“Why the Magi Came to Bethlehem”

Matthew 2:1-12

I. Introduction: the Magi and the Christmas story

II.  The Magi were men involved in the supernatural.
            A.  The word “Magi” is the plural form of a Greek word (Greek, Magos)
            B. Magos is a relatively rare word found only two places in the New Testament (Matthew 2:1, 7 and Acts 13:6, 8)

III.  The Magi came from the East—the remnants of ancient Persia Empire, the Parthian Empire

IV. These foreign “Wise men” came to Jerusalem because they were probably Jews who studied prophecy
            A.  The royal Parthian family became Jews
            “Assyria became deurbanized, returning to a primitive stage of civilization such as it had not known for two thousand years.  When finally, it reemerged as the vassal kingdom of Adiabene under the Parthians of the first century of our era, a supreme irony of history decreed that its royal house convert to Judaism.”  
            The Ancient Near East: A History, William W. Hallo and William Kelly Simpson, p. 143

            B.  There was much speculation about the coming Messiah in the early first Century, based on Daniel 9:25.  Being part of the remnants of Persian Empire the Parthian Wise men were in a good position to determine the approximate time the Messiah would come.  When they saw a star that they associated with the Messiah, they headed to Jerusalem to find Him.

V.  They came to Jerusalem because they were on a mission.
    Their mission was to find the Messiah, give their gifts, then return home.
    1.  They didn’t move to Bethlehem
    2.  They didn’t sight-see
    3.  They gave their gifts and returned home

The story that immediately follows the wise men is the dream Joseph received telling him to take Mary and Jesus and go to Egypt

The wise men traveled for weeks, if not months to provide for Joseph to take his small family to Egypt and keep Baby Jesus safe. 

We all have duties to perform as God leads us.  We are not observers of life but performers.  We have to be willing to listen and do what we are encouraged to do by the Spirit of God.