Matthew 2:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

How absurd! If you, Herod, are speaking these words with a hint of sincerity, why do you seek answers in secret? And if you do so with deceptive motives, are you not aware that your covert inquiries will arouse the suspicion of the wise men concerning your malicious intent? The mind, as I mentioned before, succumbs to complete folly. He did not instruct them to investigate the king, but rather a child. It was unsettling for him even to utter a name that carries authority. Yet the wise men, in their deep devotion, failed to perceive this, as they could not fathom that he was capable of such rage and might dare to challenge such a wondrous plan. Without suspecting any ill will, and relying on their own judgments as well as those of others, they chose to depart from him.

He referred not to “the king” but to “the child,” as he was unable to tolerate the title, thus revealing the depth of his madness towards Pego. They were genuine individuals, convinced that he too spoke with sincerity.

Seek diligently regarding the child whom Herod refers to as the Magi ambassadors, for they arrived at the king of Israel as representatives, aiming to foster peace between themselves and the Israelites. This collaboration would allow both Gentiles and Jews to unite as one flock under a single Shepherd (John 10:16).

Herod's wickedness, yet he acknowledges Him as divine, considering Him deserving of reverence.

Consider Herod’s deceitful nature and reflect on his madness. If his true desire was to honor Him, why did he employ such secretive methods? If his aim was to take His life, how could he fail to recognize that his clandestine actions would cause suspicion of his treachery? He had inquired thoroughly about the star and had already plotted his scheme, intending that if the announcement of his order did not come, he would be the one to execute the betrayal, fully aware of the star’s appearance. But awaken, you who contend with God: how do you plan to destroy the One who cannot be captured? How can you not see that it is utterly futile to attempt to outwit Him whom the prophets have foretold from ancient times, whom the star has made known, and whom the Magi have come to honor?

Upon hearing of the birth of our Sovereign, Herod resorts to deceitful tactics to protect his earthly reign. He requests to be informed of the Child's location and feigns worship in an attempt to eliminate Him. Yet, what is the malice of humanity against the wisdom of God? - For it is written, There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30). The star that has emerged guides the wise men; they discover the newly born King, present Him with gifts, and are warned in a dream not to return to Herod; thus, Herod is thwarted in his search for Jesus. - In Herod's character, who else can be represented but a hypocrite, who, under the guise of seeking, is unworthy to discover the Lord.

"Shadsha test is recognized as pertaining to the Hereafter." He refrains from addressing Him as King or Messiah, opting instead for the title 'The Youth.' "Inform me," he commands them. Why does he not dispatch the Sanhedrin to disclose the achievement of Otrochati? Does he not reveal his usual cunning here? Indeed, there is a noticeable shift from his typical pretense. It is not shocking that a ailing tyrant's demeanor can shift dramatically. Herod approached this matter with a sense of indifference, as though he were making a passing comment. When he perceives the implications of the situation and his own ego is at stake, he takes precautions against the impending threat and subsequently attempts to ignore it.

Do not let yourself become like the malevolent Herod, who inquired about the location of the Christ child in the manger while secretly plotting His destruction. Such individuals are enslaved by their desires for wealth, power, and earthly pleasures, nurturing within them a tyrant consumed by jealousy of Jesus Christ, who cannot truly come into union with Him. They resemble those who, though they outwardly pay tribute to Jesus Christ and speak words of prayer, ultimately betray the essence of the Christian faith through their actions.

Upon hearing the wise men’s reply—which was doubly validated, firstly by the word of the priests and secondly through the affirmations of the prophets—Herod did not intend to submit in reverence to the future King. Instead, he plotted to cunningly extinguish His life. A wicked individual may grasp the things of God but cannot pursue them in His manner, for while the capacity for understanding is granted by God, actions stem from one's own desires. Observing the deep respect the wise men showed to Christ, Herod realized he could neither entice them with flattery, nor frighten them with threats, nor persuade them with riches to assist in the murder of the coming Monarch; thus, he resolved to deceive them.

Go and investigate, and once you discover it, inform me. Herod's request, “Let me know,” was no coincidence, for anyone who earnestly seeks Christ must turn away from the adversary. The aspiring believer, when questioned by the priest, responds, “I renounce him.” Herod had urged the wise men to inform him, fully aware that he occupied a wicked position and recognized his role as an adversary. He falsely claimed, “So that I too may go and worship Him.” Though he feigned desire to honor Christ, his true intentions were filled with rage, leading to suffering and death. However, when the shadows of Jewish betrayal lifted, the clear skies of Christian faith allowed the Magi to once again see the star they had previously followed, guiding them to the holy site of the Lord's nativity.

In the interim, to the kind-hearted wise men, it might have appeared sensible, particularly since Herod neither dissuaded them from their journey nor concealed his royal favor toward them. He dispatched them to Bethlehem with the directive, "Go and inquire diligently about the Child." Here, his malice was evident; he could not bring himself to refer to Him as the King, for he loathed the very title of the King of the Child. He urged them to investigate the matter closely, acknowledging that there was an element of mystery surrounding it. The wise men from the East had been informed about Him, while those in Jerusalem had remained unaware, indicating a need for caution. The heavens themselves beckoned them by a star to the Newborn.

In Herod's thoughts, a scheme arises to eliminate the infant king swiftly. He calls upon the legal authorities and inquires, “Where has Christ been born?” They respond unequivocally: in Bethlehem of Judea, referencing one of the most explicit Messianic prophecies from Micah. He then discreetly summons the wise men, seeking to avoid alerting those around him to his intentions, and specifically asks them about “the time of the appearance of the star.” This inquiry is not made out of curiosity; rather, it arises from his dark intention to annihilate all male infants in Bethlehem, determined by the timing of the star’s emergence.

Upon discovering the specific time and location of Christ's birth, Herod sought comprehensive information about Him to ensure his treacherous plans were not thwarted. To accomplish this, he feigned devotion, presenting himself as a righteous individual eager to pay homage to the infant. He requested the Magi to carefully search for the child and report back with all the pertinent details.

Herod, having summoned the Magi discreetly and gathered from them the timing of the star's appearance to ascertain the birth of the Messiah more accurately, dispatched them to Bethlehem with a deceitful mission: ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have located him, notify me, so that I may also come to worship him.’

Herod takes every possible measure to ensure that his plan to eliminate the child proceeds without obstruction and with utmost certainty. He involves himself and the wise men inquiring about the child to prevent any errors in his calculations. While he was aware of the time and location of the child's birth, he seeks confirmation from witnesses regarding both the birthplace and the child's whereabouts. When he says, “When you find it, notify me,” he refers specifically to the Child. He intentionally abstains from using the title of king, indicating his hostility towards Him. His pretense of wanting to “worship” is merely a guise to achieve his sinister objectives; he was after the life of the child, not genuine worship. This episode truly reveals Herod's deceitful, treacherous, and bloodthirsty nature, as he employed every available method to fulfill his wicked plans, a characterization echoed by Flavius, who lived nearly during the same time.

This ruler, who had already sacrificed much in pursuit of his unquenchable ambition, and had stained his hands with the blood of his truest friends and closest kin, devised an even more heinous act: he schemed to take the life of the Divine Child, blending extreme deceit with malevolence. To maintain secrecy and escape scrutiny, Herod summoned the Magi and cunningly inquired about the timing of the star's appearance—he did not ask about the birth of the Child, but sought to ensnare his objective. After this, he dispatched them to Bethlehem, instructing them, “Go and search diligently for the Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him.”