Wise Men Are Drawn To Jesus
- Elijah McSwain
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
8/16/2025
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Matthew 2:1-11 NKJV — Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Gospel of Matthew in Chapter 1 describes the events surrounding the miraculous and divine birth of Jesus Christ into the world. Certain aspects of the Gospel of Matthew, along with other passages of Scripture, portray the time of Jesus’ birth as a period when people held high hopes and expectations that He would be born according to biblical prophecy. In Luke Chapter 2, a man named Simeon is a prime example of a person who longed for the coming of Jesus. The Spirit guided Simeon to the temple, where Mary and Joseph were to bring Jesus for circumcision according to Jewish tradition. In Simeon’s dialogue at the temple, it was revealed that his temperament was as one who looked forward to the time when Christ came in human flesh. At the temple, Simeon took up Jesus in his arms and blessed God, and his words reflected the very nature of his inward desire to seek the Person of Promise. In Luke 2:29-33 (NKJV), He said “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
The birth of Christ during this time was a highly anticipated milestone in history that linked the long-awaited promises of old with His present arrival in the Gospel of Matthew.
The Jewish people eagerly awaited the day when the Messiah, the Chosen One and the Anointed One, would arrive on earth as foretold long ago. Many prophecies sparked excitement and joy at the arrival of God’s appointed One. A survey of biblical prophecies reveals this about the first advent or coming of Christ. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) implies “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Micah 5:2 (NKJV) states, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me, The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Jeremiah 23:5-6 (NKJV) reveals “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
No doubt, these divine truths generated excitement among people because these truths revealed one of the most critical moments in human history. Here in Matthew Chapter 2, it is revealed that certain wise men took an interest in the birth of Jesus. Between chapters one and two, it is noted that significant time had passed between Jesus' birth and the visit of the wise men. The wise men came to visit Joseph, Mary, and Jesus after a period of time, and they took up residence in a house in Bethlehem (v. 11). The wise men were very prominent individuals of great intellect within their respective cultures, but displayed humility in seeking out Jesus.
According to historians and scholars, these Magi—also known as magicians or astrologers—were likely from the region of Persia. They had extensive knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures that date back to the time of Daniel. 1
As astrologers, they studied the stars, and the star associated with Jesus from His birth caught their attention, leading them to Jerusalem. The wise men sought out the One regarding the significance of this specific star according to the Hebrew Scriptures. Thus, their curiosity was aroused to see the fulfillment of Scripture come true regarding Jesus. As we observe the wise men from this biblical setting, the focus will primarily deal with verses one and two concerning the emphasis of wise men being drawn to Jesus.
Wise Men Inquire About Jesus
In verses one and two, the wise men came from the East to Jerusalem asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” The news of Jesus’ birth had widely spread across many regions around the world and put many people’s minds on a wonder. Albert Barnes articulated, “There was at that time a prevalent expectation that some remarkable personage was about to appear in Judea. The Jews were anxiously looking for the coming of the Messiah. By computing the time mentioned by Daniel (Daniel 9:25-27), they knew that the period was approaching when he would appear. This personage, they supposed would be a temporal prince, and they were expecting that he would deliver them from Roman bondage. It was natural that this expectation should spread into other countries. Many Jews at that time lived in Egypt, in Rome, and in Greece; many, also, had gone to Eastern countries, and in every place they carried their sacred writings, and diffused the expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear. Under this expectation these wise men came to do him homage, and inquired anxiously where he was born?” 2
The news about Jesus created a sense of enthusiasm that led the wise men to seek the One spoken of in this way.
The wise men began on a journey from the East to Jerusalem to search for the King of the Jews. Their curiosity got the better of them, so they began to implore and seek the truth about Him. Grant Richison wrote, “The wise men here were truth seekers who wanted to know something beyond their power of magic.” 3 The desire for the truth sparked in them a need to be sure about the events that occurred from afar, related to biblical prophecy and the remarkable star that appeared. Therefore, they posed the question, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? Charles Spurgeon mentioned, “A stir begins as soon as Christ is born. He has not spoken a word; He had not performed a miracle, He had not proclaimed a single doctrine but ‘when Jesus was born,’ at the very first while as yet you hear nothing but infant cries, and can see nothing but infant weakness, still His influence upon the world is manifest. When Jesus was born, there came wise men from the east,’ and so on. There is infinite power even in an infant Savior.” 4
Like the wise men in Jesus’ time, it is wise for people today to inquire about Jesus.
