, recognizing every word and phrase. And we need to read prayerfully, permitting the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts as we read. Only God knows how much we have missed in our devotions, because we were in a hurry.
The Bethlehem of this scripture was in Judea, not in Zebulun or anywhere else.
It is impossible to be really dogmatic about anything in regard to these men. We are told that they were “wise men,” which seems to be a title, but what exactly does that mean? We are told that they came from the east, but again, that isn’t really very specific. There are some not very credible traditions which say that they came from China and even from Japan. I read one story that in China some wise men saw this same star and began to travel westward. They then met some religious men coming up from India. The Chinese got confused, thinking that these were what the star had indicated, and through this misadventure Hinduism was introduced into China. India is east of Jerusalem as is Afghanistan, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Cambodia and other countries. But most likely these wise men came from Persia – the countries of Iran and Iraq today.
One of the most helpful commentaries on the Old Testament is the Greek Septuagint (LXX) translation. Seventy skilled linguists translated the Hebrew scriptures into Koine Greek, completing the project about 150 years before Christ. This permits us to understand Old Testament words in two languages rather than just one. And Greek is in some ways much easier for us than Hebrew. In the LXX version of Daniel, we find the same Greek word that is used here in Matthew 2. In Daniel 1, speaking about Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, we read… “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” In seven other passages of Daniel we have reference to the Babylonian and Median “magicians.” And the Greek word used in the LXX was “magi” just as we have it here. This helps us to understand who these people might have been, but it doesn’t help very much. And yet there is one other scripture which does help. Daniel 4:9 tells us that Daniel became the master of these “magi.” “O Belteshazzar (Daniel), master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.”
I don’t have overwhelming evidence, but I am of the opinion that these magi were a branch of the intellectual elite of Persia. And certainly Daniel would not have been a part of the superstitious, idolatrous religion of Babylon. He was a godly man who knew the Lord, and it is clear that he shared what he knew of Jehovah with those around him. 600 years before the birth of Christ, Daniel was one of the most influential men in Babylon and later among the Persians. Later when Cyrus the Mede permitted many of Israel to return to Jerusalem, not all did so. History tells us that throughout the years, there has been a strong Jewish presence in Persia.
I am of the persuasion that these “magi” were descendants of those who were taught the truth of God by Daniel and his successors. I can’t positively confirm that they were all true worshipers of Jehovah, but that is a possibility. The evidence suggests that these men, who made this long trip from Mesopotamia to Bethlehem, probably were servants of the true God. In fact their families may have been worshipers of God for so long that these men probably didn’t call themselves “proselytes.” I can’t be absolutely sure of these things, but I am reasonably sure. These wise men were most likely Persian descendants of the “magi” of Daniel’s day.
It was probably a few years before I actually met him that I read a sermon written by Pastor E.L. Bynum. It was published in his church paper, and it was later made into an effect tract entitled “Wise Men Worship Christ.” I still have a few of those old tracts in my files. They point out the obvious – those who know the truth about Christ Jesus, worship Him as the Son of God. Those to whom wisdom has been given seek Him; they come to Him, they serve Him, they glorify Him. It doesn’t matter how you might define this word “wise” – the fact is those who are truly “wise” are Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Another intellectual explanation is the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn within the constellation of Pisces. By the command of God, our solar system is so consistent and regular that it is possible for astronomers to look back and determine exactly where the stars and planets were hundreds of years ago. And, as taken place many times through the centuries, at about the time many think that Christ was born, two of the largest planets in our solar system appeared to come relatively near to one another. But they were only relatively close, certainly not making something unique in the heavens. No doubt the astronomers of Persia were familiar with this relatively common phenomenon. This star was not the conjunction of two, three or four planets.
No sir, the star which enticed and induced these men to make that long trip was unusual – definitely unique. And because of that fact, it is impossible for us today to say exactly what it was – other than to declare it to be miraculous. Whatever it was, from the east it was visible in the west, and it was there for weeks of not months. And it was spectacular and special enough for these men to pack their bags and collect their gifts. But then, when the long journey was nearing its destination, it temporarily disappeared. Quite naturally, the visitors ended up in the Jewish capital city, asking questions about the King of the Jews. After an interview with King Herod, and learning that they should turn south toward Bethlehem, the star again became visible. “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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” But this time the star was not in the west, nor was it on the horizon or in the distance. It was then in the south, and not very far away. It miraculously led them to the house where Joseph, Mary and the young child were living. This was not a common star; it was not a natural phenomenon, which can be explained scientifically. And there is no reason for the child of God even to be looking for natural explanations.
