These daily Advent postings are for your personal devotionals or daily family Advent readings at the dinner table. They are a great way to start the family off on daily Bible readings and discussions at the dinner table in the evening.
(T = True; F = False) According to the Bible...
10) _____ At the time of Christ’s birth many Gentiles were also waiting expectantly for a Messiah. Among these were Wise Men, righteous god seekers , skilled in the interpretation of God’s working through the stars and signs. These were the Wise Men who came to Jesus bearing gifts
11) _____ The Magi, although Gentiles, were familiar with the Biblical prophetic texts and no doubt kept them among other sacred religious and mystical writings in their libraries. They recognized the star as the fulfillment of these prophecies and, as a result, headed out for Bethlehem to offer their gifts to the new born king.
12) _____ Even if you had known the prophecies concerning Jesus, you would not have been able to join the shepherds in worshiping the baby Jesus as He lay in the manger.
Answer Key 10. F - Matthew 2:1 – 6; Acts 13:6 – 8; Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7; James 2:19 (At the time of Christ’s birth many Gentiles were also waiting expectantly for a Messiah. Among these were Wise Men, righteous god seekers , skilled in the interpretation of God’s working through the stars and signs. These were the Wise Men who came to Jesus bearing gifts.) The origin of these men is not known. The Greek word for these men is MAGOS and in all other Scriptural passages it is translated “Magician” or “Sorcerer”. If this class of men were indeed considered “wise” (thus the sometimes used transliteration “Wise Men”) their wisdom was in the magical arts and not in academic studies. The Greek word for “wise men” – PHRONIMOS ((I Corinthians 10:15) is not used in this passage, rather the word MAGOS meaning Sorcerer. These men should not be confused with the classical Greek and Roman philosophers and scholars of the day. These men were not from the West, rather they were Sorcerers from the East. It is a great leap from Greco/Roman Mathematical Astronomy to Eastern Occult Astrology. These men were of the latter class, they were pagan sorcerers. In every other passage of Scripture where the word MAGOS is used it is in the context of spiritual conflict (Example Acts 13:6 – 8) and should not be romanticized. The fact that they did homage to Christ is no indication of their righteous character nor that they somehow had special insight into God’s plan hidden from His elect, unrevealed in His holy Word, yet revealed to these sorcerers through their incantations or profane writings. Throughout the Word of God both demons and those demon possessed fear Christ and pay him homage. This began here at His birth and continues throughout His earthly ministry (Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7; James 2:19). The actions of these Magi, these Sorcerers should be neither embellished nor romanticized at the expense of holy Scripture.
11. F – Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:17; Matthew 2:1 - 6 (The Magi, although Gentiles, were familiar with the Biblical prophetic texts and no doubt kept them among other sacred religious and mystical writings in their libraries. They recognized the star as the fulfillment of these prophecies and, as a result, headed out for Bethlehem to offer their gifts to the new born king.) There is no prophecy concerning a star and the coming of Christ in the Bible. In the Scripture the word “star” is often used with a figurative meaning. (In Numbers 24:17, II Peter 2:1 and Revelation 22:16 the word “star” has Messianic symbolism. Contrastingly, in Isaiah 14:12 the word “star” represents satan. In Amos 5:26 and Acts 7:43 the star is the symbol of a demonic cultic pagan god. None of these nor any of the others can be construed to be a prophecy calling the reader to look for a star in the east which would in turn signal a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.) It is not known why the Magi associated the star with the birth of Christ. It is not known why they would associate the birth of Christ to be of such importance that they should travel to Him brining Him gifts. Although the Magi responded to the appearance of the star and presupposed the birth of a king, there is no evidence whatsoever of their having used the Holy Scriptures to ascertain this. The Bible contains no prophecies concerning a star as an indication of the coming of the Messiah. If you will carefully read Matthew 2:1,2 you will find that upon their arrival the Magi made no claim of prior Biblical research which resulted in following a star to Jerusalem, what they said was, “we have seen His star in the east” nor did they reference any special revelation nor any pagan writings. There is absolutely no evidence for the teaching that pagan writings and prophets foretell divine Scriptural prophetic events such as the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Such superstitious teachings lower the value of Scriptural prophecy and assume a level of validity for other pagan mythologies which are never granted by God nor His Holy Word.
12. T - Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:2-6 (Even if you had known the prophecies concerning Jesus, you would not have been able to join the shepherds in worshiping the baby Jesus as He lay in the manger.) Even though you were versed in the Holy Scriptures, expecting the Messiah, had decided to live in Bethlehem in order to be there for the Messiah’s birth, you would not, from Holy Scriptures, be found to be waiting with shepherds in the open air, associate Jesus and the manger nor have any idea of the exact day of His birth. To find Jesus you would need assistance either from the angels or the shepherds. Since there is no mention of a “star” in any of the prophecies concerning the birth of Christ you would not be looking for it’s appearance nor associate it with the birth of Christ.
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