Week #4 - Who were the Magi?
Blog Series Intention Recap
The Questions of Christmas series invites us to slow down and look at the Christmas story with fresh eyes. We begin by seeing how Matthew, Luke, and the Old Testament fit together to tell one true story about Yeshua (Jesus)—Israel’s King and our Savior. Then we explore how Hanukkah’s themes of light and God’s faithfulness shape the world Yeshua (Jesus) was born into. We also look at why many scholars believe Yeshua (Jesus) was likely born during the Feast of Tabernacles, when God came to dwell with His people. Finally, we discover who the magi really were and how their long journey shows that the nations have always been drawn to Israel’s Messiah.
This page is a post in the series “The Questions of Christmas.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #4:
The magi were not the polished kings we see on Christmas cards, showing up quietly at the manger in borrowed crowns. They were Gentile scholars from the East—men who studied the heavens, knew ancient prophecies, and paid attention when God began to move. Their awareness did not come out of nowhere; it likely grew from the influence of Daniel, who centuries earlier had served in Babylon and taught the wise men there about the God of Israel and the coming kingdom. When the magi recognized the signs pointing to Israel’s Messiah, they did not stay safely at home—they traveled a great distance to worship the King. From the very beginning, God was already drawing the nations to Himself through Israel’s promised Messiah.
Why it Matters:
The magi were not kings, but wise men—likely priestly scholars from the East.
Their knowledge of prophecy points back to Daniel and Israel’s exile.
Their journey fulfills Old Testament promises about the nations seeking Israel’s King.
The magi remind us that Jesus is not only Israel’s Messiah, but the Savior of the world.
Go Deeper:
Moving Past the Christmas Card
Every nativity scene has them. Three kings. Crowns on their heads. Calm expressions. Standing quietly beside the manger as if they arrived the same night as the shepherds.
It’s a beautiful picture. It’s just not the one Matthew gives us.
Matthew never calls them kings. He never tells us how many there were. And he never places them at the manger. Instead, he introduces a group of men who are foreign, unexpected, and deeply important to the story of Jesus’s birth.
To understand the magi, we have to be willing to set aside the Christmas card version of the story and step back into Scripture—and into the Jewish world of the first century.
What the Bible Actually Says About the Magi
1. The word magi
Matthew writes:
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea… behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.”
(Matthew 2:1, ESV)
The phrase “wise men” translates the word magi. In the ancient world, magi were not stage magicians or mystical fortune-tellers. They were educated men—often serving in royal courts—who studied the heavens, interpreted dreams, and advised kings.
They were scholars. Astronomers. Men trained to look for meaning in signs.
2. They came “from the east”
That small phrase matters. “The east” most likely points to regions like Babylon or Persia—places deeply connected to Israel’s history through the exile.
Babylon was where:
Daniel served in the royal court
Jewish Scriptures were preserved and studied
Gentile leaders learned about the God of Israel
Matthew doesn’t mention this by accident.
3. Matthew never says there were three
The number three comes from the gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). Scripture never tells us how many magi there were.
There could have been two. There could have been twelve. The point is not the headcount. The point is why they came.
4. They arrive later—not at the manger
When the magi finally find Jesus, Matthew says they enter a house, not a stable. And Jesus is called a child, not a newborn (Matthew 2:11).
Their visit likely happened months after His birth. Our nativity scenes blend events together for simplicity, but Matthew is careful with his details.
Why the Magi Would Care About Israel’s Messiah
1. Daniel’s influence in the East
To understand the magi, we have to understand Daniel.
During the exile, God raised Daniel to a position of authority:
“The king… made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.”
(Daniel 2:48, ESV)
Daniel taught about:
The one true God
The rise and fall of kingdoms
A coming eternal kingdom
A future King
That influence didn’t disappear when Daniel died.
2. Messianic hope preserved among Gentiles
Daniel recorded visions of a coming King whose reign would never end (Daniel 7). He also revealed timelines connected to God’s redemptive plan (Daniel 9).
It’s not hard to imagine later generations of Eastern scholars preserving these writings—and watching the heavens, waiting.
3. The star and an ancient prophecy
The magi explain their journey this way:
“For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
(Matthew 2:2, ESV)
That language echoes an old prophecy:
“A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”
(Numbers 24:17, ESV)
That prophecy came from Balaam—another figure from the East. God had planted the expectation of a star-linked King in Gentile soil long before Jesus was born.
The magi weren’t guessing. They were responding to Scripture.
Why Herod Was So Troubled
1. A false king meets true worshipers
When the magi arrive, they ask one question:
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”
(Matthew 2:2, ESV)
That question shakes Jerusalem:
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
(Matthew 2:3, ESV)
Herod wasn’t Jewish by birth. He ruled because Rome allowed him to. The idea of a legitimate King threatened everything.
2. The irony of Jerusalem
The religious leaders know the Scriptures. They know the prophecy:
“In Bethlehem of Judea…”
(Matthew 2:5, ESV; Micah 5:2)
They have the answers—but they don’t go.
Gentiles travel hundreds of miles to worship. Jerusalem stays home.
Matthew wants us to feel that tension.
The Gifts and What They Declare
Gold honors Jesus as King.
Frankincense points to His divinity—used in worship.
Myrrh foreshadows His death—used for burial.
From the very beginning, the cross casts its shadow over the cradle.
The gifts preach a sermon:
King.
God.
Savior.
The Magi and God’s Bigger Promise
The prophets promised that the nations would come to Israel’s light:
“Nations shall come to your light…”
(Isaiah 60:3, ESV)
God promised Abraham:
“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
(Genesis 12:3, ESV)
The magi are living proof that those promises are unfolding.
And notice their posture—they don’t come to analyze Jesus. They come to worship Him (Matthew 2:11).
Why Matthew Tells This Story
Matthew includes the magi to show us that:
Jesus is Israel’s promised King
Gentiles recognize Him
Opposition begins immediately
God’s plan has always included the nations
That’s why Matthew’s Gospel ends the way it does:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
(Matthew 28:19, ESV)
The story begins with the nations coming to Israel’s Messiah—and it ends the same way.
The Christmas card scene may be tidy. Matthew’s story is far better.
How does this help me understand the concept of “The Questions of Christmas?”
The First Gentile Worshippers
The magi stand at the beginning of the gospel story as a sign of what is to come. Gentiles bow before Israel’s Messiah. The nations begin their long journey to the feet of the King.
They remind us that Christmas is not only about a child born in Bethlehem. It is about a King who draws the world to Himself. From the very beginning, God made it clear: this Messiah belongs to Israel and to the nations.
What the Magi Teach Us Today
1. God reveals truth to those who seek Him
The magi respond to the light they are given. God meets them there.
2. Distance is no barrier to worship
They travel far, risk much, and give generously. Worship costs something.
3. Knowledge alone is not enough
Jerusalem knew the Scriptures but missed the moment. The magi acted.
4. Jesus demands a response
Herod responds with fear. The leaders respond with indifference. The magi respond with worship.
Every reader must choose.
The magi saw the sign.
They followed the light.
They worshiped the King.
And the story of Christmas is richer because of it.