There is still a buzz circulating in the press, the Bible, and sources complementary to the Bible that creates a thirst for Jesus. There is news in the Bible, on social media, and through word of mouth about the name of Jesus, the Person of Jesus, and His work that should prompt people to seek Him out. His name is still influential today. His name draws people’s minds to His being.
Have you heard the good news about Jesus’ birth?
Have you heard of His immaculate conception?
Have you heard about the nature of His name, Immanuel, meaning God is with us?
Have you heard that His birth entails that He would save His people from their sins?
Have you heard that He was God made flesh?
Have you heard that His birth was the gateway to His death to grant us everlasting life?
The news about Jesus should arouse our curiosity to want to learn more about Him. In a person’s desire to know Jesus, it is God who captivates their mind, drawing them to seek Jesus. John 6:44a declares, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” Unless God captures the attention of mankind, no person will seek after the Lord to understand or know Him. Romans 3:11 is written, “There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.”
William MacDonald documented, “If left to himself, fallen man would never seek God. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that anyone ever does.” 5
God gave the wise men a desire to seek the One called the King of the Jews. Similarly, He urges us today to want to know Jesus Christ inquisitively and intimately through saving faith. Isaiah 55:6 states, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” When God places a yearning within us, it is essential to seek out the truth about the Lord. MacArthur stated, “Such true seeking in faith is accompanied by repentance, which is described as forsaking ways and thoughts and turning from sinful living to the Lord. A sinner must come, believing in God, recognizing his sin and desiring forgiveness and deliverance from that sin. At the same time, he must recognize his own inability to be righteous or to satisfy God and cast himself on God’s mercy. It is then that he receives a complete pardon. His sin has been covered by the substitution of the Messiah in his place.” 1
Jesus is worthy of being sought after. He is the means to salvation and eternal life.
Acts 17:27 (ESV) notes “that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.”
Wise Men Have A Void To Be Filled
In hopes of seeking Jesus and the truth about Him, there was a void that needed to be filled within the wise men. In verse two, the wise men searched for Jesus saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” The wise men were puzzled by this specific star. This star was unusual when compared to all the other stars, constellations, or celestial bodies. This star caught the attention of the wise men as it stood out among the countless stars in outer space. Being the astrologers they were, they carefully studied the star in connection with the King of the Jews. Historically, this star had a significant meaning as tied to Numbers 24:17 (NKJV), which emphasizes “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob, A Scepter shall rise out of Israel.”
God provided a visible luminary sign in the sky during Jesus’ birth. He wanted to highlight the significance of the star that appeared out of the lineage of Jacob, from the house of Israel.
Thomas Constable remarked, “The "star" (Numbers 24:17) was a common symbol for a king in biblical and non-biblical ancient Near Eastern literature. This identification finds support in the reference to the “scepter” in the next line (cf. Genesis 49:10; Amos 1:5; Amos 1:8; Psalms 45:6). One wonders if it might have been this prophecy that was in the minds of the wise men who came from Balaam’s country to Bethlehem to look for the promised King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-2).” 6 The wise men had to have their void filled by being certain that the prophecy of Jesus was true. They would not be satisfied unto they received the desired answer regarding the King of the Jews.
Thus, they intended to carefully investigate and explore this prophetic knowledge of the King of Kings.
In the same respect, the lost should seek out Jesus to know Him so that their spiritual void may be filled. Ann Voskamp documented, “Wise men are only wise because they make their priority the seeking of Christ.” 7 Jesus is the only One who can fill that void caused by mankind's depravity by offering eternal life. John 17:3 (NKJV) records, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” The lost have an opportunity to get acquainted with Jesus through eternal life that is accessible via the work of the cross and His resurrection.
Not only that, but believers should regularly strive to deepen their knowledge and fellowship with Jesus through study, prayer, and communion with Him. Several Scriptures indicate this truth.
2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) advises believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever."
Philippians 3:10-11 (ESV) is penned, “that I may know him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Every believer should desire a deeper understanding of Christ, knowledge of Christ, and intimacy with Christ.
We should eagerly seek communion with God and live according to the purpose of His death, that we are dead to sin and have been made alive through His resurrection. The lost should seek Jesus. The redeemed should continue to pursue Jesus.
Wise men still seek Jesus. Wise men are drawn to Jesus.
Notes
The MacArthur Study Bible
Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Matthew 2:2". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/matthew-2.html. 1870.
Believer’s Bible Commentary
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentary on Numbers 24:17". "Dr. Constable's Expository Notes". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/numbers-24.html. 2012.
