Wise Men, Wicked Men . . . and Us

In this message, Chuck Swindoll invites us to look past the comforting traditions of Christmas carols to discover the gritty, historical truth of the first Christmas found in Matthew 2. Swindoll warns that while "We Three Kings" is a beloved song, it relies more on myth than Scripture. The Bible never states there were three men, never calls them kings, and reveals they arrived not at a stable to visit a newborn, but at a house to worship a young child [11–13]. The narrative centers on a dramatic contrast between two "kings." The first is Herod the Great, a paranoid, bloodthirsty tyrant who murdered his own wife and sons to protect his throne. The second is Jesus, the true King of the Jews, born in humility. Swindoll explores the journey of the Magi—likely Persian astronomers and philosophers—who followed a divine light to worship the Messiah. He interprets the famous "star" not as a planet or comet, but as the Shekinah glory of God, similar to the light that filled the Tabernacle [24–25]. Swindoll concludes by examining three distinct responses to Jesus that persist to this day:

1. Indifference: Displayed by the religious scribes who knew the Bible perfectly but wouldn't walk five miles to meet the Messiah.
2. Hostility: Displayed by Herod (and modern skeptics), who view Jesus as a threat to their own autonomy [35–37].
3. Worship: Displayed by the Magi, who traversed a great distance to bow down and offer their treasures.

Message Key Facts:

• Busting Christmas Myths: Swindoll points out that the Bible never says there were three wise men (the number is assumed from the three gifts). They were not kings, but Magi (scholars/astronomers), and they found Jesus as a paidion (child/toddler), not a brephos (infant), inside a house rather than a stable [11–13].
• Herod the Monster: Herod the Great was a brilliant builder (responsible for the Temple and Masada) but a "monster" of narcissism. He was so feared and hated that he ordered leading citizens of Jerusalem to be executed the moment he died just to ensure there would be mourning in the city [17–20].
• The Nature of the Star: Swindoll rejects astronomical theories (like Jupiter or comets) in favor of the miraculous. He argues the "star" was a manifestation of the Shekinah glory of God, appearing in the East to announce the birth and reappearing to pinpoint the exact house in Bethlehem [24–25].
• The Gifts:
  • Gold: A gift for royalty, which likely financed the family's flight to Egypt.
  • Frankincense: A priestly incense, acknowledging Jesus as the High Priest.
  • Myrrh: An embalming spice, prophesying His death. Swindoll notes, "He was the one who came to die... Christ's great goal in arriving was to reach the destination... death on a cross".
• The Indifference of Religion: The most tragic characters in the text are the religious leaders. They could quote Micah 5:2 to Herod without hesitation, knowing exactly where the Messiah would be born, yet they remained in Jerusalem, completely indifferent to the reality of His arrival.
• Worshiping the Right Person: When the Magi arrived, they worshiped Jesus, not Mary. Swindoll emphasizes that Mary is the mother of the humanity of Jesus, but she is not an object of worship; idolatry is the worship of anyone or anything other than God.

Message References:

• Matthew 2:1–12: The primary text detailing the arrival of the Magi, the plot of Herod, and the worship of the King.
• Micah 5:2: The Old Testament prophecy cited by the priests, identifying Bethlehem as the birthplace of the ruler of Israel.
• Matthew 2:16: Referenced regarding Herod's slaughter of all male children two years old and under.
• Luke 1: Referenced regarding the miraculous conception and virgin birth.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll