Matthew 2:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Herod learned about the timing of the star's appearance, motivated by a desire to eliminate the one who was born, revealing not only his fury but also his profound insanity. Despite the revelations and happenings that might have dissuaded him from his intentions, he remained undeterred. The unfolding of these events transcended human understanding: a celestial sign summoned wise men from afar, who embarked on a lengthy journey to honor the child wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, while prophets foretold of his coming. All these occurrences were of a divine nature. Yet, nothing could sway Herod. Such is the nature of wickedness, which ultimately harms itself and seeks the unattainable. Consider the madness!

Herod summoned the wise men in secret due to his concerns about the Jewish people. He feared that they held great affection for the child and might be conspiring to protect Him as their promised Saviour. He diligently investigated the matter. The star had guided the wise men prior to the Lord's birth. Since their journey would be long, the star had appeared well in advance, enabling them to worship Him even while He was still wrapped in swaddling clothes. However, some argue that the star shone at the moment of Christ's birth and that the wise men traveled for two years, ultimately finding the Lord not in swaddling clothes or a manger, but in a home with His mother when He was two years of age. Yet, you should carefully consider the points made earlier.

It was not the statements of the wise men that troubled him, but rather the proclamations of those well-versed in the law and the believers of the prophets. The wise men sought a king, while the Jewish people were disseminating news of Christ's birth. Thus, he disregarded the wise men, summoned the Jewish leaders, and inquired, ‘Where is the Messiah to be born, as you have heard from the wise men and now convey?’ In response, even the adversaries of truth, despite their reluctance, articulated the truth and detailed the complete prophecy, albeit in vain, for they failed to include all that was necessary.

Why did he summon them privately? He harbored suspicions about the Jews as relatives of Christ, and he wished to keep his inquiries and commands from their ears; he was apprehensive that, if they were aware of his intentions, they might try to rescue Him as their Sovereign. He assessed rather than merely asked. He examined the timing of the star's appearance to determine when Christ was born, believing that the birth of Christ coincided with the appearance of the star.

In response to the announcement of our King's arrival, Herod resorts to deceitful tactics to protect his earthly reign. He requests information about the location of the Child, feigning a desire to pay homage, while secretly intent on eliminating Him. Yet, what significance does human malice hold in light of God's plan? As it is written, There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel contrary to the Lord (Proverbs 21:30). The star that shines forth leads the Magi to the newly born King, who they honor with gifts, and in a dream, they receive the message not to return to Herod. Consequently, it becomes evident that Herod is unable to locate the Jesus he seeks. Who else could Herod represent but the hypocrites who outwardly search but are unworthy of discovering the Lord?

How did the Sanhedrin's reaction impact Herod? He discovers the location of the new King’s birth. What would be his course of action? Should he instruct the wise men to journey to Bethlehem, considering the Messiah must be there if He has indeed been born, and inform them through another? No, Herod summons them to himself, wishing to interrogate them personally, seeking to glean more knowledge than what others might obtain through questioning. His goal is to create a comfortable atmosphere for conversation and make it easier for them to fulfill his intentions. Thus, his suspicion and craftiness lead him to bring the wise men closer. Why does he summon them in secrecy?

Herod discreetly summoned the wise men and instructed them on where to seek Christ, also revealing to them the timing of the star's appearance. He suspected that the Jews would shield the child from him, anxious to protect their future King and Savior. Thus, he met with the Magi in secret; he was hesitant to inquire directly about the child's birth, fearing that they might uncover his ulterior motives. Instead, he craftily drew from them the information regarding the star's emergence, under the impression that Christ was born with its arrival. Such a blend of cunning and deception is evident in his actions! Yet, there is also a level of sheer madness!

Herod was convinced; he already had a hint to discover the infant king. He needed to ascertain the time of His birth: whom should he consult? The most logical choice was the wise men themselves, who revealed that their journey to Judea was to seek the birthplace of the Messiah, having identified the time of His arrival through the appearance of a star. Therefore, it was essential to determine when that star had first shone for them. After that, identifying the Messiah in a small town like Bethlehem would be straightforward by investigating which male child was born on that particular night.

Herod quickly devises a scheme to eliminate the infant king. He gathers the legal experts and inquires, “Where is Christ born?” They respond clearly and affirmatively, stating it is in Bethlehem of Judea, citing a prominent Messianic prophecy from Micah to substantiate their response. Subsequently, he discreetly summons the Magi, trying to keep their conversation concealed so as not to alert those nearby of his intentions, and he ascertains from them the timing of the star's appearance. Herod’s ulterior motive of slaying all male infants in Bethlehem, determined by the timing of the star, only begins to take shape after he feels mocked by the Magi.

Herod had discovered from the scholars the location of Christ's nativity, yet he was also eager to ascertain the exact time of His birth. Assuming that the star had manifested to the Magi precisely at the moment of His arrival into the world, he summoned the Magi to him in secret and, through deceit, learned the moment when the star appeared. The wary and distrustful Herod surmised that the Jews held the newborn Christ in high regard and would prevent His demise; thus, he shrouded his inquiries to the Magi in enigma. However, the outcome revealed his misconceptions about the Jews' affection for the Messiah.

Herod, having secretly summoned the Wise Men, sought to ascertain from them the timing of the star's appearance to pinpoint more accurately the moment of the Messiah's birth. He then sent them to Bethlehem with a deceitful request: “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, report back to me, so that I too may come and worship him.”

Herod, having devised a plot to kill the child, likely feared that the Jewish people might thwart his intentions. Thus, he summoned the Magi in secret; this action revealed not only his fury but also his profound madness. For both the messages delivered to him and the very circumstances could have dissuaded him from pursuing such a scheme. He sought information regarding the precise time of the star's appearance to ascertain more accurately the age of the infant, as he probably believed that the appearance of the star coincided with His birth.

This sovereign, who had previously sacrificed much for his unquenchable ambition and had sullied himself with the blood of his most faithful friends and kin, devised an even more heinous plot: he intended to become the slayer of the Holy Child, merging profound deceit with malice. In secret, aiming to keep his actions concealed from scrutiny, he summoned the Magi and extracted from them the knowledge of when the star had appeared—he inquired not about the Child’s birth, but rather sought the time of the star's manifestation, cunningly ensnaring his prey. Subsequently, he directed them towards Bethlehem, instructing, "Go and investigate the details concerning the Child; and when you find Him, inform me, as though I too seek to worship Him."