Mary:  How did the “wise men” view her?

We don’t need to take away any credit that is due to Mary, but we also don’t want to give her credit or an identity she’s not due.  What do the Scriptures tell us about this that we all need to know?

Matthew 2:1-11

¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

For more information about Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and these wise men, please see my articles—

Christmas: Why is Jesus said to be of Nazareth but born in Bethlehem? 

Christmas:  What about the three wise men?

² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

For more information about this star, please see my article—

Christmas:  What is the star of Bethlehem?

³ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Here he refers to the prophesy stated in Micah 5:2.

⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Please notice that they wanted to go and worship the Christ child, not Mary.  Mary was totally unworthy of their worship even as today.  It is only God and our Savior, Jesus Christ who is worthy of this.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed; 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 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

¹¹ And when they were come into the house [in Bethlehem], they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

For more information about Mary and the gift-giving of the Magi, please see my articles—

Christmas:  What should we know about Mary?

Christmas:  What about the three wise men?

Christmas:  What could be the best gift you could give?

Mary, like so many others mentioned in our Bible, needs our respect but not our worship. There are always good things we can learn from our studies of them.  But let us not be giving them honors they’re not due.  To worship them is a form of idolatry, something that is clearly and understandably forbidden. We should always be mindful of what our Lord said about that.

Exodus 20:3

³ Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Deuteronomy 5:7

⁷ Thou shalt have none other gods before me.

Deuteronomy 10:17

¹⁷ For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

Deuteronomy 29:26

²⁶ For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:

Worshiping Mary is just another form of idolatry.  It is God, our Savior Jesus Christ who is worthy of our worship.  Only Him!