Matthew 2:1-12-- Understanding the Wise Men (Part I)

In this episode, we begin a deep dive into Matthew 2:1–12, focusing on the well-known story of the wise men, or Magi, who visited Jesus after His birth. We kick things off by reading the passage and exploring its historical and cultural context. Right away, we address several common misconceptions that often creep into our nativity scenes and Christmas pageants:

• Were there really three wise men? Spoiler: The Bible doesn’t give a number.
• Did the Magi arrive at the manger? We talk about how their visit likely took place weeks or even months later—perhaps even up to two years after Jesus' birth.
• Were they kings? We unpack the origin of that tradition and what Scripture actually says about their identity.
• Where did they come from and why did they follow a star? We begin exploring their possible backgrounds—likely from Persia or Babylon—and how their journey reveals something profound about God's invitation to the nations.

This first part sets the stage for seeing the Magi not just as holiday decorations, but as seekers of truth whose story still speaks to us today. Join us as we separate biblical fact from cultural tradition and reflect on what it truly means to seek Jesus.