1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”
Herod consults chief priests
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
Herod consults Wise Men
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
Wise Men find Jesus
9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.
Wise Men offer gifts
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Wise Men Depart
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
EXPLANATION
Introduction
This Gospel is chosen for the Feast of the Epiphany (the appearance or manifestation) to show that the Wise Men from the East, non–Jewish people or Gentiles as they were called, found Jesus and proclaimed him to be the Messiah–King
The Nativity Narratives, to which this passage belongs, have been most popular in Catholic thought and devotions. As a consequence many pious conjectures have become such a part of the narrative as to be regarded as part of the sacred scriptures. They do not belong to the Scriptures. Let me give a few quick examples: there is no mention in the passage that there were three people, nor that they were kings, nor that they travelled on camels, nor that they were from different parts of the world such as one from Africa. These will be pointed out in this commentary and reasons given for their origin. They do not in any way alter the meaning and message of the passage
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea” — “Bethlehem” was the home of David’s ancestors (Ruth: 1: 1–4; I Sm. 16; 17: 12) and David was born there. Jesus is placed in the line of David who had been promised to have the Messiah by one of his family descendants.
“in the days of Herod the king” — Matthew dates the birth of Christ as between 37 B.C. and 4 B.C., the reign of King Herod.
“behold,wise men” — Note that the number three is not mentioned. The number may have developed because they offered three gifts (v. 11).
Nor is it stated that these men were kings. That they were said to be kings was probably due to Psalm 72 where it is written, “May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts; may all kings pay him homage”. See also Is. 49: 7; 60: 10.
They are not given names but later three names became associated with them: Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior. Again, with time, Caspar was described as an African.
They were described in Greek as “magi”. At one time learned Persian priests were called ‘magi’. Later, the name was applied to people skilled in the occult such as magicians. They were probably astrologers or astronomers because they studied and interpreted the stars which they saw in the heavens. The title also came to refer to interpreters of dreams. This is not asserting that they saw the star in a dream or dreams.
“from the East” — Mesopotamia was known as the centre of the science of astrology. It would be a very likely place for the origins of the “wise men”. We are not told and it really does not matter. It does not affect the meaning of the passage.
“came to Jerusalem” — Jerusalem was the centre of the Jewish religion. It was common expectation at the time that the Messiah’s coming was imminent. Jerusalem was a good place to make enquiries from people who would be expert in knowing about and locating the new born king.
2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”
“‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” — Jews did not refer to the “King of the Jews”. Instead they would call him “the Christ” or “Messiah” or “King of Israel”. Gentiles alone would refer to “the King of the Jews”.
In verse 1, King Herod was described as the king. Now the “wise men” state that another king has been born and so a threat to Herod. The title “king of the Jews” will be imposed on the cross when Jesus will be crucified (Mt. 27: 11, 29, 37).
“‘For we have seen his star in the East’” — The “wise men” refer to “his star” because it was common belief in several places that each person had his or her own star. This applied particularly to people who were destined to achieve great status in later life.
It is not said that they followed the star or that it guided them. They saw it and interpreted its meaning and that knowledge led them to Jerusalem.
A star that rose in the east, disappeared for some time (two years because Herod had all children of that age killed), re–appeared over Jerusalem, moved southwards, stopped over a particular house in Bethlehem, and then disappeared, is most unlikely. Why? Because stars do not change orbit. Also, because such a phenomenon would have received great publicity at the time and subsequently, by a people who studied stars, even in daily life. In fact there are no such records.
What then is meant by “a star”, “his star”? Most likely it was a heavenly sign that appeared, perhaps from a ‘reading’ of the stars. In their studies to understand the phenomenon the “wise men” could have heard that a Messiah–King was expected in Judea and they set out for Jerusalem to investigate. There they perceived another heavenly sign that led them to Jesus. They understood then that Jesus is from heaven. In verse 15 God will refer to Jesus as “my Son”.
Since the second century altars in Catholic Churches and in many other Christian denominations are on the eastern side of the building as the “wise men” saw the star “in the East”. Mt. 24: 27 adds: “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.” This verse, of course, refers to Christ’s second coming at the end of time.
