“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (KJV, Matt. 2:11-12).
“When they saw the star”
The wise men may better be described as magi. The Greek word translated wise also carries the meaning of a magi, which was an oriental scientist. So it is possible, although impossible, to know for sure that the magi were astronomers. The link between the Greek word magos, which denotes an oriental scientist, and their interest in the stars is rather telling.
Not only that, but the men had traveled from the east. Likely, they would have come from the surrounding region of Babylon. During Daniels’s captivity, we are told that Nebuchadnezzar sought to educate the Jews with the teachings of the Babylonian empire.
Astronomy could have been a popular form of teaching in Babylonian times, and the influence of the Babylonian culture would have been widespread.
The magi would have possibly studied the Scriptures to study the stars. In addition, if they were astronomers, they would have likely looked into many other religions for similar prophecies in their attempt to study the stars. However, regarding the Bible, the predictions were proven to be true.
The magi may have very well come to the faith through the fulfillment of Numbers 24:17. In Numbers 24:17, we can read Balaam’s prophecy. Balaam tells us that a star would come out of Jacob.
“they rejoiced with exceeding great joy”
As the magi saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. The excitement of these men as the Scriptures was confirmed before their eyes would have been remarkable. Luke chapter two tells us that while shepherds kept their flock, an angel of the Lord appeared to them. The response of the shepherds was fear. However, the angel told the shepherds they need not fear because the angel had a message of good tidings of great joy.
In the verse at hand, we can read of the joy that overcame some of the first men to witness the confirmation of the message. For the shepherds, the sign of the Messiah was that he would be lying in the manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. For the magi, the sign was the star. The shepherds returned from the manger after seeing the Baby Jesus and were filled with joy. The magi saw the star, sought out the child, and were also filled with joy. Joy was the appropriate response to the coming Messiah.
“And when they were come into the house”
The magi sought out the Savior, and here we see that they entered a house. Therefore, by the time the magi arrived to see Jesus, He was no longer in the stable and lying in a manger. Instead, Jesus was in a house somewhere in Bethlehem. So while the advent scene is festive and neat, it is not altogether accurate. The magi would have never seen Jesus in the manger.
“they saw the young child with Mary his mother”
By the time the magi saw Jesus, He was no longer a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Here we see that Jesus was a child. The Greek word translated as babe in the book of Luke to depict Jesus as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes is different than the word translated as child here. Another piece of information to include in this study is that when Herod the Great discovered that the magi tricked him, he attempted to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding region under the age of two. Therefore, it is likely that a considerable amount of time elapsed from the time of Jesus’ birth to the time the magi arrived to see Jesus.
“and fell down, and worshipped him”
The response of the magi should be the response of mankind. When the magi saw Jesus, they fell down and worshipped Him. The magi falling down at the feet of Jesus was the outward display of worship, while the inward display would have been the recognition of Christ as King.
When the magi went to see Herod, they entered Jerusalem and asked the city’s people where the One was Who had been born the King of the Jews. They had known the prophecy of the star, and the prophecy told them of the coming King. As a result, these men fell down and paid homage.
“and when they had opened their treasures”
Then the men opened their treasures. The traditional advent scene depicts three men arriving to see Jesus. There are three in the advent scene because three treasures were given to Jesus. However, the Bible does not tell us how many magi were present.
Nevertheless, the number of men is not essential. What is important is their response to Jesus. When they saw Jesus, they bowed down and worshipped Christ as King. When they arose, they pulled out their treasure and gave what they had to Jesus.
“they presented unto him gifts”
The treasure was to be a gift for the King. The Bible tells us that Christ was a gift to mankind. Christ is the greatest Gift that God has ever given. These wise men looked upon the child, Jesus, and recognized their gifts were less valuable than the King Who was before them.
The New Testament tells us what the Christian is to offer Jesus and what acceptable sacrifice looks like. In the book of Romans, after Paul’s lengthy doctrinal section in Romans 1-11, we read that the believer must present himself to God as a living sacrifice.
“gold, and frankincense, and myrrh”
It is widely thought that the magi’s gifts represented spiritual realities concerning Christ. All of the gifts would have been acceptable to a king. Isaiah 60 tells of the future glory of Israel. In this chapter, we read of the wealth of the nation’s turning to Israel (Is. 60:5) and of the gates of Israel never being shut while people from other nations bring Israel the wealth of the land (60:11). However, in Is. 60:6, we are told of people who will come to Israel and offer their gifts of gold and frankincense and that they will have good news and praise the Lord when they arrive. This last prophecy from Is. 60:6 may find at least partial fulfillment in the magi’s encounter with Christ.
Another common thought is that the wise men were kings from a distant land who came to pay Jesus tribute. In Psalm 72:10-11, we are told of kings who would come from a distant land and render tribute to the King. In this passage, it is also said that the kings would give gifts to the King of Israel. Not only that, but the kings would come and fall down before the King of Israel.
Concerning the individual gifts, we read that the magi gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Another popular belief is that the gold would have represented the deity of Christ, the frankincense would have symbolized the fragrance of Jesus’ life, and the myrrh would have pointed to Jesus’ death as myrrh was used for embalming.
Shortly after the Magi went and gave their gifts, Herod was enraged and sought to kill all the boys under the age of two in Bethlehem and the surrounding region. An angel spoke to Joseph in a dream and told Joseph to depart from Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. When they fled to Egypt, the gifts of the Magi would have helped Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to survive.
Thus, the gifts were more than a kind act given to a King. The gifts were sovereignly ordained by God to be presented during a time of great need. God will provide for His people. He has given the most excellent gift of all. He will not stop now.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the story of the magi. I pray that You would help me honor You in my giving and the sacrifices I make. In Jesus’ name, Amen.