The second chapter of Matthew chapter two began by introducing the magi into the storyline. As they journey toward the Messiah, they seek help from Herod, who would rather eliminate any opposition to his power.
The visit of the magi gave Herod the information he needed. He now knew where the Messiah was to be born, confirmed by the chief priests and scribes. Now, he decides to interrogate the magi further, to determine just when the star appeared. The purpose of this question was to find the age of Jesus, to narrow down his search. He was clever and crafty, but he sought Christ with wrong motives. His ingenuity was impressive, using the resources at his disposal, both the magi and the religious leaders, to discover the exact timing of the birth of Jesus.
From here, his deceit only gets worse. Herod sent them to Bethlehem. His goal was to use the magi to even further narrow his search for the child. His purpose was to find and kill the baby King, not worship Him! According to Jewish history, Herod had Aristobulus, the high priest, drowned by his companions while bathing. His political aspirations knew no bounds, using even religion to gain his own desires.
The magi continued on, probably suspecting the true nature of Herod. This would be confirmed to them by God later. For now, they continued to follow the star. In verse 9, Matthew states that it “stood over the place where the Child was.” For a star or planet to stand over any place or person, it must be in the zenith and have an altitude of ninety degrees. Even then, the distance is so great that it would be difficult to see it point to one specific location, even if it were a bright conjunction of planets. God can, and has, used naturally occurring events to make himself known, but this is probably a completely supernatural event, for the sole purpose of special revelation. Guided by such a star, the magi found Bethlehem by night and rejoiced.
Verse 11 tells us that the magi found Jesus at a house. The family of Jesus were no longer in a stable, using a manger as a cradle. Some estimate that Jesus may have been as much as two to three years old by this point. On the other hand, they wouldn’t have needed to stay in Bethlehem for that long, simply for a census. Joseph would have taken them back home to continue his trade as a carpenter. I suspect that they stayed in Bethlehem long enough for Mary and the baby to recover, and then headed back home to Nazareth (Luke 2:4). However, they may have stayed longer in Bethlehem, giving Herod the age range of children two years and younger (verse 16).
Once they found the Messiah, the magi lost no time in worshiping him. They bowed down before him and expressed their adoration. Part of their act of worship was the giving of precious gifts. They brought three gifts, leading some to assume that there were three magi. This was probably not the case; there were likely many more than three people present. Due to the dangers of travel, they probably came in a large caravan.
But their gifts were three in number, and God’s leading can be clearly seen in each of them. The first was gold. Gold would provide the means necessary for the flight to Egypt that was to follow; it would sustain them and provide for their needs while they lived in a foreign land. It also represented the kingship of Jesus.
Frankincense was their second gift. This is a white resin. It is very fragrant when burned. Very expensive, frankincense is distilled from a tree in India and Arabia. This indicated that He was a priest, our High Priest, in fact.
The third gift given was myrrh. This is an aromatic gum produced by slitting the bark of a thorny bush that grows in Arabia, Ethiopia, and the Holy Land. It means bitterness, and is chiefly used in embalming bodies, for ointments, perfume and sedative in wine. This gift represented that fact that he was a prophet, and a foreshadowing of his sacrificial death, through which he would achieve our salvation.
Once the magi had presented their gifts, they departed. They were suspicious of Herod, and knowing his character, they asked God to guide them. God did so by a dream, instructing them to avoid Jerusalem on their return. They came and left by night so that their presence might not betray where Jesus was. They probably took the road from Bethlehem to Jericho, headed east, and avoided Jerusalem and Herod.
The details recorded in this passage are very familiar to us, we hear them over and over, especially around Christmas each year. But they bear a closer look than just a Christmas story. The guidance of God is evident here in the lives of the magi. His leading is still available to us today, too. The enemies of Christianity are everywhere, and we still face opposition to the Gospel. And the gifts of the magi represent the various natures and offices of Jesus, his kingship, his priesthood, and his sacrificial death on the cross.
This is typically a “Christmas” story. But I urge you to read it with fresh eyes, and see it for what it is, an account of the Savior of mankind, orchestrated by God and carried out exactly according to plan. And the obedient spirit of the magi, along with their heartfelt worship, provides a strong example for us to follow even today.
Question: Have you ever stopped to consider the significant importance of the magi’s visit to Bethlehem? What details about this familiar story stand out to you? You can leave a comment by clicking here.