Does Bible say THREE wise men visited Jesus?

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Question: Were there THREE wise men in the Bible who went to visit Jesus?

Answer: Before we see if the Bible says three wise men or more did visit baby Jesus I'd like to make an important point. There are many ideas connected to the birth of Jesus that are simply not true and not in the Bible! There is much regarding Christ's nativity which is wrapped up in tradition, folklore and custom. Such is the case with the common assumption that because three gifts were given there must have been THREE wise men visited Jesus when he was born!

The belief in three wise men has been taught for many years. When an idea or understanding is actually taught in the word of God we should all pay close attention. If God's word does not teach a particular doctrine, or teaches the opposite of what you may have learned from others, the prudent thing to do would be to listen to what God is trying to tell you.

Of course, whether there were three wise men or not their number is a very small thing Biblically. God, however, may be opening up your mind, little by little, pointing out one tiny error in "the Christmas story," and watching to see what your reaction is. If you show God you wish to learn His truth and move away from error, God will probably show you another little truth, then another. What you do with that information will determine what God does next in His growing relationship with you.

We must remember that Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, really was born in Bethlehem long ago. That part is not custom and tradition. The story is found in the Gospel of Matthew. This is where we find the account of the Magi who paid a visit to the Baby who would be King. We will find that the scriptures do not state there were three wise men who came to worship him.

We can read the story of Jesus and where the assumption that it was three wise men who were led to him in the book of Matthew:

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,  'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'

"When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written:   "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." '

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of GOLD and of INCENSE and of MYRRH.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." (Matthew 2:1-12, NIV)

We can see a few things from this story:

1. There were THREE gifts given to Jesus, but that doesn't mean there were three wise men who each had a single gift to give. The exact number of Magi is not mentioned, nor is it really important.

2. The men did not appear on the day and hour of Jesus' birth, but afterward, and they did not go to a manger in a stable, but to a HOUSE where Mary and Jesus were staying.

3. These were not just any three wise men, or educated scholars, or local rulers, but Magi who likely came from the kingdom of Parthia.

4. The star had appeared at a certain time, and it moved independently, leading them to Bethlehem and stopping over the very house where Mary and the Baby were staying.

Who were the MAGI? No one really knows with certainty. Whoever the Magi were, they were important enough to gain an immediate audience with King Herod! You can read the thoughts of the eminent scholar Alfred Edersheim on the Magi who visited Jesus from his major work entitled The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Was the star that appeared to lead the Magi to Jesus Halley's Comet? Not likely, since it appeared at a certain time, then moved to a position over a particular house in Judea, showing without question where the Magi were to visit. No star, comet, or other celestial body could do that!

On a final note, the gifts given by the three wise men - gold, incense, and myrrh - were traditional gifts given to kings by visitors. The meanings of those gifts can often be found in articles which appear in newspapers and magazines every December, as can many other facets of the various Christmas customs and traditions.