The Magi

I have to be honest, I had never really given the identity and role of the Magi, the wise men much thought until I heard a sermon preached on who they were and why it was significant that they came to visit the Christ. Ever since, I have been blown away by the revelation of who they were, who they could be traced back to, and why it was so significant that they visited Christ. In light of the Christmas season, I have chosen to revisit this and study this some more. I want this Christmas to hit me harder and more intimately that it ever has before. I am tired of living a lukewarm, complacent life and just going through the motions. I am tired of the remembrances that God has established for us meaning nothing to me. I want to remember and I want to remember hard. I want them to mean something. As I open Your word, Lord, hit me hard with it's truth and with its power. Stir my heart and my soul once more.

Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ[c] was to 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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'[d]"

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.




Here in these first twelves verses of Matthew, chapter two, we see the record of the visit of the Magi.

The Greek word for Magi (3097) is magos which is a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication a magician, sorcerer, wise man.

1. a magus
2. the name given by the Babylonians (Chaldeans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.
3. the oriental wise men (astrologers) who, having discovered by the rising of a remarkable star that the Messiah had just been born, came to Jerusalem to worship him
4. a false prophet and sorcerer



Found 5 occurances in New Testament
Mt 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mt 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Mt 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Ac 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Ac 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Hebrew word for Magician - Chartom
diviner, magician, astrologer
engraver, writer (only in derivative sense of one possessed of occult knowledge)

OT Occurrences
Ge 41:8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
Ge 41:24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.

Ex 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Ex 7:22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
Ex 8:7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
Ex 8:18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
Ex 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Ex 9:11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

Da 1:20 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.
Da 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Da 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Da 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
Da 4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
Da 4:9 O Belteshazzar, 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.


Da 5:11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;



These Magi, were brilliant men! They were well educated, wise men who served as Kingly chief counsel. As the verses above reveal, anywhere in scripture where a king called for the magicians, sorcerers, soothsayers, wise men, these were the Magi. These men served in places of HIGH honor next to kings and royalty. They were the king's primary source of counsel and wisdom. These were powerful men. These are the same league of men that got Daniel thrown into the lions den because of their counsel and influence. What is interesting to note in the verses listed above from Daniel is that Daniel greatly influenced these men. His influence can be seen by the mere fact that they men noticed the star appear, knew what it meant, and came looking for the Christ child.

These Magi, these wise men, were intelligent, brilliant men who served as kingly advisors. When they arrived in Bethlehem, looking for a new born king, Herod was in an uproar. Understandably so. No doubt they showed up with royalty and in pomp and circumstance. By virtue of their position, they came in wealth and style. And as much as I hate to ruin any Christmas carols or stories, there were more than three. We do not know how many came, but I am sure it was a great number; great enough to catch the attention of Herod.

This is why it was so significant. When these royal advisors show up proclaiming a king has been born, people take notice. It is significant because they men, influenced by Daniel, knew the prophecy of scripture. They knew the prophecy of a coming king that would save the world. They knew this. They had been looking and noticed when He showed up. For them to come, declared that this baby was of very significant importance. Any king would take notice and probably do as Herod did in order to protect their kingdom. This was monumental that they recognized the coming of God's son and came to worship!

These Magi were mere than just mere wealthy men who came to recognize Christ's birth. They were more than mere nobility who were looking for Christ. They were royal, kingly advisors who held positions of power and prominence and helped to form and move entire nations with the counsel they provided to kings. They were powerful and influential all throughout history and were especially affected by the life of Daniel. They knew their prophecy and were aware of when it came true. They believed it and came to worship the one who had been prophesied years before.

That is why this visit was so significant. It was proof, validation of who Christ was. It was a powerful statement of His identity.