“and have come to worship him.’” — This is a theme in Matthew and will be mentioned 12 times in his Gospel, three of them in this chapter (vv. 2, 8, 11).
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
“When Herod the king heard this” — The text does not say that the “wise men” had met with Herod and consulted him in their enquiries. He was told of their quest.
“he was troubled” — Why? Because he saw the new–born king as a threat to his kingship. The throne–bearer of over thirty year is frightened by a new–born baby!
“and all Jerusalem with him” — This refers to the people of Jerusalem and obviously it does not mean that every single person “was troubled”. Herod was detested by the Jews and so their “trouble” or worry would have been that Herod would be even more treacherous and they would suffer as a consequence. He was a ruthless king, killing more than half of his ten wives and many of their children. Anyone who appeared to be a threat was eliminated.
“and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.” — Those assembled by Herod formed the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jewish religion, numbering seventy–one members.
They will be assembled again at the Passion (Mt. 26: 1–5; 57–66) when there is fear that Jesus is a threat to them.
“They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’” — This prophecy is composed of Micah 5: 2 and II Sm. 5: 2; I Chr.11: 2, 8.
Even the enemies of Jesus can be his witnesses as Matthew shows when he has the Sanhedrin proclaim that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
“Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’” — Herod’s hypocrisy is seen in stating that he will worship the new–born king. His actions following the departure of the “wise men” without returning to inform him (Mt. 2: 16–18), show his duplicity.
9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him.
“When they had heard the king they went their way” — None of the leaders of the Jewish religion nor any Scripture scholars, who knew the purpose of the visit of the “wise men”, were sufficiently interested to join them.
“and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” — They experienced a really intense joy (Mt. 28: 8 describes the joy of the women on being told by the angel that Jesus had risen). This is an encouragement to those who seek Jesus.
“and going into the house” –The Holy Family is now in a “house”, not a stable, and not yet gone back to Nazareth; the “wise men” had been sent to Bethlehem to find the child.
“they saw the child with Mary his mother” — The child takes precedence. See also Mt. 2: 13, 14, 20, 21.
“and they fell down and worshipped him.” — A frequent theme in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 2: 3, 8, 11, 4: 9, 10; 9: 18; 15: 25; 14: 33; 18: 26; 20: 20; 28: 9, 17).
The Gentiles accept the child as “king of the Jews”, the Messiah, and they worship him as the divine Messiah. The Jewish leaders did not accept him and persecuted him with the massacre of the Holy Infants (Mt. 2: 13–15) and the flight into Egypt (Mt. 2: 16–18).
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
“Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” — These are gifts regarded as suitable to present to God or to kings.
Is. 60: 6, 11 and Psalm 72: 10–11 may have been the foundation of the naming of the three gifts. Here are three quotations: “May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts” (Psalm 72: 10). “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Mid’ian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.” (Is. 60: 6). You will note why camels are depicted as travelling with the “wise men”. They are not mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel. “Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut; that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession.” (Is. 60: 11)
These quotations might also suggest that the “wise men” were from Arabia or the Syrian Desert.
It was only in later centuries that popular devotions associated gold with Jesus’ kingship, frankincense with his divinity and myrrh with his burial.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way” — Dreams were regarded as means of divine communication. Matthew mentions them in Mt. 1: 20; 2: 13, 19. God intervenes to save Jesus.
APPLICATION
1. The first information to look for in every passage of the gospels is the knowledge it gives us of Jesus Christ. To know more about Jesus and to be drawn closer to him is the “Good News”. The central message of the passage we are reflecting on is that Jesus is the expected Messiah, a Hebrew name for the Greek “Christos” and the English “the Anointed”. All Jews expected the Messiah because that was the great promise in the Old Testament. It was clear that the Messiah would be the descendant of King David and would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5).
Over the years the concept of the Messiah changed and the Jews, because of their political status as colonised by the Romans, developed the notion, unfounded in their scriptures, that the Messiah would be a political leader. They looked forward to being liberated from the Romans.
