What is the story of the three wise men (magi)?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The biblical account of the wise men in Matthew 2:1–12 describes how they traveled from the east to Jerusalem, following a star to find the new king of the Jews. They informed King Herod of their quest, who then consulted Jewish leaders and directed them to Bethlehem. The wise men found Jesus and His family. They offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worshiped Him. After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left by another route, helping Jesus' family escape Herod's subsequent decree to kill all young male children in Bethlehem. The wise men’s actions and gifts would have aided Jesus’ family during their time in Egypt.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The story of the “three” wise men (magi) is found in the New Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The biblical account of the wise men (or magi) is found in Matthew 2:1–12. Verse 1 says they were men (meaning male and more than one) and came from east of Jerusalem. The exact number of wise men and where they specifically came from is unknown. The number three has often been noted due to the fact that they gave three gifts to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
• The wise men told King Herod that they saw a star from the east (Matthew 2:2) and traveled to Jerusalem to find the new king of the Jews (Jerusalem was the capital and most likely spot to find a king). King Herod consulted the Jewish religious leaders who told him the Messiah was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem (vv. 5-6). Herod asked the wise men about the time the star appeared and commanded the wise men to report the location of the one born king of the Jews once He had been found.
• The wise men then traveled to Bethlehem and found Jesus and His family. They offered their gifts, items worth great value during their time. The wise men also bowed in worship (v. 11). This was clearly sometime after the birth of Jesus, as the family was now staying in a house, though they had not yet left Bethlehem.
• After worshiping Jesus, the wise men were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod (v. 12). They departed using another road to their "country," indicating they were not Jewish and lived in another nation. When the wise men did not return, Herod became angry and had all male children two years old and younger in Bethlehem put to death, but not before Joseph had been warned in a dream to flee with his family to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–18).
• Jesus and His family escaped, partly due to the assistance of the wise men not returning to Herod. Further, these wise men left gifts that were likely able to pay for family expenses during the time they lived in Egypt.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Many applications can be made from these wise men for our lives today. For example, they followed what they knew of God’s Word and sought more information. They intentionally looked for Jesus and gave Him their best when they found Him, humbling themselves before Him and worshiping Him, even as a child. They obeyed God’s directive to them in their dream, even at the risk of angering an earthly king. We, too, are called to respond in faith to what we know of God (Romans 1:18–23; 2 Peter 3:18) and to humble ourselves (James 4:10). The wise men are unknown by name yet have left an incredible mark in the history of the Bible through their remarkable actions to young Jesus and His family.

UNDERSTAND

• The wise men traveled from the east to Jerusalem following a star, seeking the new king of the Jews.
• The wise men brought three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—to Jesus.
• The wise men worshiped Jesus when they saw Him.

REFLECT

• How do you respond when you sense God leading you in a particular direction, much like the wise men followed the star? How do you discern whether apparent guidance is from God?
• The wise men brought their best gifts to Jesus. What "gifts" or talents do you have that you can offer in service to God and others?
• The wise men’s journey involved significant effort and sacrifice. In what ways are you willing to go the extra mile in your faith journey?

ENGAGE

• It is possible that the wise men knew of the prophecy of Jesus from Daniel during the Babylonian captivity. Daniel 2:48–49 says: “Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.” How might the connection between the wise men and the prophecy of Jesus through Daniel's influence in Babylon shape our understanding of God's plan throughout history?
• The three gifts the wise men brought were significant. Gold is a precious metal and very valuable. Gold is also a symbol of divinity, fitting for Jesus. Frankincense is highly fragrant when burned and was used in worship, a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34). Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness and was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, like a burnt offering. Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction. The baby Jesus would one day suffer and pay the ultimate price by giving His life on the cross for all who would believe in Him.
• What do the wise men’s actions reveal to us about worship?