“I see him, but not now; I behold him but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a
scepter will rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17
Balaam, sorcerer, foretold the coming of the Messiah it is believed in the above verse. The Magi probably heard this prophecy which convinced them to follow a star. Although God condemned sorcery, this is an example of how God can use anyone or anything to accomplish his work. Little is known about this group of men called Magi referred to as wise men and kings.
It is believed this group came from Parthia, near ancient Babylon. The Old Testament prophesied in the following Scriptures that the Messiah would be worshiped by kings: Psalm 68:29, “Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts”; Psalm 72:10, “The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts;” and Isaiah 60:3, “’Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.’”
Magi as part of their religion studied astrology, a highly regarded science. They would have had access to copies of the Old Testament manuscripts. They could have been Jews who remained in Babylon after the exile. These are reasonable ideas for why the Magi recognized this star represented the Messiah.
Matthew is the only gospel to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1, 2 tells us, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’” From this passage we learn the Magi came from the east but not how many. It is believed that these men were distinguished foreigners bringing gifts.
Matthew 2:1 and Luke 1:5 refer to this era as the reign of King Herod. Herod, a general was given the title king of Jews by the Romans. He was never accepted by the Jewish people. For 30 years he reigned as an effective, ruthless ruler. Herod the Great was only half Jewish and eager to please his Roman superiors. While Herod did make some lavish efforts to expand and beautify the temple in Jerusalem, he also rebuilt pagan temples. Herod helped the Jews for political purposes not because he worshiped their God.
Herod was a suspicious, fearful, and jealous man who would stop at nothing to keep his throne. When the Magi said they came to worship the king of the Jews, Matthew 2:3, 4, 5, 7, 8 reveal Herod’s fears. “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed . . . When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied . . . Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He 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.’”
Since Herod had to ask the Magi when the star first appeared, indicates the star was ordinary looking except to the Magi who studied them. The Magi left Persia or Babylon only after they saw this star recognizing it to be a special miracle. These wise men knew this baby was the Messiah even though God’s chosen people in Israel had few who believed Jesus to be him. Traditionally the star which the Magi followed has been called the Star of Bethlehem.
Balaam, sorcerer, foretold the coming of the Messiah it is believed in the above verse. The Magi probably heard this prophecy which convinced them to follow a star. Although God condemned sorcery, this is an example of how God can use anyone or anything to accomplish his work. Little is known about this group of men called Magi referred to as wise men and kings.
It is believed this group came from Parthia, near ancient Babylon. The Old Testament prophesied in the following Scriptures that the Messiah would be worshiped by kings: Psalm 68:29, “Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts”; Psalm 72:10, “The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts;” and Isaiah 60:3, “’Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.’”
Magi as part of their religion studied astrology, a highly regarded science. They would have had access to copies of the Old Testament manuscripts. They could have been Jews who remained in Babylon after the exile. These are reasonable ideas for why the Magi recognized this star represented the Messiah.
Matthew is the only gospel to mention the Magi. Matthew 2:1, 2 tells us, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’” From this passage we learn the Magi came from the east but not how many. It is believed that these men were distinguished foreigners bringing gifts.
Matthew 2:1 and Luke 1:5 refer to this era as the reign of King Herod. Herod, a general was given the title king of Jews by the Romans. He was never accepted by the Jewish people. For 30 years he reigned as an effective, ruthless ruler. Herod the Great was only half Jewish and eager to please his Roman superiors. While Herod did make some lavish efforts to expand and beautify the temple in Jerusalem, he also rebuilt pagan temples. Herod helped the Jews for political purposes not because he worshiped their God.
Herod was a suspicious, fearful, and jealous man who would stop at nothing to keep his throne. When the Magi said they came to worship the king of the Jews, Matthew 2:3, 4, 5, 7, 8 reveal Herod’s fears. “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed . . . When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied . . . Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He 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.’”
Since Herod had to ask the Magi when the star first appeared, indicates the star was ordinary looking except to the Magi who studied them. The Magi left Persia or Babylon only after they saw this star recognizing it to be a special miracle. These wise men knew this baby was the Messiah even though God’s chosen people in Israel had few who believed Jesus to be him. Traditionally the star which the Magi followed has been called the Star of Bethlehem.
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