When the “wise men” who were gentiles, non–Jewish people, referred to the Messiah as “King of the Jews” Herod corrected them and sent them to find “the Christ” after he had been informed by the Jewish authorities that it would be in Bethlehem that the Messiah would be born. They went off and found the Child and offered their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, representing that they were in the presence of one who was a king (the Messiah–King), one who was divine whom they came to worship, and one who would give his life in death for the salvation of the world.
2. The passage presents a very vivid contrast that is meant to provoke readers to take sides. On one hand there are the “wise men”, non–Jews or Gentiles. They do not have the sacred scripture, God’s word to the Jewish people, to guide them. They must depend on their studies of nature and science and an unusual sign or star in the heavens provokes them to research. They question and seek answers and their research and eagerness produce results. They discover the answer to all their questioning and searching and find the Divine Child, the long–promised Messiah. Their faith is strengthened and they fall down on their knees and worship him.
On the other hand are the Jewish political and spiritual leaders who study and research God’s word in the sacred scriptures but are indifferent to its true meaning. Yet they were the ones whose vocation it was to bring all Jews closer to God and holiness. They were so involved in the wrong way that religion became for them a secular subject as it were and they lost its true meaning.
Serious readers who seek for the meaning of this passage are forced to take sides and choose. Will we join the “wise men” and seek to have our questions answered? This will demand time and searching but it will lead to finding Christ as the Divine Messiah–King who came to save us and the whole world.
Much of the world’s questions and problems are based not on spirituality or the questions discussed by religion a few decades ago. The questions have changed and now are more concerned with humanity and its problems. The secular world, and its allies the social media, propose secular solutions. When Herod the political leader and the members of the Sanhedrin heard the news of the birth of the Messiah, they displayed either hostility or indifference. Herod’s plan was to destroy new life and the source of life. The Sanhedrin was indifferent and could be branded by its new name of tolerance. Their fundamental attitude had become, ‘what is best for me?’
That indeed is the immediate question for each of us — which side shall I join, the “wise men” or the Jewish leaders of the time?
Commentary on Epiphany (B), 6.01.2024
TEXT — Matthew 2:1–12 — The Three Wise Men
Wise Men arrive
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”
Herod consults chief priests
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
Herod consults Wise Men
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
Wise Men find Jesus
9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.
Wise Men offer gifts
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Wise Men Depart
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
EXPLANATION
Introduction
This Gospel is chosen for the Feast of the Epiphany (the appearance or manifestation) to show that the Wise Men from the East, non–Jewish people or Gentiles as they were called, found Jesus and proclaimed him to be the Messiah–King
The Nativity Narratives, to which this passage belongs, have been most popular in Catholic thought and devotions. As a consequence many pious conjectures have become such a part of the narrative as to be regarded as part of the sacred scriptures. They do not belong to the Scriptures. Let me give a few quick examples: there is no mention in the passage that there were three people, nor that they were kings, nor that they travelled on camels, nor that they were from different parts of the world such as one from Africa. These will be pointed out in this commentary and reasons given for their origin. They do not in any way alter the meaning and message of the passage
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea” — “Bethlehem” was the home of David’s ancestors (Ruth: 1: 1–4; I Sm. 16; 17: 12) and David was born there. Jesus is placed in the line of David who had been promised to have the Messiah by one of his family descendants.
“in the days of Herod the king” — Matthew dates the birth of Christ as between 37 B.C. and 4 B.C., the reign of King Herod.
“behold,wise men” — Note that the number three is not mentioned. The number may have developed because they offered three gifts (v. 11).
Nor is it stated that these men were kings. That they were said to be kings was probably due to Psalm 72 where it is written, “May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts; may all kings pay him homage”. See also Is. 49: 7; 60: 10.
They are not given names but later three names became associated with them: Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior. Again, with time, Caspar was described as an African.
They were described in Greek as “magi”. At one time learned Persian priests were called ‘magi’. Later, the name was applied to people skilled in the occult such as magicians. They were probably astrologers or astronomers because they studied and interpreted the stars which they saw in the heavens. The title also came to refer to interpreters of dreams. This is not asserting that they saw the star in a dream or dreams.
