Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Magi or Kings - Does it matter? The answer is yes!

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Magi or Kings - Does it matter? The answer is yes!

The Feast of the Epiphany is also called the feast of the “Three Kings” in many parts of Europe.

In the traditional iconography and symbolism about Epiphany, you will often see the Magi of the Gospel of Matthew portrayed as 3 Kings. Why is this? Usually around this time of year you will hear “scholars” who will have all sorts of esoteric theories about the identity of the Magi and will make a point to discredit the traditional symbolism of the 3 Kings. They will claim that any details we have of them outside of the Gospel narrative is unscriptural and therefore incorrect. But I disagree…

As mentioned in a previous post, it is vital for us to understand who the Messiah is and how Jesus Christ fulfills these biblical messianic prophecies.

The Gospel of Matthew refers to the men of the east as the Magi. Various people have interpreted this to mean they were magicians, or astrologers, or even Zoroastrian priests. But the common consensus is that they were not kings. So where did the traditional understanding come from for us to consider them as kings?

This confusion is the result of trying to read and interpret the New Testament outside of the context of the Old Testament. Because what is oblivious to us modern readers in the Gospel of Matthew, would have been abundantly obvious to any Jewish reader in the first few centuries after the birth of Jesus.

Psalm 72:10-11 is one of the scripture verses understood and interpreted by the Church and Tradition as referring to the Magi. This verses refers to the “Kings of Tarshish, Sheba & Seba” bringing gifts to a Jewish Davidic King, as well as them submitting to him through bowing down in homage. Importantly, you can see that this verse refers to the kings of 3 different nations, but it can also be interpreted as referring to 3 Kings in total.

Later on in verse 15 of Psalm 72 you will see it mentions a gift of gold coming from Sheba. This is interesting because it is connected to how the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon and brought him gifts of gold (1 Kings 10:1-2). The abundance of gifts that the Queen of Sheba brought to King Solomon was brought there via camel, which helps to explain why the Magi are often represented as being on camels although camels are not mention by the Gospel of Matthew. Camels are also mentioned in the prophecy of Isaiah that says camels from Midian, Ephah and Sheba will bring gifts of gold and frankincense (Isaiah 60:5-6).

Once you are immersed in the Old Testament scriptures and are aware of the messianic prophecies, it is now easy to see why the early Church understood the visit of the Magi as the fulfilment of the prophecies in Isaiah 60 & Psalm 72 of kings paying homage to the David King of the Jews. Foreign kings submitting to the King of Israel and doing homage to him, is also connected to biblical prophecies regarding “all nations and peoples” who will one day worship the God of Israel. This beautifully begins with the homage of the 3 Magi Kings to Jesus, and at the end of time will be complete when all people’s will come to worship the God of Jacob on Mount Zion (Isaiah 2:2-3).

Now with this fuller biblical context, the message of the Gospel of Matthew makes so much more sense!

It vividly comes alive and you understand why the feast day today is called Epiphany - in Greek this means “manifestation”. An epiphany also has connotations of a sudden realisation of something that now becomes clear or obvious ie… manifest. This is why in the Eastern Traditions, this feast day also commemorates the other 2 theophanies of Jesus - his baptism in the Jordan, and his miracle at the wedding of Cana.

So far we can see that we have the 3 gifts in the Gospel of Matthew of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Psalm 72 refers to kings of 3 places - Tarshish, Sheba and Seba. Then Isaiah 60 refers to frankincense and gold coming from kings of 3 places - Midian, Ephah and Sheba.

Is it any wonder then why tradition has identified the Magi as also being 3 Kings according to scripture? Topologically you can then begin to understand the deeper scriptural symbolism that “fills out” the brief sketch of the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew:

3 Kings who recognised the true King of the Jews, instead of King Herod.
3 gifts to the thrice-holy Davidic King of kings, the Annointed one of the Lord.
The threefold office of Christ as Priest, Prophet & King receiving gifts according to each office - Gold for a King, incense for a Priest to use in worship, and myrrh to embalm the body of a Prophet who will be killed

All of this shows that it is perfectly reasonable and makes sense why the Magi are also called the 3 Kings. According to tradition their names are Kasper/Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Their relics are famously kept in Cologne Cathedral in Germany, as they are considered Saints.

The Magi manifest and reveal to us the identity of this little infant child born in Bethlehem. The child born to be the Messiah King on the line of David, who’s reign will bring all the nations of the world to worship the thrice holy Triune God of Israel. The child who himself in the flesh is the image of the invisible God who saves us from sin.

Just as Chapter 60 of Isaiah prophecies about foreign kings bringing incense and gold to the King and worshipping God on Zion, so too does Chapter 61 begin with the very words that Jesus himself quotes in Luke 4:16-21 as he declares himself to be the long awaited Messiah. The beginning of the good news he proclaims in the synagogue, is the very same good news we believe in and proclaim to all nations, all people at all times.

The good news manifested and witnessed to by the Magi who came to Jesus full of joy (Matthew 2:10). Their encounter with Jesus changed them, so that they left by a different way than they came (Matthew 2:12). After encountering the good news of God in the flesh, they were changed and transformed.

May these 3 Kings who were wise men, teach us to seek after the wisdom of God which is his glory, even when it looks as foolishness to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). May they encourage us to allow the little child in Bethlehem to truly become the light of our lives so that we no longer try to follow the stars, but always be enlightened by the true Morning Star (2 Peter 1:19) and Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2). May they inspire us through their witness to always joyfully proclaim the good news to all, even in the face of persecution and death - Jesus Christ is Lord!

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Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.