The Three Wise Men -- Part 1

It may be that the story of the “wise men” as told to the boy Jesus was as much a mystery to him then as it seems to us today. The modern depiction may contain much truth. It may also be so inaccurate as to be of little or no value to our understanding. I believe it is time to dispel many of the myths surrounding this supposedly “Christian” tradition.

If the story of the “wise men” was a mystery to the boy Jesus, then to whom would he turn for understanding? Would he turn to his mother and father? Of course he would! Would he ask those who had witnessed the events surrounding his birth and the visit of these “wise men”? Yes, certainly, he would want to ask them too! But he would also seek understanding from the Scriptures; and look for help and guidance from the teachers and learned men of his day?

Luke 2:46-47 “And it came to pass, that after three days [his parents] found [Jesus] in the temple [at Jerusalem], sitting in the midst of the doctors; both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.”

What I would like to do in this week’s blog offering is concentrate on what the boy Jesus may or may not have been able to learn about the visit of these “wise men.”

Ask any professing Christian and they will almost certainly describe for you a scene wherein three dignified personages (believed to be from the Orient), follow a star to the town of Bethlehem. There they find the newborn Christ child lying in a manger, with his mother and father standing beside him and with several adoring shepherds nearby. These three “wise men” arrive riding on the backs of camels, and they enter the area of the stables bearing gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, which they present to the baby Jesus.

This “nativity” scene usually includes a few baby lambs, at least one cow-calf unit, one donkey and (a most touching recent addition) the little drummer-boy. Given time, future adaptations will probably include Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch from Whoville! What bothers me about all this is that as far as I can determine, almost none of it bears any truth whatsoever!

How wonderful it would have been to listen in while Mary and Joseph told the young Jesus what actually took place concerning the visit of these “wise men.” Who were they? Where did they really come from? How many of them actually did arrive to pay homage to this child who was born to be a king? And why, why, were these men the only ones chosen to receive a heavenly sign; a star seen shining in the east, possibly seen by them many months before the Christ child was even born?

Before attempting to determine what the Bible does say, or even what the Bible might say about these “wise men,” let us be quite clear about what the Bible does not say!

1) The Bible does not say the “wise men” found Jesus in a manger. Matthew 2:1 “And when [the wise men] were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother…”

2) Joseph may have been there; but the Bible does not say Joseph was there.

3) No shepherds are mentioned as being in the house; and surely the lambs, the cow-calf, and the donkey would have been left back at the stables.

4) My apologies for even mentioning the little drummer-boy, Frosty, and the Grinch.

5) Were there only three “wise men” or could there have been more; or even less? However many there may have been, let us be quite clear that the Bible does not tell us there were three! Certainly they presented three categories of gifts; there was gold, there was frankincense, and there was myrrh. Was Jesus presented with only one gift from each category? If so, then this would tend to show only three gift givers. Unfortunately we cannot really know because the Bible does not tell us there were only three gifts -- or only three gift givers -- the Bible only tells us there were three categories of gifts!

6) Were the “wise men” from the Orient? Perhaps they were but I doubt this very much! Matthew 2:1 tells us they: “...came from the east to Jerusalem.” That’s nice! However, it’s not much to build a traditional belief on. If you live in Chicago, and a friend from California comes to visit but has business in New York to take care of first, he will arrive in Chicago “from the east.” He lives in the west, and his trip to Chicago began in the west, but he arrived in Chicago “from the east”! The scriptural account does tend to show that the “wise men” travelled for many months; this probably translates into a considerable distance. What the Bible does not tell us is that the distance travelled was always from the east; only that they arrived in Jerusalem “from the east.” Consider for a moment looking up into the night sky and noticing one particular star “shining in the east.” Think about it! Picture it in your mind! Position yourself geographically! If you decide to move towards a star that is shining in the east, then surely you must be travelling from the west! Assyria and Babylon are both located to the east of Jerusalem but neither of these places would require a journey the length of time apparently taken by the “wise men.” However, if their journey originated in the west, and they travelled by way of Assyria and/or Babylon, they would most definitely arrive in Jerusalem “from the east.” But if they were coming from the west, why would they travel first to Assyria and/or Babylon; why would they not go directly to Jerusalem? If they did originate in the west, then from where in the west did they come? Who were these “wise men” anyway?

7) Several modern translations of the Bible tell us that the “wise men” were astrologers. The problem with this is that the original text from which our English Bibles were translated does not say they were astrologers! However, let us consider for a moment the possibility that they might have been astrologers. They saw a star shining in the eastern sky. They determined that it signalled “the birth of the King of the Jews”; and they believed that if they followed this star it would eventually lead them to this newborn king. It certainly sounds as if they could have been astrologers; but the Bible does not say they were astrologers. For three centuries before the birth of Jesus, Babylonian astrology was both a science and a religion. Astrologers studied and worshiped the power of the stars. And yet, the book of Jeremiah 10:2 clearly tells us: “Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them!” The birth of Jesus was arguably the most important event to take place since the creation of man. The traditions of professing Christianity would have us believe that the only people chosen by God to travel any great distance to worship the Christ child were three obscure Oriental astrologers! Such a belief seems ludicrous to me! It is my belief that we can prove from history and from the Scriptures that the “wise men” were emissaries from each of the lost tribes of Israel. At least ten men (more probably thirteen), almost certainly with many servants in attendance; who came a very great distance -- to worship the newborn child who was born to be their king!

