Why are the Wisemen shown in the stable?

Question

Whenever you see a Nativity scene, the wisemen are always shown to be present as well. This does not agree with the Bible. The star that appeared at the birth of Christ guided the Maji to where the CHILD was, not 'baby'. The shepherds saw the baby in the stable, but the Maji showed up later. The second chapter of Luke talks about the birth of Jesus, but the Magi are not mentioned. You find them in the second chapter of Matthew where it states the star was over the HOUSE, not stable, "they saw the CHILD and his mother. . . " Jesus was approximately two years old when the Magi arrived, which is the reason Herod killed all the boys from birth to two years in age.

Answer 1

That's just the way it is..Happy Hollidays

Answer 2

Good observation. The basic stories from the bible about the 3 "Wisemen" ( Kings from 3 different countries w/ astronomer guides, servants and loaded camels) are the closest found accounts. The 3 Kings or representatives of these kings had their astronomers and astrologers tell them the star (forgotten if it was caused by a planetary alignment or Comet) was significant & it meant a very important person that fulfilled a prophecy had been born.
(THIS MAY SEEM TO BE T.M.I. but it helps to answer your great question. This is a very abridged version.)
Being Kings they had to know who was this new important person & what kind of threat to the kings was he.Imagine their suprise to find a baby born to a carpenter. Tradesmen were not highly regarded, unfortunately.
BUT...Before they entered the city of Bethlehem the entourage needed to be announced to the current official of the town and welcomed in, especially after learning what they were sought.

The town officials had to report to Herod, therefore he became suspicious of a possible new born that might de-throne Herod. ASIDE: What a nut case!? Herod was a man, the baby if he was to be a king or Herod 1 day obviously it would have to grow up, get trained and educated for at least 20 years. & That Herod was dead long before Jesus became 20 yrs old.
Purportedly that was when Herod had a brain fart ordering all males 2 yrs old and under to be slaughtered.
Purportedly Joseph had a dream or visit by an angel telling him to pack up the family and head into the desert until told to return.
The magi or kings representantives were told to give the family gifts. 1 was frankincense & myrrh, 1 a pouch of gold, other can't recall (oil ? a hot commodity then, too) . Interesting cause the gifts probably helped Jesus, Mary & Joseph survive desert life.
Now let us speed up to the year 300 A.D. when St. Nicholas became popular for helping children, & families in need, due to his wealth.
Speed forward again to Germany 1692 when a toy maker last name Claus was successful and promoted toy gifts to children following St. Nicholas' example. Christmas gift giving catches on.

I MUST ADD Early Christians had to gather for prayers, etc. secretly for fear of being dragged off to become blood sport for the Romans. Romans had a December festival lasting days, so early Christians celebrated Jesus Christ's birth same time.
BACK to 1900's Great Britain & USA, etc. commercialized Christmas as a time of giving in the tradition of St. Nicholas to children, but graduallly replaced ST. Nick w/ toy maker Claus.

THe MAGI brought extravagant gifts to the baby Jesus, Mary & Joseph, thereby giving old capitolism another fine example to exploit gift giving between adults as well, like Mommy & Daddy.

You are correct about the 3 magi being grouped w/ the nativity wrong time wise. They were grouped together to remind everyone to give gifts.
Hope you liked some of the background to the commercialization of Christmas via exploitation of the Holy family, 3 Magi, St. Nicholas & Mr. Claus all for promotion of materialism.
Please remember the reason for the season. Keep Jesus in Christmas.

Answer 3

I think that it is a way of getting everyone in one "snapshot." You are right, not biblically correct - but how many of the people who show up in Church for Christmas are going to be there on Epiphany (January 6th-ish)? It is more sentimental than anything. At my house - we hide the wise men around the room and let them "travel" to the stable over the 12 days of Christmas.

Answer 4

Ignorance. Regardless of what the Bible says, one person or group may say something is fact even though it's not and then everyone blindly follows what they say without taking the time or effort to research it themselves. Then they accuse the people who don't agree with the lies of being spoilsports and heathens.

Answer 5

According to my Bible the shepherds brought him gifts.

Answer 6

They're trying to get it all in one picture: the shepherds And the wise men (they should get Simeon and Anna in there, too -- I guess, sometimes they do). How about this... if they showed the camels approaching... from a distance... it might be O.K.

Answer 7

aren't they supposed to be melchor, gaspar, & balthazar who were guided by the star to where Christ Jesus was born - in the manger