What Made the Wisemen Wise? Matthew 2:1-6

 The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. Matthew spends more time talking about what happened after Jesus was born, whereas Luke spends more time on the details before Jesus was born.  

"Bethlehem was the ancestral home of David, the great king of Israel and founder of their royal dynasty; however, it was not a large or significant town. “Bethlehem was quite a little town six miles to the south of Jerusalem. In the olden days it had been called Ephrath or Ephratah.” (Barclay) 

King Herod was also known as King Herod the Great.  He was a gifted administrator, builder, and ruler.  He had several significant building accomplishments, which included a restored temple in 20 B.C. He also exacted heavy taxes from the Jewish people to keep in good graces with the Roman empire.  Later in life. he grew more and more cruel and paranoid. killing even those close to him. 

The word "Magi" does not mean "kings", as is commonly misunderstood.  Also sorry to say there is no evidence being THREE kings as tradition says.  

“In later centuries down to New Testament times, the term [magoi] loosely covered a wide variety of men interested in dreams, astrology, magic, books thought to contain mysterious references to the future, and the like.” (Carson)

Most likely they were Persian astronomers, who may have even heard of the Messiah from the Jews, who were exiled in Persia. 

2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  It is not ironic that the wisemen were looking for a king, but the fact they were looking for the "king of the Jews" is curious.  Why?  The Jews were often seen as a desperate, troublesome, and a conquered people.

Though many Jews would not recognize Jesus as a king when he was fully grown, here these Persian astrologers celebrate Jesus as a king at infancy.  It is also unusual that Jesus is announced as a king before he is even born. Usually kings become princes first, but Jesus is a king from birth.  

There is a fair amount of debate over what the star was. This was also in fulfillment of Numbers 24:17: A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. This was widely regarded by ancient Jewish scholars as a Messianic prediction.

Notice too it is Jesus' star.  The One who was with the Father in beginning and through  whom all things were made, had his own star.  And the star led others to himself. Jesus allowed these astrologers to find him in the way afforded by their own medium.  Importantly when these astrologers made the connection with the star to baby Jesus, they worshipped him.  

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. Rather than being excited about the possibility of Jesus being the Messiah, Herod became paranoid instead. He was known to assassinate members of his own family when he suspected them of disloyalty.  All Jerusalem was also afraid either because of the contingent coming from the East, or they were disturbed about what their unstable king might do. 

4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. The chief priests would have included former high priests.  The teachers of the law spent their whole lives memorizing, scribing, and teaching the law.  Herod expected that they would know where the Messiah should be born. 

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

This quote is from Micah 5:2.  The scribes had the right information, but later on we would see that merely having the information did not necessarily translate into a desire to meet or believe in the Messiah.  The prophet predicts that Jesus would not only be a king but also a shepherd.   Jesus would have power and authority but also gentleness and love.  Like a good shepherd he would willingly lay down his life for the sheep.  

Why do you think the wisemen were looking for Jesus?  Why were they seemingly more excited than the priests and the scribes about the birth of Jesus?  What is the difference between knowing about Jesus (having all the information) and knowing Jesus (having a relationship with him)?  This passage reminds me that anyone who TRULY seeks Jesus WILL find Him!