8) How long, and how far, did the “wise men” travel to find the Christ child? A better question might be: “How long before they found the child did the star first appear to them?” Once again the answer must be that the Bible does not tell us! The reaction of Herod, and his subsequent infamous slaughter of the children in and around Bethlehem, points to a time of not more than two years. One modern translation of the Bible quotes this verse as follows: “…for the astrologers had told [Herod] the star first appeared to them two years before.” Why those who produced this version of the Bible have chosen to interpret God’s word in this way must be left to the judgment of Almighty God; but search the original text yourself! Prove to yourself that the Bible does not say “two years before”! So then, what does the Bible say? Matthew 2:7 “Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.” What did the “wise men” tell the noble Herod? Did they tell him six months; or nine months; or perhaps they said fifteen? If so then he must slaughter every boy child up to two years of age -- to justify such infamy he must make absolutely certain this “King of the Jews” must die. But did they say two years? Then to be sure he must also kill every boy-child aged two-and-a-half to three!

9) Astrologers and astronomers study and chart the positions and movements of the sun, the moon, and the stars. There is nothing inherently wrong with this; in fact, God in His wisdom has said in Genesis 1:14 “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years…” The Bible states clearly that this beacon of the “wise men” was a star. In fact, since they were using it to guide them to the “king of the Jews” they referred to it as “his star.” There is also the possibility that the biblical use of the word “star” in this case refers symbolically to an angel. See for example Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches…” Whatever the true explanation, the star of the “wise men” was certainly unique in that they were able to use its light to guide them from their homelands to the general area of the Holy Land. Apparently at some point in time they lost sight of the star, but after their audience with King Herod they saw it once again and they rejoiced. This time it led them directly to the town of Bethlehem, to the very house where Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child were living. Was the star of the “wise men” an actual star; or did an angel from heaven lead them to the house in Bethlehem?

10) Did the “wise men” use the actual words “King of the Jews,” as it has been translated in Matthew 2:2? Jesus is quoted in Matthew 15:24 as saying: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This is neither the time nor the place for an in-depth discussion into the difference between “Jews” and “the house of Israel”; I shall therefore simply state that the people of the “house of Israel” are not, were not, and never have been Jews! If the reader doubts this, then he or she must search the subject for themselves from the pages of the Bible. A good place to begin would be in the King James Version 2nd Book of Kings 16:6 where it is recorded that the house of Israel is at war with the Jews! The word “Jews” (a people) as it is used in Matthew 2:2 could also have been translated “of Judea” (a country). There is a consensus that Micah 5:2 prophesies the birthplace of the Messiah and here it refers to someone: “...that is to be ruler in Israel.” The quotation from Micah is repeated and expanded in Matthew 2:3-6 “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where [the Messiah] should be born. And they said unto him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ‘And you Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’” The word “Governor” may be more properly translated as, “have the rule over.” Therefore, Matthew 2:6 may have more properly been translated: “For out of you shall come someone to rule over my people Israel.” If so, then Matthew 2:2 would more properly be translated “King of Judea” rather than “King of the Jews.” Whatever the truth of the matter, each and every one of us must search all things for ourselves from the pages of our own Bible -- we should always remember the scriptural admonition to: “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.”

Based on everything that has been discussed so far, the following is my personal re-statement of the facts concerning the visit of the “wise men” as it is recorded in the second chapter of Matthew. An effort has been made not to add to, or diminish from, the story as it was presented by the Apostle:

“After the birth of Jesus, when he and his parents had moved from the stable of an inn to a house, Jesus and Mary his mother were visited by certain individuals referred to in the Bible as “wise men.” These men said that some time before, while still in their own homelands, they had seen a star shining in the eastern sky. They came to believe that this star was a sign foretelling the birth of one they referred to as the “King of the Jews”; or as “one who would be ruler over Judea”; or as “one who would rule over Israel.” They followed the star and eventually arrived at Jerusalem from the east. When they arrived in Jerusalem they questioned the people as to where they might find this child. Herod, who ruled over Judea at that time, summoned these “wise men” to come before him where he questioned them privately, and at length, as to when they had first seen the star. After their audience with King Herod, the “wise men” once again saw the star and rejoiced. This time it led them southward, directly to the town of Bethlehem where they found the Christ child and his mother living in a house. The “wise men” bowed down to pay homage before this newborn king and presented him with gifts of gold; and of frankincense; and of myrrh.”

The questions may well be asked: “Does it really matter if there is more to this story?” “Should we look for something other than that which is easily understood from the Scriptures?” I believe the answer to both questions must be: “Yes: of course!” If there is anything we can uncover about the mysteries of God, no matter how minor or seemingly insignificant, it is our duty and our responsibility to find it.

Note: Next week, to complete this discussion of “The Three Wise Men,” I hope to present some additional thoughts which may lead to a more perfect understanding of their identity. Were they nothing more than three obscure Oriental astrologers as the traditions of nominal Christianity would have us believe; or were they specifically chosen emissaries from each of the scattered tribes of Israel, sent by Almighty God to pay homage before their newborn King?