“from the East” — Mesopotamia was known as the centre of the science of astrology. It would be a very likely place for the origins of the “wise men”. We are not told and it really does not matter. It does not affect the meaning of the passage.
“came to Jerusalem” — Jerusalem was the centre of the Jewish religion. It was common expectation at the time that the Messiah’s coming was imminent. Jerusalem was a good place to make enquiries from people who would be expert in knowing about and locating the new born king.
2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”
“‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” — Jews did not refer to the “King of the Jews”. Instead they would call him “the Christ” or “Messiah” or “King of Israel”. Gentiles alone would refer to “the King of the Jews”.
In verse 1, King Herod was described as the king. Now the “wise men” state that another king has been born and so a threat to Herod. The title “king of the Jews” will be imposed on the cross when Jesus will be crucified (Mt. 27: 11, 29, 37).
“‘For we have seen his star in the East’” — The “wise men” refer to “his star” because it was common belief in several places that each person had his or her own star. This applied particularly to people who were destined to achieve great status in later life.
It is not said that they followed the star or that it guided them. They saw it and interpreted its meaning and that knowledge led them to Jerusalem.
A star that rose in the east, disappeared for some time (two years because Herod had all children of that age killed), re–appeared over Jerusalem, moved southwards, stopped over a particular house in Bethlehem, and then disappeared, is most unlikely. Why? Because stars do not change orbit. Also, because such a phenomenon would have received great publicity at the time and subsequently, by a people who studied stars, even in daily life. In fact there are no such records.
What then is meant by “a star”, “his star”? Most likely it was a heavenly sign that appeared, perhaps from a ‘reading’ of the stars. In their studies to understand the phenomenon the “wise men” could have heard that a Messiah–King was expected in Judea and they set out for Jerusalem to investigate. There they perceived another heavenly sign that led them to Jesus. They understood then that Jesus is from heaven. In verse 15 God will refer to Jesus as “my Son”.
Since the second century altars in Catholic Churches and in many other Christian denominations are on the eastern side of the building as the “wise men” saw the star “in the East”. Mt. 24: 27 adds: “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.” This verse, of course, refers to Christ’s second coming at the end of time.
“and have come to worship him.’” — This is a theme in Matthew and will be mentioned 12 times in his Gospel, three of them in this chapter (vv. 2, 8, 11).
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
“When Herod the king heard this” — The text does not say that the “wise men” had met with Herod and consulted him in their enquiries. He was told of their quest.
“he was troubled” — Why? Because he saw the new–born king as a threat to his kingship. The throne–bearer of over thirty year is frightened by a new–born baby!
“and all Jerusalem with him” — This refers to the people of Jerusalem and obviously it does not mean that every single person “was troubled”. Herod was detested by the Jews and so their “trouble” or worry would have been that Herod would be even more treacherous and they would suffer as a consequence. He was a ruthless king, killing more than half of his ten wives and many of their children. Anyone who appeared to be a threat was eliminated.
“and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.” — Those assembled by Herod formed the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jewish religion, numbering seventy–one members.
They will be assembled again at the Passion (Mt. 26: 1–5; 57–66) when there is fear that Jesus is a threat to them.
“They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’” — This prophecy is composed of Micah 5: 2 and II Sm. 5: 2; I Chr.11: 2, 8.
Even the enemies of Jesus can be his witnesses as Matthew shows when he has the Sanhedrin proclaim that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
“Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’” — Herod’s hypocrisy is seen in stating that he will worship the new–born king. His actions following the departure of the “wise men” without returning to inform him (Mt. 2: 16–18), show his duplicity.
9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him.
“When they had heard the king they went their way” — None of the leaders of the Jewish religion nor any Scripture scholars, who knew the purpose of the visit of the “wise men”, were sufficiently interested to join them.
“and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” — They experienced a really intense joy (Mt. 28: 8 describes the joy of the women on being told by the angel that Jesus had risen). This is an encouragement to those who seek Jesus.
“and going into the house” –The Holy Family is now in a “house”, not a stable, and not yet gone back to Nazareth; the “wise men” had been sent to Bethlehem to find the child.
