“After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, look! astrologers from the East came to Jerusalem.”

(Matthew 2:1)

Some years ago, the faithful and discreet slave advised Christians: “Ask yourself, ‘Would I invite practicers of … spiritism … into my house?’” (Awake!, March 22, 2003, page 12) The three men who visited Joseph and Mary were “astrologers” or “magi” (Footnote), hence for sure they were ‘practicers of spiritism.’ If they had been Jehovah’s Witnesses, they would not have been allowed to let these demonic men into their house. As Jews it would have been their obligation to follow these instructions: “A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard, must be put to death. The people must kill them with stones. They must be killed.” – Leviticus 20:27, ETR.

But instead of stoning, or at least rejecting, the astrologers, Joseph and Mary let them into their house. (Matthew 2:11) They even accepted gifts from the astrologers, though worshippers of God must under any circumstances reject or destroy “gifts received from practicers of spiritism.” (Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, page 115) To “associate … with those known to dabble in the occult and to accept gifts from them” can make one “come under demon influence.” – Is This Life All There Is?, page 87.

Why did Joseph and Mary act this way? Did they arbitrarily defy Jehovah’s principles? This was obviously not the case, for God himself blessed the astrologers and protected them on their way home. (Matthew 2:12) The reason for this is: “Jehovah is … perfectly adaptable” and not “locked into some rigid, unadaptable standard of justice.” (The Watchtower, August 1, 1994, pages 10, 11) His ordinary “standard of justice” proposes death penalty for astrologers and spiritists. (Leviticus 20:6) But if such persons contribute generously to “advance the interests of God’s Kingdom,” Jehovah can be “quick to alter course or adapt to new situations.” (2007 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 3; The Watchtower, August 1, 1994, page 17) In a similar way, Jehovah’s Witnesses are very considerate of persons who have stumbled or have loose moral standards, but support the congregation with generous donations. This way they imitate the first Christians who also favored wealthy visitors. – James 2:2, 3.