Have you really read Matthew ch 2? The reason why they came to honor Jesus as a new king was because they saw "his" star. They were Babylonian astrologers. That star led them first to Herod, not to Jesus. Only when Herod had hatched his evil plot, did the star move again and come to a stop above the very house where Jesus was living with his parents.
They were not evil men with bad intentions, but as worshippers of false gods and practicers of what God condemns, he was hardly going to use them to announce the birth of his Christ. He did that to the Jewish shepherds. That star was not sent by God but by his adversary in an attempt to destroy the Messiah before he even had a chance to grow up. God warned the magi in a dream not to return to Herod, so the plot was foiled, but not for the babies that Herod murdered.
That's not what is taught in church...but it is what is revealed in scripture.
Of course I've read Matthew 2.
Though I do admit I would wonder who's interpretation you're relying on.
The wise men, Magi, in the chapter are said to come from the east. There is no mention of Babylon.
Mounce version Matthew 2
In the Mounce Interlinear Greek New Testament, east is,
anatolē.
ἀνατολή (anatolē)
Strong: G395
GK: G424
pr. a rising of the sun, etc.; the place of rising, the east, as also pl. ἀνατολαί, Mt. 2:1, 2; met. the dawn or day-spring, Lk. 1:78
Furthermore, the star did not lead the Magi to Herod first. Herod learned of the Magi's presence in his land and called the Magi/wise men to him.
How would God send the star hearalding the birth of the Messiah to the Roman appointed King who was actually a Jew, and w
Matthew 2 (ASV)
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, a]">[
a]Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 b]">[
b]Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to c]">[
c]worship him. 3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet,
6 d]">[
d]And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah:
For out of thee shall come forth a governor,
Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.
7
Then Herod privily called the e]">[e]Wise-men, and learned of them exactly f]">[f]what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and g]">[g]worship him. 9 And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned
of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; 15 and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, h]">[
h]Out of Egypt did I call my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the i]">[
i]Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the j]">[
j]Wise-men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18 k]">[
k]A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
And she would not be comforted, because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child’s life. 21 And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned
of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, 23 and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, l]">[
l]that he should be called a Nazarene.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 2:1 Greek Magi. Compare Esth. 1:13; Dan. 2:12; Acts 13:6, 8.
- Matthew 2:2 Or, Where is the King of the Jews that is born?
- Matthew 2:2 The Greek word denotes an act of reverence whether paid to a creature (see 4:9; 18:26), or to the Creator (see 4:10)
- Matthew 2:6 Mic. 5:2.
- Matthew 2:7 Greek Magi. Compare Esth. 1:13; Dan. 2:12; Acts 13:6, 8.
- Matthew 2:7 Or, the time of the star that appeared
- Matthew 2:8 The Greek word denotes an act of reverence whether paid to a creature (see 4:9; 18:26), or to the Creator (see 4:10)
- Matthew 2:15 Hos. 11:1.
- Matthew 2:16 Greek Magi. Compare Esth. 1:13; Dan. 2:12; Acts 13:6, 8.
- Matthew 2:16 Greek Magi. Compare Esth. 1:13; Dan. 2:12; Acts 13:6, 8.
- Matthew 2:18 Jer. 31:15.
- Matthew 2:23 Isa. 11:1 in the Hebrew?
American Standard Version (ASV)
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