2007-09-06 23:44:19 · 17 answers · asked by LivingDownSouth 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The account is found in Matthew. The so-called three "wise" men, according to Matthew are first of all unnumbered. Tradition says three but in truth we do not know how many there were. They are called Magi in the original Greek. That is to say, they were astrologers - as in stars. Remember that part. Religiously, they practiced the same religion as the pagan Babylonians. Tradition says the star led them to Christ. The Bible account says otherwise. Matthew 2:1-2 plainly reports that the Magi came - not to Bethlehem - but to Jerusalem inquiring about the one born king of the Jews. King Herod – a mortal enemy of Jesus –heard about it and got all upset. Herod then summoned the religious leaders and asked where the king of the Jews was supposed to be born. Herod, a nominal Jew, did not even know himself. When the religious leaders told him it was Bethlehem (verse 6), it was Herod who sent the astrologers to Bethlehem. Not until verse 9 do we read of the so-called "star" that they had seen back in the East moving ahead of them and then stopping where the child was. It is noteworthy that by this time, Jesus was no longer in a manger. He and his mother were in a house. See verse 11. We are now long past the day of Jesus' birth.
Notice also that the only mention of divine communication with the astrologers was when God warned them not to report back to Herod. Even then he did not communicate by means of a so-called 'star.'
Consider: God communicated to Joseph in a dream to take Mary as his wife though she was pregnant. Matthew 1:20. Consider: God communicated to Joseph to take his wife and child to Egypt for protection from Herod. Matthew 2:19-20. Consider: God communicated to the shepherds by means of an angel in order to tell them exactly who had been born and where they could find him. Luke 2:8-15.
At no point did God communicate by means of some alleged moving 'star.' Certainly God would not send anyone looking for the king of the Jews to the king's number one enemy – Herod. Not to mention the fact that stars don't move.
Why did the magi come? To worship Jesus? Hardly. Although tradition likes to romanticize it, these guys were pagans. So why then did they come bearing gifts? This was in perfect harmony with the customs of the time in connection with new kings. Compare please, 1 Samuel 10:24-27; 2 Kings 20:12; and 1 Kings 10;1, 10 and 13.
They knew how to find Christ because Herod sent them.
Whatever that star was, it was not from God. But it is noteworthy that whoever was using a star was using what these pagans would be accustomed to. Interesting, huh?
Hannah J Paul
2007-09-07 00:18:07 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The so-called Three Wise Men were not, of course, Christians. They may have been Jews or have come from any other religion. The Three Wise Men were early astronomers and they may have regarded the bright star as a herald of very good news. They offered (albeit impromptu) what they had (namely gold, frankincense and myrrh) as gifts to the newly-born Jesus.
2007-09-07 00:05:24 · answer #2 · answered by Perennial Rhinitis 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
These Wise-Men were representative of " The Lost sheeps of Israel"! The short historical background follows:
After destruction of Jerusalem by BenuCad Naser in 587 BC., some 50,000 Israeli were captured and drove to Khorasan and Neshapore - the Eastern Province of Babilonia.
The King Cyrus of Persia, defeated babilonia in 538 BC and allowed them to go back to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zarbabel and Prophet Azrah. Check in OT.
A substantial number of Israel - almost 10 Tribes, choosed to settle in the East since they had created their own culture and religious society in different parts of the East ( Now Afghanistan ).
They were soon forgotten and treated as "Lost sheeps" by the main stream Israelits living in Pelastine.
They were still following Torah and the Shareah of Prophet Moses and awaiting the Messiah. They were living in a full fledged tribel life. They created many learned scholars of great fame.
I am surprised to see that the Gospel of Matthew called them as Wise men ( 02:01 ) ?? In fact the Herod - the Jewish king, very well recognised them as leaders of Eastern Israelites The king greeted them respectfully and allowed them to find the new born child (Jesus) in Bethleham but they did not retun to him after offering their gifts to the child (Jesus).
The obvious reason as to why the Gospel has concealled their proper identity is that they all accepted Islam in 7th Century AD! Hence they became Wise-men instead of "Childern of Israel or Lost sheeps of Israel".
An other surprise for readers here is that Mullah Umar and his companions are the descendants of the same Wise-men!
Peace & Blessing!
2007-09-07 01:54:28 · answer #3 · answered by aslam09221 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Supposedly they are the three stars of Orion's belt, which along with the north star(on December 25) point to where the sun will rise. For three days it rises here, after which it begins to move north again, signalling the approach of spring. (the resurrection)
2007-09-06 23:58:28 · answer #4 · answered by The Instigator 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The story is in Matthew 2. They knew where Christ would be born through prophecy, which is quoted right in Matthew 2. It was quoted in Micah 5:2 that he would be born in Bethlehem. That's how they knew where to go. They knew he had been born because his star had appeared in the east. That's all according to Matthew 2.
2007-09-06 23:56:01 · answer #5 · answered by Jason P 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the three wise men were Magi and they followed a star - which is now believed to be a conjunction of some of the planets!
2007-09-06 23:52:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says they came from the East
according to many traditions:Balthasar was king of Arabia, Gaspar was king of India, and Melchior was king of Persia
So......A Pagan, Zoroastrian, and a Hindu walk into a manger............(fill in punch line)
honestly though, The Magi were a Median priestly caste who rose to power in ancient Persia. Their religion, Zoroastrianism.
2007-09-06 23:52:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Christ was a reincarnated buddhist saint...go figure, but the traditional magic or wisdom of the scholars of buddhist monastic orders continues to indicate (to them) the time and place of the birth of their saints even today
2014-12-16 01:58:37 · answer #8 · answered by mp4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The scripture indicates that they recognized and were following His (Christ's) star. However since nature itself can not lead people to Christ - there must have been some help given by the revelation of the Spirit.
2007-09-06 23:59:45 · answer #9 · answered by Brian 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't think anyone can answer that because we are not told. We also are not told how many wise men there were either. It is just a good number of wise men for the children to have in their Christmas plays.
2007-09-07 00:04:17 · answer #10 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