Readings are from Mathew Chapter 2

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."

The first thing to note in this passage concerns the number of Wise Men involved in this band of travelers. The bible does not provide an exact number. Instead later day students of the text assume there to be three to match the three gifts to be presented.

Multiple stories have the "Kings" following the star, yet they are misdirected to Jerusalm.

Some students of the writings have provided some what interesting "explanations" for the Magi's star. They include, a comet, Nova, Super-Nova, varaible Star, meteor shower and just about anything else that can be imagined. I suspect the star was just that, a star. The star was possibly an unusual celestrial configuration or people through out the land would have made note of it and perhaps even followed it!

"Wise Men" is derived from the Greek word ma'goi, or Magi, literally meaning"ones having secret knowledge of astrology.", as well as many other associated titles.. And it may not have been a term they applied to themselves considering that astrology was considered a "black art" and frowned upon in those days. In Deuteronomy 17, God commands his people to execute all astrologers by stoning. And not all magi were astrologers, for Daniel the prophet was the chief of the magi in Nebuchadnezzar's court. So in Mathew you have Learned Men studing and following a star, logic should tell us they were astrologers for who else would do it? Did Mathew give them the title of Magi? Perhaps Men that were truely wise and seeking anwers.

Some have used passages in Daniel to pinpoint a time for the birth of the Christ Child. The Wise men may have been working from those assumptions and been actively searching and waiting for the marker in the sky. Also, if the Star had been an obvious phenonmen King Herod's advisors certainly would have made note of it. But note in verse 1 they ask for the child that HAD been born, so they knew time had passed since the birth.

3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Why was Herod frightened? The Wise Men had called the baby "King of the Jews"! Certainly a threat to his domestic social control of the land. .

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.

The appearance of the star to coincide with the birth of the Christ child? This is important later in verse 16.

8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

The star moving or stopped. Not sure how a comet or nova would do that. Have to ask my 6th grade science teacher sometime. But it does indicate the place they located the Christ Child.

11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.

House? Where did the house come from??? Obviously according to Mathew the family has since returned home with the child. And it is in that home they find Jesus waiting, not in a manger or enclave. Also note that the Wise Men found the "child" and not infant, impling that many months had passed since birth. This is also illustrated in that Jesus was properly circumsized and blesses at the appropriate time without the threat of Herod (Luke 2.21 and Luke 2.22).

(11 continued) Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Now we find the basis for there being THREE Wise Men.Three gifts, Three Men. Maybe. Maybe Not. The number however is not important. Their recognition of the child Jesus as Christ is.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

The Wise men depart. Never leaving information about themselves nor their names. We will refrain from asking "Who were those Masked Wise Men? (Lone Rager style accent of course!) By the 6th century C.E., these dark strangers were given thrones and names: Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar were the alleged names of these alleged kings. The names and titles do not have a biblical reference.

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.

By reading this passage we can see why all the boy children under the age of 2 were slaughtered! Herod did not know the true age, and could only base it on the appearance of the Star as related by the Wise Men. There are no known historical records that relate a mass execution of children, but that may be due to the fact that Herod had killed just about anyone and everyone that had crossed him. He had killed strangers, friends, family, family of family, just about everyone!!! What were a few babies to add to the list?

Does it make sense that God would first lead them to Herod and then warn them not to return there? No. So then, who did lead them to Herod? Well, to answer that question, notice what Herod's true motivations were in verse 13 were it says: "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Does that mean that God provided the motivation for Joseph to go into Egypt and return to ensure that early prophicies were fullfilled? That a "reason" was needed for Joseph to flee?