Heathen Believers (The Magi) Series

Intro: Do some Christians disbelieve God? Goal: Let’s see how non-Christians can put some long-time believers to shame. Plan: Let’s look at the failure of many believers and the faith of novices in Matthew 2:1-12.

The Herods

Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem

The Herods were cruel military experts who enforced Roman rule and imposed excessive taxes which led to unbearable poverty, and with emperor worship, frequent revolts by zealots. The kingdom of God, while not of this world, was understood as a political threat by the disciples, Jewish leaders and the Romans.

Ref: http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7598-herod-i

Magi were influential learned men of Babylon, priests, physicians, alchemists and astrologers. The Jewish captivity in Babylon and later diaspora influenced their knowledge. The visiting Magi may have come from Persia, Babylon, Arabia, or India. 500 years after the captivity, God used this national tragedy to bring people to Jesus.

The wise men perhaps still worshipped Persian gods and were possibly later baptized into the church by Thomas while on his way to India. Why did pagans show more belief than followers of God? Neither Herod nor the Jews were interested. What is our reaction to the birth of Jesus?

Ref: Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller. Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament. Baker's Greek New Testament Library. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000. BibleWorks, v.3; Louw-Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1989, United Bible Societies; Herodotus; The Magi and the Star; britannica.com

What if large numbers of our people were exiled from their lands? This is the history of English prisoners, native populations of the new world and African slaves. The captivity was probably the Jews’ first major contact with the Magi. Descendants of this group of pagan scholars honored Jesus’ birth.

The Worship

Matthew 2:2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

The Magi said they came to worship Jesus, reserved only for God (Matthew 4:10). Later a leper, a synagogue leader, the disciples, a gentile woman and Zebedee’s wife worshiped Jesus (Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17). He was God with us.

Worship says to God “you are worthy” above all others. We do not place our faith in governments, corporations, military might or money, but in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Worship should change us. Do we only focus on the visible or experience our invisible God and worship him?

How can we bring pagans to Christ? Let God do it. God revealed His purpose in a manner that they would understand, a star. There is no language of condemnation, but rather a gentle leading to the place of Christ’s birth even using elements of their own faith.

The Politics

Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

When the wise men inquired about worshipping Jesus they naively believed that others would want to. Herod had already brutally murdered many other potential rivals. Jewish leaders had profited from an uneasy peace with Rome and Herod. The kingdom of heaven and its Messiah were a political threat all around.

Only about 42,000 out of a million Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. Unlike their relatives in Jerusalem the diaspora had peace and protection for a thousand years. As Jews intermingled with Babylonians, the Hebrew Scriptures would influence them. The powerful Magi were influenced by ideas of a Messiah.

The Gifts

Matthew 2:11 And when they had 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 gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

There could have been as many as twelve wise men according to eastern tradition. Gold was a royal gift. Frankincense and myrrh are aromatic herbs. Priests used frankincense. Myrrh was used to anoint the dead. The gifts may have been symbolic of Christ as king, high priest and suffering Savior.

Ref: itmonline.org; biomedcentral.com; worldagroforestrycentre.org

Pagan dignitaries recognized Christ and brought gifts. Herod did not, but plotted to kill Him. The powerful often only care for power. Things were about to change. Non-Jews would be embraced by God. When God asks us to change, we can choose fear or bring a gift to the Messiah.

The Departure

Matthew 2:12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The wise men all came from one country, not several. They were not kings. Psalm 72:11 does not apply to them. Nativity scenes often montage two events, the stable scene and the Magi’s later visit in a house. The important lesson is that pagans recognized Jesus when believers did not.