Three Kings Day is the religious commemoration of the day when the 3 wise men—often referred to by name as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar—arrived with gifts for baby Jesus.
As members of the upper class, they were held in high regard and were able to present the child gold, incense and myrrh. By the way, Matthew did not mention the number of men. The number three was only later derived from the number of gifts. He did not even call them king and did not call them by name.
What does it mean when Mary pondered in her heart?
Mary was making memories. She was collecting a sort of mental scrapbook. The other key word in this verse is the word, “pondered.” The Greek word means “to throw thoughts together; mull over, draw conclusions, consider, confer mentally.” Another definition for ponder is to wonder at a deep level.
Although they are often called the “Three Kings,” the Bible does not refer to them as kings but as magi, meaning “wise men.” Some scholars believe they may have been priests or astrologers. The Day of the Three Wise Men holds deep significance for Catholics, symbolizing the first revelation of Jesus to the world.
Three Kings Day commemorates the biblical account of the Magi who travelled from the East after following a star that led them to Jesus. According to Christian tradition, the Three Wise Men brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, each carrying a symbolic meaning tied to kingship, divinity, and sacrifice.
What does the Bible say about the Three Wise Men? | Three Kings / Three Magi
Do Muslims believe in the Three Kings?
In the Koran - which has a very beautiful description of the Nativity (See Aramco World, November-December 1971) - the Three Kings are not mentioned at all.
Queen Athaliah is the only woman in the Hebrew Bible reported as having reigned as a monarch within Israel/Judah. After her son's brief rule, she kills the remaining members of the dynasty and reigns for six years, when she is overthrown.
The magi were revered as wise men and later as kings. Over time, one of the three came to be known as Balthazar and to be depicted as a Black man. Balthazar was familiar to medieval Europeans, appearing in paintings, manuscript illuminations, mosaics, carved ivories, and jewelry.
Most compelling to me is the fact that the wise men were Gentiles. The contrast between the Gentile worshipers and the Jewish leaders is jarring: The Gentile magi traveled something like 800 miles to worship Jesus; Jewish leaders couldn't be troubled to travel the 6 miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
Always observed 12 days after Christmas on January 6
According to the Biblical story, the Three Kings (also called wise men or magi) - named Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar - followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the birth place of Baby Jesus. They presented the baby with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
It depicts Mary at the moment that Simeon the Righteous says, "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also...." (Luke 2:35). She stands with her hands upraised in prayer, and seven swords pierce her heart, indicative of the seven sorrows.
Some church traditions say that Mary was born without sin and now serves as a mediator between man and God, and that as such she is worthy of praise and prayer.
In Luke's account, the woman is called a sinner, likely meaning a prostitute, while the woman in Matt/Mark/John is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who is never identified as a prostitute in the Gospels.
There were three wise men. Matthew never records how many wise men came to honor Jesus. We know there was more than one because of the plural use of “men.” Most people assume there are three because of the three gifts they gave, as recorded in Matthew (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). They were kings.
Why do Catholics celebrate Christmas until January 6th?
This feast marking the end of Christmas is called “Epiphany.” In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, Epiphany celebrates the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God. It focuses primarily on this revelation to the Three Wise Men, but also in His baptism in the Jordan and at the wedding at Cana.
Perhaps the Wise Men were being prophetic, when they brought Jesus gold, for His kingship, frankincense to represent prayers, because Jesus was and is God, and myrrh to represent the fact that He was to die to cleanse repentant sinners of their sins. [Insight-Lee Strobel]
God tells us 365 times in His Word: “Fear not.” Why? Because He is with you. Worry won't fix your situation, but giving your cares to Him will bring peace that makes no sense to the world.
Peter's Basilica, which brought the ordinary Jubilee of 2025 to an end, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in St. Peter's for the feast of the Epiphany. The Holy Father likened the millions who crossed through the Holy Door to the Magi who arrived in Bethlehem: "Yes, the Magi still exist today."
Technically, “Israelites” refers to all twelve of the tribes descended from Israel. That includes both Jews and Samaritans. The word “Jews ” refers specifically to those Israelites descended from subjects of the Southern Kingdom of Judah - the Judeans (Jews).
Many scholars and archeologists now agree that Jesus was most likely a brown-skinned, brown-eyed man — more akin to a “Middle Eastern Jewish” or an Arab man. A commentator once said that if Jesus was taking a flight today “he might be profiled for additional security screening” by the TSA.
"Saint Bartholomew the Apostle skinned alive for spreading his faith". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 24 August 2020. Decker, John R.; Kirkland-Ives, Mitzi (2017).
Was there a black man that helped Jesus carry the cross?
We don't know if he was Jewish or Gentile because the name Simon was common for Greeks and Jews. We don't know if he was visiting Jerusalem or lived there, but what we know is that the Gospels draw attention to the fact that this man's got a foreign origin. He's an African.
Over centuries, Jezebel became a cultural symbol associated with false prophets, manipulative women, and promiscuity. In Christian traditions, she was seen as leading others into idolatry and sin, and her image influenced medieval and modern perceptions of powerful or nonconforming women.
The Book of Esther begins by portraying Esther as beautiful and obedient, though a relatively passive figure. Throughout the story, she evolves into a character who takes a decisive role in her own future and that of her people.
History. In some Jewish folklore, such as the Alphabet of Sirach ( c. 700–1000 AD), Lilith appears as Adam's first wife, who was created at the same time and from the same clay as Adam. The legend of Lilith developed extensively during the Middle Ages, in the tradition of Aggadah, the Zohar, and Jewish mysticism.
