These are not the only magoi
mentioned in the Bible. Looking at
the other magoi helps to get a better picture of what manner of people
they were and how they would have been viewed by the Jewish population.
There are two other magoi
in the New Testament mentioned by name.
The first is Simon in Acts 8.
Simon the magician practiced the magic arts, and seemed to be interested
in acquiring the ability to perform miracles by the Spirit so he could add that
to his bag of tricks. The second magos
in the New Testament is a man named called "Bar-Jesus," who was
struck blind for opposing the Gospel in Acts 13. Both of these men were charlatans.
In the Old Testament,
Nebuchadnezzar had magoi that served him in his court in Daniel 2. Of course, they were impotent and
ineffective. Ancient Jewish literature
identified several other as magoi in the Hebrew scriptures. Balaam was classed among the magoi. Jewish literature pokes fun at Balaam as
thick headed and an idiot. The story of
Balaam and the talking donkey continues to be a source of amusement. Pharaoh also had magoi in his court
which Jewish literature pokes fun at in Exodus 7-9. Even though the magicians were able to also
produce snakes with their staves as Moses did, Moses' staff ate theirs. When Moses struck the water of the Nile and it turned to blood, the response of Pharaoh's
magicians was to also turn water into blood.
When Moses stretched out his hand over the waters and frogs came up and
covered the land, the response of Pharaoh's magicians was to also produce
frogs! Instead of making them go away,
the magicians added to the problem!
Sometimes, sorcerers were referred
to as "wise men." However, in
that culture, a "wise man" often meant simply that a person was
educated in some sort of trade or practice.
It was a way of referring to some sort of professional. Therefore, one who had been educated in the
art of magic or sorcery would have been referred to as a "wise man." However, Jews never saw magoi as
wise. When it comes to magoi, ancient
Jewish literature pointed out that although they were "educated,"
they were educated in nonsense.
All of this demonstrates
that magoi were never seen in a positive light among Jews. They were idiots at best, and charlatans at
worst. Instead of thinking of people
dressed in royal robes or scholar's gowns, we ought to think of the magi as
being like those from a seedy side street who peer into crystal balls, or who
deal with spells, incantations, and potions.
How amazing that a group of magoi
were the first to worship Jesus as King!
I have to wonder why this was included in Matthew, a Gospel which
appears to have a Jewish audience in mind.
It is equally interesting that one of the last acknowledgements of Jesus
also comes on the lips of a gentile when the Centurion exclaimed, "Surely,
this was the Son of God!"
As I think about this, I am
reminded of 1 Corinthians 1:30 that says that Jesus the Messiah has become our
wisdom from God. I am also reminded of
Proverbs 4:7 which points out where the beginning of wisdom is. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get Wisdom! Wisdom doesn't just come without effort. In Proverbs 2:7, the sage said that one must
search for it as hidden treasure.
These gentile magicians went
on a quest to find Jesus, who is our wisdom from God. They found him and worshipped him as
King. If they accepted Jesus as Lord,
then those who were formerly fools had become wise. What a contrast to the Jews who rejected
Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says that God
chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. Is that what has happened here?
Perhaps it is appropriate
for history to remember these magicians as "wise men" after all.
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