“they saw the child with Mary his mother” — The child takes precedence. See also Mt. 2: 13, 14, 20, 21.
“and they fell down and worshipped him.” — A frequent theme in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 2: 3, 8, 11, 4: 9, 10; 9: 18; 15: 25; 14: 33; 18: 26; 20: 20; 28: 9, 17).
The Gentiles accept the child as “king of the Jews”, the Messiah, and they worship him as the divine Messiah. The Jewish leaders did not accept him and persecuted him with the massacre of the Holy Infants (Mt. 2: 13–15) and the flight into Egypt (Mt. 2: 16–18).
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
“Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” — These are gifts regarded as suitable to present to God or to kings.
Is. 60: 6, 11 and Psalm 72: 10–11 may have been the foundation of the naming of the three gifts. Here are three quotations: “May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts” (Psalm 72: 10). “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Mid’ian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.” (Is. 60: 6). You will note why camels are depicted as travelling with the “wise men”. They are not mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel. “Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut; that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession.” (Is. 60: 11)
These quotations might also suggest that the “wise men” were from Arabia or the Syrian Desert.
It was only in later centuries that popular devotions associated gold with Jesus’ kingship, frankincense with his divinity and myrrh with his burial.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way” — Dreams were regarded as means of divine communication. Matthew mentions them in Mt. 1: 20; 2: 13, 19. God intervenes to save Jesus.
APPLICATION
1. The first information to look for in every passage of the gospels is the knowledge it gives us of Jesus Christ. To know more about Jesus and to be drawn closer to him is the “Good News”. The central message of the passage we are reflecting on is that Jesus is the expected Messiah, a Hebrew name for the Greek “Christos” and the English “the Anointed”. All Jews expected the Messiah because that was the great promise in the Old Testament. It was clear that the Messiah would be the descendant of King David and would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5).
Over the years the concept of the Messiah changed and the Jews, because of their political status as colonised by the Romans, developed the notion, unfounded in their scriptures, that the Messiah would be a political leader. They looked forward to being liberated from the Romans.
When the “wise men” who were gentiles, non–Jewish people, referred to the Messiah as “King of the Jews” Herod corrected them and sent them to find “the Christ” after he had been informed by the Jewish authorities that it would be in Bethlehem that the Messiah would be born. They went off and found the Child and offered their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, representing that they were in the presence of one who was a king (the Messiah–King), one who was divine whom they came to worship, and one who would give his life in death for the salvation of the world.
2. The passage presents a very vivid contrast that is meant to provoke readers to take sides. On one hand there are the “wise men”, non–Jews or Gentiles. They do not have the sacred scripture, God’s word to the Jewish people, to guide them. They must depend on their studies of nature and science and an unusual sign or star in the heavens provokes them to research. They question and seek answers and their research and eagerness produce results. They discover the answer to all their questioning and searching and find the Divine Child, the long–promised Messiah. Their faith is strengthened and they fall down on their knees and worship him.
On the other hand are the Jewish political and spiritual leaders who study and research God’s word in the sacred scriptures but are indifferent to its true meaning. Yet they were the ones whose vocation it was to bring all Jews closer to God and holiness. They were so involved in the wrong way that religion became for them a secular subject as it were and they lost its true meaning.
Serious readers who seek for the meaning of this passage are forced to take sides and choose. Will we join the “wise men” and seek to have our questions answered? This will demand time and searching but it will lead to finding Christ as the Divine Messiah–King who came to save us and the whole world.
Much of the world’s questions and problems are based not on spirituality or the questions discussed by religion a few decades ago. The questions have changed and now are more concerned with humanity and its problems. The secular world, and its allies the social media, propose secular solutions. When Herod the political leader and the members of the Sanhedrin heard the news of the birth of the Messiah, they displayed either hostility or indifference. Herod’s plan was to destroy new life and the source of life. The Sanhedrin was indifferent and could be branded by its new name of tolerance. Their fundamental attitude had become, ‘what is best for me?’
That indeed is the immediate question for each of us — which side shall I join, the “wise men” or the Jewish leaders of the time?