Few Problems
Though it rightfully takes a back seat to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, many churches each year celebrate the visit of the wise men on Jan. 6, also known as Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas.
Matthew 2:1-12 gives the incredible account of these men who sought to bring Jesus gifts.
I love this story, and I love to sing the carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are.”
Maybe you do too—it remains a classic that’s sung every Christmas season.
But there are just few problems!
There are a few details found in the carol that are not listed in the Scriptural account.
No, these details do not contradict Christian doctrine-
– but if we’re going to tell the story of the wise men to those who don’t know it,
– we should be careful to share what Scripture—not the carol—teaches.
So what does the carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are” add?
It’s all there in the title:
Three
Matthew 2:1 simply says “wise men,” with no number given.
Perhaps because there were three gifts presented to the Christ child, the assumption was made that there were three donors of the gifts.
But the truth is, Scripture does not tell us how many wise men came to visit.
Kings
Matthew 2:1 describes the visitors as “wise men” or magoi in Greek; magi in English.
Biblical scholars believe they were most likely astrologers or members of a priestly caste that specialized in the interpretation of dreams, omens and seeing symbolism in the stars, and, according to the ancient historian Heroditus, they claimed the gift of prophecy.
Orient
We usually think of the Orient as the Far East, including nations such as China.
But Matthew 2:1 simply says the wise men came “from the East.”
We do know that there was a group that fits the above description in ancient Media (today’s Iran).
Other scholars identify a similar group in present-day Iraq.
Regardless, there is no evidence that they came from the Far East.
Manger
Another non-biblical detail in our commemorating the visit of the wise men comes from the manger scene loved by Christians all across the denominational spectrum.
Manger scenes are usually displayed as “photo shots” of everybody we associate with Christmas:
Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the shepherds, the animals, angels and the wise men.
But Matthew 2:11 speaks of the wise men entering a house, not a barn with a manger.
Infant
Additionally, the word used here for Jesus is toddler, not infant.
Herod, attempting to eliminate this rival king, slaughtered the young boys of Bethlehem up to age 2. Matt. 2:16-18.
Why not just tiny babies?
Most likely because it took a considerable amount of time for the wise men to make the long, dangerous journey to Israel.
By that time, the family had long since departed the place of the manger for a better place to stay.
So to be biblically accurate, get those wise men out of your manager scene—but don’t get rid of them.
Indeed, the wise men are part of the celebration, just not the Christmas Day part.
And as we will see, understanding more about their story can deepen our own sense of awe, wonder and celebration surrounding the birth of Jesus.
(PR)