How many Wise Men, How many Gifts?

“After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” 

(Matthew 2:11, NASB).

According to Christian tradition, there were three wise men who came from the East with three gifts. The question is, is this true? The passage in question is found in Matthew 2:1-12. First, the passage in question talks about the “Magi” a caste of wise men specializing in astronomy, astrology, and natural science. The term Magi is in the plural. So we know it is talking about more than one wise man. However, this does not imply there were three wise men as often heard during Christmas time. For all we know there could have been as many as a dozen wise men. No doubt, the popular notion that assumes there were three wise men comes from the three types of gifts that were given. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (see Matt. 2:11). The truth is, the Scriptures never tells us that three wise men, or Magi came searching for the birth place of Christ the child, nor does the Bible tell us how many wise men came. Second, the question about how many gifts were given is usually believed to be only three gifts. Again today’s text does not say only three gifts were given. The passage only tells us that three specific types of gifts were given, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It does not tell us how many gifts were actually given. The gold speaks of Christ’s deity as the Son of God, the frankincense tells us of His holy and righteous life as the Son of Man, and myrrh reveals to us the sufferings of Christ as the Lamb of God. Not only were such gifts given to the Christ child as an act of worship by the wise men. They also prophetically speak of His life and purpose. To conclude, since the passage of Scripture does not tell us how many wise men there were, we also don’t know how many gifts were given. To teach there were three wise men who gave three gifts is reading into the text what is not there. It is being dishonest with the word of God to teach a congregation or an individual that there were only three wise men who presented only three gifts to the Christ child. Dear reader, let’s stay true to the text of God’s Word and teach what it actually says, not what tradition or poor Biblical hermeneutics wrongly asserts.

Heavenly Father, there is so much misinformation and misinterpretation being passed off as the truth of God’s Word during Christmas time. Today’s text about the Magi and the gifts presented to Christ is only one example among a number. Lord, help us to be true to Your Word and present only the truth of Scripture to those we share it with, in Christ name. Amen.

The Magi’s Question that Troubled Herod

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 

(Matthew 2:2, NASB).

This chapter in the Gospel of Matthew opens with the “Magi [wise men] from the east” asking a very pertinent question: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” This question had quite an impact upon king Herod and all Jerusalem. For verse 3 tells us that Herod and all Jerusalem “heard this” question, and it troubled them all. Imagine, Jerusalem, known as the “The City of Peace” was troubled at the news of the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). It is interesting to note that king Ahab had this in common with king Herod, for “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?"” (1 Kings 18:17, NASB). Ahab was troubled at the sight of Elijah, a prophet of God, who had peace with God. Now we read in today’s passage of another “troubler of Israel.” Only this time, we are not dealing with a prophet of God, but the very Son of God! It is this Son of God who the prophets prophesied of His coming into the world in the flesh, this “King of the Jews” that troubled Herod and all of Jerusalem. So it is with man. He may proclaim he has peace, but is troubled at the good news of the Gospel that teaches that only Christ can give true lasting peace. For apart from Christ, man can never know true satisfying peace. On hearing this troubling question, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”  Herod “gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people” to find out where the “Messiah was to be born.” Four truths can be drawn from this scene: 

First, we read that Herod and all of Jerusalem were troubled about the news of Christ, whereas the wise men rejoiced (see Matt. 2:3, 10-11)! 

Second, we see Herod enquiring about the birth of Christ through the religious rulers. The religious rulers were not the wise men who sought and knew about the birth of Christ. They could quote Scripture, but they did not seek His coming. So it is with religious man, he knows what Scriptures say about Christ, but do not know Him personally as Lord and Saviour (see Matt. 2:4; John 3:3, 7; Rom. 10:9-10). 

Third, we note that Christ was not found, nor was He born in Jerusalem, this supposed city of peace. So it is with man. As long as man erects his own “city of peace,” the true peace of Christ will never be found there (see John 14:27).  The human heart can know no true peace until it finds peace with God. 

Fourth, just as “Bethlehem” [house of bread] was the birth place of Christ, so it is with the believer who has trusted Christ. His heart is a “little Bethlehem” where Christ dwells. Because The Lord Jesus is “the Bread of life” (John 6:35) the believer has bread to share with those who hunger for God’s salvation that satisfies.

 Five, finally we read of Herod’s deceptive reason for wanting to find the Christ child. He told the Magi he wanted to “worship Him” (Matt. 2:8), when really he wanted to kill him (see Matt. 2:13). So it is with the natural man. The flesh cannot reign beside Christ in the heart, neither will Christ share the throne of a man’s heart with the flesh. Either man dies to the flesh or he dies to Christ. The truth is man needs to die in the death of Christ in order to truly be dead to his flesh. Only then, can we have our Bethlehem, were Christ is born in our very heart!

Lord God, we are challenged by today’s passage that is often read at Christmas time. Are we troubled at the good news of Christ coming into the world like Herod was? Or do we rejoice at the news of Christ like the Magi did? How we answer such questions reveals where our heart is with God. We can never have true lasting joy and peace in our heart, if we do not have peace with God. Thank you dear Lord, for sending Christ into the world to die for our sins; in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

WHERE DO WE DRAW OUR WEALTH FROM?

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, NASB).

Riches don't make a man wealthy, it is the man behind the riches that makes him truly wealthy. The man who only has material wealth to offer is truly impoverished, whereas the man who is wealthy in character and personality is truly Rich! Richer and more wealthy still is the man whose inheritance is in Christ. (see Rom. 8:17; Eph. 1:11-18). To know the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Saviour gives that person access to an endless supply of wealth to draw from. For rich is the man whose wealth is in Christ! "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15, NASB).

During this Christmas season, let's not just focus on what we get in material blessings, but instead, let's focus on that one specific Gift, the Gift that trumps all gifts. The very Gift God the Father gave, when He sent that "indescribable gift" of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Let us give special thanks giving and praise this Christmas season for the best Gift of all, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Wealthy is the man,

Who has his inheritance in Christ!

Wealthy is the man,

Who has trust in the work of Christ! 

Impoverished is his soul,

Who only makes passing wealth his goal.

Wise is the man who has Christ,

Who has trusted in His sacrifice.