I.
Introduction
a. Matthew
alone recorded these men
b.What we know of
them is found in Matthew 2:2-13
c. They
would have been gentiles
i.
It is believed that they were
Persians
II.
Magi
a. The
Greek word that is translated “magi” is “magos”[1]
i.
It means “of foreign origin (7248);
a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician:--sorcerer, wise
man.”
ii.
They would NOT have been kings
1.This idea is taken
from a non-inspired book of the Bible
2.Reinforced by
Christmas carols
a. Written
in 1863 by John Henry Jopkins, Jr. for a Christmas play at General Theological
Seminary in NY
i.
A deacon in the episcopal church
ii.
He was later a rector at Christ
Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA.
b.It is used in five
verses of the NT
i.
Three out of that the five times it
is referring to the wise men (Matt. 2:1; 2:7; 2:16)
ii.
The other two times, it is
referring to sorcerers (Acts 13:6; 13:8)
c. These
men would have been possible astrologers, like the Chaldeans
d.
These men definitely studied the
stars
i.
According to Herodotus, they
probably were originally a tribe of the Medes who became a priestly caste among
the Persians, as the Chaldeans did in Babylon[2]
III. Number
a. People
claim that there were three wise men
i.
This is taken from a source other
than the Bible
1.It is taken from
the Gospel of the Infancy
2.It is also here
that number three is given along with names to the wise men
a. Melkon,
or Melchior, King of Persia
b.Casper, King of
India
c. Balthazar,
King of Arabia
b.Scripture remains
silent on their number
i.
Considering it was wise “men” and
not wise “man,” one can assume that the number of wise men that came to visit
Christ was at least two.
IV.
Arrival
a. The
wise men arrived after the birth of Christ but before Mary, Joseph, and Jesus
fled to Egypt (Matt. 2:8-13)
i.
The Wise Men found the baby Jesus
in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:8-12)
ii.
It had to be after the Temple
dedication of Jesus because Mary and Joseph offered turtledoves, thus
indicating that they have not received the gifts from the Wise Men yet.
iii.
Also, Herod was still alive, so
they arrived around 6 BC to 4 BC.
V.
Lessons learned from the Wise Men
a. They
had great faith
i.
They followed the star as
instructed from writings
1.They did not have
all the writings of the prophets or they would have just travelled to Bethlehem
as prophesied by Micah
a. They
probably had Daniel and Jeremiah based upon the Exile
2.They may also have
known of Balaam’s prophecy (Num. 24:17)
ii.
They followed even when the star
was not visible (Matt. 2:8-11)
b.They were
sensitive to the voice of God (Matt. 2:12)
c. They
were humble and submissive
i.
Offered gifts to a King like a
loyal subject (1 Kings 10:1 & 2; Ps. 72:10,11, & 15; Isa. 60:3-6)
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