Is this passage difficult for you? It is for me. Not because it’s overly theologically complex, but it’s packed with theories of stories behind stories that could’ve been a wow to this story. Enough to make me ocd or adhd if I am not there already. 🫠 This is actually of great importance because God knew when these passages were written that they would be studied and analyzed for centuries. Yet, of all the things that could have been included in the story; this is what actually was included. Why? Because this is the actual content that He chose to use to tell us what we need to hear. So, focus on what the story does tell.
Matthew 2:1-13:
- Wise men. Literally Magos. A magician or sorcerer. This same term is seen again in Acts 13:6 and 13:8. Someone aware of spiritual elements.
- Born King of the Jews. Not a kingship acquired. He has by nature what we can only hope to acquire much less hold onto.
- King of the Jews (not God, but King or even Lord). He has come to us.
- Repeated with the sign on his cross. The Jews of the time may have been looking for a King, but unable to accept Jesus as they had not calculated the necessity of conquering sin and death as being a prerequisite to any possible eternal kingdom. In Revelation, we see this necessity as the scroll cannot be opened by any other. Notwithstanding, they are given markers at his birth and death that this particular individual is in fact “the King of the Jews”.
- They are exceedingly glad that the star is still there. Their guide has waited for them to finish the mission testimony to Herod and the clergy. Normal planetary phenomena don’t wait for anything. Sometimes God does something out of the ordinary so that we know it’s him and his guidance is sure.
- Fell down and worshiped. They prostrated themselves, gave all the gifts that they had, and took with them a joy and a knowledge that they could not have bought.
- They extract enough from a dream to discern a warning and a different direction that they should go. They witnessed a more personal word than the star had yet provided. No more is mentioned of the star. The word and the direction that they received was personal.