“We Three Kings” is largely based on

2:1-12.

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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. —Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)

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 —Matthew 2:1 (ESV)

Matthew 2:1 implies a time gap, and the early church settled on

days, celebrating the travelers’ arrival on January 6, called Epiphany.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother…. —Matthew 2:11 (ESV)
… [Herod] sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. —Matthew 2:16 (ESV)

The carol itself was written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr., a single man with no children, in 1857, as a special Epiphany gift of a

pageant for his nieces and nephews, because he really enjoyed their childlike spirit and joy for Christmas.

Hopkins used his seminary education and his

to try to picture what it must have been like for each traveler.

Verse 1
We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.

This first verse points us to the long and challenging

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that these men set out on to find the one true King.

When we look at Matthew’s text, he only reports “wise men,” (emphasis added) meaning more than one, but nowhere does he tell us how

there were.

Matthew’s original Greek uses the word magos, from which we get the word “Magi,” which is often

as “wise men,” who were probably astrologers/astronomers and interpreters of dreams, especially for royalty.

The “wise men” or magos were prophesied in Old Testament passages, but because the passages used the language of “kings,” many assumed they were

instead of Matthew’s description of wise men.

May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! —Psalms 72:10-11 (ESV)
A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD. —Isaiah 60:6 (ESV)

The giving of these gifts has often been cited as the basis for

at Christmas.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. —Matthew 2:11 (ESV)

While it might be nice to find a natural explanation for this star, it can’t be dismissed that it was altogether

, a work of God’s.

Though the Bible gives no names for these wise men,

dating back to the 6th Century has most commonly named them Melchior, Balthazar, and Caspar, though there are records of other names, too.

The Bible and the carol tell us that some of the first

to this newborn king were foreigners, Gentiles, pagans.

Refrain
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.

Hopkins now moves from all the kings singing to each one singing a verse about their gift and why it

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.

Verse 2
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.

“Gold” represents the baby’s

.

This carol affirms for us that the baby won’t become a King but is born

King – his royalty is eternal.

Verse 3
Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high.

“Frankincense,” a type of incense used in

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of God, points to both our worship of this baby as God and King, as well as him being, as Hebrews reminds us, our great high priest who intercedes on our behalf before God the Father.

Verse 4
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

“Myrrh,” a bitter perfume typically used to mask the smell of death, points us to the

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on a cross that awaits this baby.

Verse 5
Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies.

This carol, reflecting the Matthew passage, points to the whole Gospel story, offered to

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– in fact, intentionally meant for

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as the wise men/kings show us.

We always make a grave mistake if we perceive that Christmas is for

only.

As this carol and Matthew’s passage make so clear, the retelling and reliving of this baby’s life, death and resurrection can break through any

human beings put up.

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Next Week – Do You Hear What I Hear?