The Magi's Example of Seeking God's Truth in Scripture
The Magi, also known as the Wise Men, are a significant part of the narrative surrounding Jesus' birth in Matthew's Gospel. Their example of seeking God's truth in Scripture provides valuable insights into the Christian understanding of seeking divine guidance.
The Magi were a class of priests among the Persians and Medes who formed the king's privy council and cultivated astrology, medicine, and occult natural science [1]. They were drawn to Jerusalem in search of the newborn King of the Jews, guided by a star. The Magi's actions demonstrate their desire to understand and follow God's will, even if it meant traversing great distances and navigating unfamiliar territories.
The Magi's example can be seen as a model for seeking God's truth. According to John Calvin, the pursuit of knowledge about God is a fundamental aspect of human nature [4]. The Magi's quest for the newborn King illustrates this pursuit, as they sought to understand the significance of the star they had seen. Their actions were driven by a desire to worship and honor the King they had discovered.
The early Church Fathers saw the Magi as a symbol of the Gentiles who would come to faith in Christ. Tertullian notes that the Magi's visit to Jesus was a manifestation of the divine power that overcame the evil spirits they had previously invoked [2]. In this sense, the Magi's example represents the universal call to seek God's truth, extending beyond the boundaries of Israel to the Gentile nations.
The Magi's seeking was not merely a passive reception of information; rather, it involved an active engagement with the Scriptures and the signs they encountered. According to Charles Hodge, the Scriptures contain all the facts of theology necessary for salvation, and it is through the inward teachings of the Spirit that believers come to understand these truths [5]. The Magi's experience illustrates this principle, as they were guided by the star and subsequently by the Scriptures to understand the significance of Jesus' birth.
Thomas Aquinas argues that the Magi's visit to Jesus was a manifestation of the faith and devotion of the nations who would come to Christ from afar [6]. Their example demonstrates that seeking God's truth is not limited to a particular people or place but is a universal call that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries.
The Magi's story also highlights the importance of interpreting Scripture correctly. Origen notes that the Magi were able to understand the significance of the star because they were familiar with the prophecies of the Old Testament [3]. This underscores the need for a sound understanding of Scripture, as well as the importance of being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in interpreting its meaning.
In the Reformed tradition, the pursuit of God's truth is seen as a key aspect of the Christian life. John Calvin emphasizes the importance of meditating on Scripture and seeking to understand its teachings [4]. The Magi's example illustrates this principle, as they sought to understand the significance of the star and the Scriptures that pointed to Jesus.
The Magi's visit to Jesus also demonstrates the importance of humility and openness in seeking God's truth. They were willing to travel great distances and to seek guidance from others, such as the scribes in Jerusalem, in order to understand the significance of the star [1]. This humility and openness are essential qualities for those seeking to follow the Magi's example.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Magi — (Authorized Version wise men). + In the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the word occurs but twice, and then only incidentally. (Jeremiah 29:3,13) "Originally they were a class of priests among the Persians and Medes who formed the king's privy council, and cultivated as trology, medicine and occult natural science. They are frequently referred to by ancient authors. Afterward the term was applied to all eastern philosophers."--Schaff's Popular Commentary. They appear in Herodotus' history of Astyages as interpreters of dreams, i. 120; but as they appear in Jer”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. LX. (part 1): To the Greeks, then, I have to say that the Magi, being on familiar terms with evil spirits, and invoking them for such purposes as their knowledge and wishes extend to, bring about such results only as do not appear to exceed the superhuman power and strength of the evil spirits, and of the spells which invoke them, to accomplish; but should some greater manifestation of divinity be made, then the powers of the evil spirits are overthrown, being unable to resist the light of divinity. It is probable, therefore, ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. XXXVIII.: But, moreover, taking the history, contained in the Gospel according to Matthew, of our Lord's descent into Egypt, he refuses to believe the miraculous circumstances attending it, viz., either that the angel gave the divine intimation, 413 or that our Lord's quitting Judea and residing in Egypt was an event of any significance; but he invents something altogether different, admitting somehow the miraculous works done by Jesus, by means of which He induced the multitude to follow Him as the Christ. And yet he desires ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 33: them explain to what effect Scripture declares, that “his Judgments are a great deep,” ( Ps. 36:7 ). For when Moses exclaims that the will of God “is not in heaven that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us? Neither is it beyond the sea that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea and bring it unto us?” ( Deut. 30:12, 13 ), because it was familiarly expounded in the law, it follows that there must be another hidden will which is compared to “ a great deep.” 185 It is of this will Paul excl”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 9: § 6. The Scriptures contain all the Facts of Theology . This is perfectly consistent, on the one hand, with the admission of intuitive truths, both intellectual and moral, due to our constitution as rational and moral beings; and, on the other hand, with the controlling power over our beliefs exercised by the inward teachings of the Spirit, or, in other words, by our religious experience. And that for two reasons: First, All truth must be consistent. God cannot contradict himself. He cannot force us by the constitution of the nature which ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Manifestation of the Newly Born Christ, Art. 8: Article: Whether it was becoming that the Magi should come to adore Christ and pay homage to Him? I answer that, As stated above (Article [3], ad 1), the Magi are the "first-fruits of the Gentiles" that believed in Christ; because their faith was a presage of the faith and devotion of the nations who were to come to Christ from afar. And therefore, as the devotion and faith of the nations is without any error through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, so also we must believe that the Mag”