Matthew 2:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do you recognize how all these occurrences act as a rebuke to the Jewish people? Initially, before witnessing Christ, their hearts were not filled with envy, and they bore witness to the complete truth about Him. However, upon witnessing the magnificence of His miracles, they became envious and distorted the truth. Yet, everything played a role in revealing the truth, with even His adversaries unwittingly contributing to it. Observe the remarkable and extraordinary deeds being performed here. Both the Gentiles and the Jews learn and teach one another profound truths. The Jews hear from the wise men that even in distant Persia, the star announced the arrival of Christ; and the wise men learn from the Jews that the one whom the star heralded had been foretold by the prophets long ago. Thus, the inquiry posed by the Magi, both to themselves and to the Jews, facilitated a clearer and more precise understanding of the truth.

The leaders of the people were educated individuals, akin to what we refer to as scholars. They are interrogated in accordance with God's design, compelling them to acknowledge the truth; thus, they will face condemnation for having crucified the very one they initially recognized.

The wise men announce the arrival of the king, causing Herod to become troubled. He calls upon the scribes and chief priests to ask where Christ is destined to be born. While the Magi merely declare the king's presence, Herod's inquiry reveals his acknowledgment of Christ as king. By inquiring about His birthplace, Herod indicates that this event had been prophesied; if the prophecy had not existed, how could the scribes have been able to ask? O thoughtless Jews! You fail to recognize that the One before you has indeed arrived; you doubt that the One you awaited has come.

The wise men did not explicitly state that they were seeking the Messiah, so how did Herod inquire about Him? He had previously learned that the Messiah, the King of Israel, was to be born. Now, upon receiving news of a royal birth in Judea and hearing that a star had revealed Him to the Magi, he recognized this was indeed the anticipated Messiah. He called upon the chief priests and scribes, who were always familiar with the prophetic scriptures, to find out the location of Christ’s birth. They identified the site and provided a prophet’s testimony. It is important to note that Daniel articulated more clearly than anyone that this Messiah is truly God.

Herod was embarrassed, yet he maintained his political acumen. He sought guidance from the Sanhedrin regarding the inquiry of the Magi. This was seemingly not merely a political issue. Perhaps it would have been more prudent for him to banish the Magi from Jerusalem rather than compel the Sanhedrin to deliberate on the matter. However, Herod's actions were heavily laden with political sensitivity. He could not silence the murmurs of the populace. Herod aimed to project an image of fearless leadership, desiring to manage the situation with both due seriousness and visibility, in keeping with how a king guided by the needs of the people—and a fervent Jew—would respond. Despite being a foreign ruler, he often asserted himself as a fervent advocate and upholder of Jewish law.

When he had assembled all the high priests (the entire Sanhedrin, totaling seventy-two) along with the scribes of the people (the experts in the Scriptures), he posed the question, ‘In which location should the Messiah be born? What do the ancient prophecies and promises indicate about His birthplace?’ Even though the wise men did not explicitly mention that the King they sought was the Messiah, Herod quickly discerned that this was indeed the King in question.

Herod gathers the entire Sanhedrin, comprising all the chief priests and scribes of the people. This supreme council had already endured much from his brutal reign, and the struggles of Herod's later years made their situation even more precarious. He posed to them, particularly to the scholars and theologians, the inquiry regarding the birthplace of the anticipated great King. It was not hard to discern the motive behind the ruler's question, as the prophecy of the Messiah's birth held significant implications for his reign.

Herod quickly conjures a scheme to eliminate the newborn king. He gathers the religious scholars and inquires, "Where is Christ born?" They respond with certainty: in Bethlehem of Judea, citing one of the most profound Messianic predictions from the Prophet Micah. Subsequently, he discreetly summons the Magi, wary that his associates might surmise his intentions from his conversations with them, and learns precisely "the time of the appearance of the star." Herod’s rationale for this inquiry is not innocent; at that moment, he is already plotting to slay all the infants in Bethlehem, basing their age on the star’s appearance. This sinister idea took root only after he felt mocked by the wise men.

When Herod, notorious for his violent reign and ruthless elimination of all foes, even those imagined, heard from the Magi about the birth of the King of the Jews, he swiftly resolved to eliminate his competitor through his customary method—murder. However, he was uncertain of where to send those tasked with the assassination. Confident that this newly born King was indeed the long-awaited Messiah, and knowing that His birthplace had been foretold in prophecy, he called upon the chief priests and the knowledgeable scribes, inquiring earnestly: Where is Christ to be born?

In response to this significant issue, Herod promptly gathered all the leading priests and scholars of the people, insisting that they reveal the answer to his inquiry, "Where will the Messiah be born?" The esteemed Jewish theologians found it easy to respond to this query, as the prophet Micah had clearly foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

"The high priests and scribes": According to Flavius (Ant.3,15), the high priests were often replaced, and it could occur that while one served as high priest, others who had previously held the office were still alive. These individuals were also referred to as high priests and were part of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court consisting of 72 members. High priests were designated as the leading priests within each of the 24 divisions established by David (1 Chron. 23:6, 24; 2 Chron. 8:14; 2 Chron. 29:25; 1 Ezra 8:24). - Scribes, who were knowledgeable individuals, were well-versed in the law, which was a central focus of Jewish education during that period. Often referred to as teachers of the law (Matt. 22:35; Luke 5:17), they adhered to legalistic interpretations.

According to St. John Chrysostom, the inquiry posed by the Magi was instrumental in achieving a profound understanding of the truth for both themselves and the Jewish people. This exchange allowed both foreigners and Jews to mutually impart significant insights. The Jewish people learned from the wise men that even in far-off Persia, the star had proclaimed Christ, while the Magi discovered from the Jews that the one whom the star heralded had long been foretold by the prophets. In response, Herod summoned all the leading priests and scribes of the people, asking them, "Where is Christ born?" The adversaries of the truth were compelled, against their wishes, to engage with the Scriptures and expound the prophecy, as if to stand defenseless before God's judgment. Citing the words of the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2), the members of the Sanhedrin identified Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah.