Such a well-known story, the coming of the wise men. A few points to note about it: Who are these magi? They are astrologers from a foreign country to the east of Israel. Astrologers study the stars because they think that the stars hold the destiny of humanity. But Matthew is saying that stars do not hold the destiny of humanity. Those magi came to worship the Christ child, who holds the destiny of humanity. Do you see how Matthew has shifted the determination of human destiny from pagan astrology to Christ? It's a skilful piece of apologetic writing by the Evangelist.
Yes,
Matthew says the magi followed a star, but astronomers today know that stars
don’t move. That’s why sailors can navigate by them. Whatever it may have been
that they saw, Matthew is making the point that a heavenly sign was seen as a
witness to the coming of God into our world in the person of Jesus. As the
psalmist wrote, the heavens declare the glory of the Lord. And for the magi,
and us today, the glory of the Lord that first Christmas eve 2000 years ago was
the birth of Christ.
Another
point: Foreign kings from the east came and bowed down to worship the Jewish
messiah. Yes, Jesus said he came to the lost sheep of Israel, but in the
greater scheme of things, Jesus is both Jewish messiah and Gentile saviour.
Matthew is making the point that in the greater scheme of things, all humanity
and its kings and rulers will bow down before the great king and divine lord.
Jesus is for all humanity, and all humanity must worship in the beauty of his
holiness.
Philip Starks
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