Before moving on, a couple comments need to be made about verses 9 and 11. “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.” “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.” Last Sunday evening we looked at the case against abortion from the births of Christ and John the Baptist. Part of that argument is the Greek word “brephos” (bref’-os) which is translated “babe” and “child.” The unborn “brephos” is a “child” – not a tumor, or a lump of extraneous, useless tissue in his mother’s womb. The Greek word is used to speak of either an unborn child or a NEW born child. But it needs to be pointed out that when these wise men came to Bethlehem they didn’t find a “brephos.” They discovered a “paidion” (pahee-dee’-on) a “young child.” The babe that they worshiped was not a new born, laying in a manger, but an infant perhaps months or even a year old. And they didn’t find this child living in a cave, a cowshed, or a sheepcote, but in an house. Apparently, Joseph, being the craftsman that he was, found work in Bethlehem, and for whatever reason, the family decided to take up residence there – in his family’s old home town.
So far we’ve considered the where, the who and the what.
One reason that they were brought to Bethlehem, may have been to finance the royal family’s trip into Egypt. “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.” Brother Erik Berg was mentioning the other day about the cost of moving from Virginia to Missoula – thousands of dollars. Just to fly or to drive a thousand miles is expensive. Of course, finances were different in Joseph’s day, but there is no reason to think that the costs were not just as extreme for them as such a move would be for us. They were not wealthy people. But the Lord, knowing the need, began to supply months before the need became apparent. The family was given gold and other costly gifts, which was available to finance their Egyptian vacation.
That is the way our God work. His omniscience and His omnipotence are there to protect His children, even when we have no idea that we need that protection. Beloved, “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” It is actually said in the context of Isaiah’s prophecy about the Millennium, but it is true nevertheless – “it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
This may answer one aspect of the “why” question, but this still doesn’t really explain their reason for this trip. Remember these men had been taught the Old Testament scriptures by Daniel and others. Is there enough material in the Hebrew scriptures to induce these men to make such an arduous journey?
A few minutes ago we read from Isaiah 60. Isaiah ministered long before the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, but he spoke of Israel’s restoration from that captivity. He also prophesied of the future thousand-year reign of the Messiah – the Millennium. Isaiah 60 blends some of those prophecies together. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” You and I might individually read those words and not reach the same conclusions about interpretation. But if we both had the same teacher, taking time to explain his interpretation with zeal and logic, we might come away agreeing with him and agreeing among ourselves. Who knows for sure what Daniel or some other teacher taught his Persian converts about Isaiah 60. It might have been that they were to look for a light in the west, which signified the coming of the Messiah and the beginning of the Millennial kingdom. They might also have been taught about Daniel’s revelation about the Greeks, about King Antiocus and the timing of the coming of the Christ. If that were the case these men might have been traveling on what they considered to be scriptural grounds.
Even though you and I might not see it the same way, it is interesting that some Jewish commentaries suggest that Naaman’s prophesy in Numbers 24 teaches the same sort of thing. “And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”
I am of the opinion, without any authoritative proof, that these wise men believed that they had Biblical and prophetical authority for making their journey to Bethlehem. They probably thought that the Millennial kingdom was going to begin when this child grew to adulthood. They were wrong in that one point, as were many others, but they were right to worship Him, and to serve Him, and to be a blessing to Him. They were right in thinking that this was the Messiah.
If we did what they did, despite their small mistakes, I think that we’d be doing a very good thing. Are you a worshiper of Christ? I’m not thinking about the babe, but the Son of God who for a short time was this babe. Are you a worshiper of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you a servant of His? Have you repented of your sins? Have you met this Christ in His sacrifice upon the cross? As Brother Bynum wrote so many years ago, “Wise Men worship Him.”