Matthew 2:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Although he may have perused the prophetic writings out of mere curiosity, he could dismiss the messianic predictions as mere fabrications born from various motivations. This sentiment finds support in the words of Josephus Flavius, a man of integrity who firmly believed in the soul’s eternal nature and fought against Roman oppression. Yet, Josephus himself claimed that the prophecies regarding the Messiah were fulfilled in the figures of Vespasian and Titus. Thus, Herod, who had only recently aligned himself with Judaism through his ancestors while surrounded by sycophants in court, might not have recognized the birth of the Divine Child. Instead, he possibly perceived the Child as remarkable but merely another human and not the awaited Messiah, the focal point of the people's political and spiritual hopes that could easily lead to fanaticism.

Conversely, it is perhaps excessive to think that Herod entirely disbelieved the prophecies concerning the Messiah. A close examination of Herod's thoughts and feelings reveals that while he was indeed a Jew, he adhered to the law of Moses and the prophets and seemed to anticipate the coming of the Messiah. Yet, what prompted him to contemplate the murder of the Messiah? Such an act would be to strive against the divine—a notion that Herod was not shy to entertain. Pharaoh viewed God merely as the deity of the Jews, a deity he believed was weaker than his own gods; he assumed that his idols would avenge themselves against the God of Israel, as indicated by his questions, ‘Who is the God of Israel, whom will I listen to?’ (Exodus 5:2). In contrast, Herod acknowledged the existence of one God and was not a polytheist. To reconcile this apparent contradiction, we might suggest that although Herod believed in the prophets and thus anticipated the Messiah, this anticipation was not in his favor. He could have rationalized that the Child was not the Messiah but rather a significant figure whom certain factions opposed to him might exploit. Indeed, prior to this, rumors had circulated that his kingdom would be taken from him and given to a descendant of the Maccabees.

How could he have remained indifferent to the extraordinary star noted by the wise men? It is conceivable that he regarded the Magi as potential conspirators. The Magi hailed from the east, where many Jews resided beyond the Euphrates River. Historical records by Josephus illustrate how Palestinian Jews, notorious for their feisty nature, muttered unfavorable rumors about Herod and perhaps even persuaded the Magi to spread misleading tales concerning the newly born king. Herod's disbelief could have obscured the significance of the star. The phenomena of the star and its observation fell within the realms of astrology, which Herod likely dismissed as mere superstition. Thus, it seems unlikely that he would have instigated open warfare against God or dared to eliminate the Messiah if he had been convinced of the divine nature of the Bethlehem Child. Similar disbelief may have characterized those who crucified Jesus Christ; they did not disbelieve outright, prompting the apostle to indicate that their actions were fueled by ignorance, affirming that ‘if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.’ The apostle Peter remarked, ‘we know that in ignorance ... ye have done’ (Acts 3:17), addressing not the masses but the priests. While there are certainly those who openly rebel against God, reminiscent of Lucifer's rebellion, these cases are rare, and such a confrontation is often borne from fleeting impulses rather than sustained actions.

Someone might argue that the devil himself directly opposed God, paradoxically while possessing an inherent moral good. However, this captures the enigma of the angelic fall. Scripture discusses this unfolding, leading us to believe that the initial breach between God and humanity did not exist as it does in later narratives. A gradual progression must be assumed here.

Now, let us consider the Magi. They saw a star that prompted their journey. While it seems they traveled by night, it is not beyond belief that they could have also witnessed the star during daylight. An ancient tradition even posits that the star was visible in the daytime. However, there is no need to assert this; they likely chose to travel at night as was customary for people of the East. When they arrived in Jerusalem, the star was no longer visible, but upon leaving the city, it reappeared. What was the purpose? Perhaps it was to guide them to the specific location where the newborn King lay. Given the size of Bethlehem, they could have found Him without the heavenly sign. Yet, the star indicated far more than just a location; it affirmed that the Child they sought was Divine. If they had encountered the Child without the guiding star, doubt may have crept in. Their time in Jerusalem, though affirming, lacked confirmation of their faith; no one there acknowledged their King’s birth. Now they were headed to a humble village, where one could easily feel disheartened and uncertain. At the culmination of their journey, however, the star appeared once more, resplendently guiding them, seemingly adapting to their needs better than before. The phrase ‘It went before them’ suggests it was positioned low enough for them to see. This remarkable star did not travel as stars typically do; it moved from north to south in defiance of natural laws. ‘Where the young child is’ signifies that the star descended, as had it remained high, it would have been above Bethlehem. Some early Church fathers theorize that its descent may have been represented through a beam of light shining directly upon the Child. These reflections offer insight into the Gospel accounts of Jesus Christ's earthly life prior to His public ministry for the salvation of humanity. This culminates in remembering the journey of the Magi and their worship of Christ.

And if angels serve humanity, although they were not made to serve humanity but rather the Lord Himself, how extraordinary is it that the elements, made for the sake of humanity, also assist them? Such revelations should evoke both joy and trepidation because with great grace come even greater consequences for those who transgress. The star stood above the Child, as if to declare, "Here He is," stopping to signify what words cannot express.

One can envision the joy of these holy travelers upon seeing their familiar heavenly beacon again, leading them directly as though taking them by the hand in broad daylight. Bethlehem is situated two hours south of Jerusalem, on a mountain adorned with lush gardens. They quickly located the newborn King. There was no need for inquiries; the guiding star now illuminated their path, resting above the exact location and indicating where the Divine Child lay. It likely descended to such a height that its rays made it easy to identify the spot where the Divine Child was present.

The star that guided the Magi initially faded from view during their journey, only to reappear as they departed Jerusalem towards Bethlehem. This aligns with Kepler's calculations regarding the notable conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, with the addition of Mars, occurring in 748 AUC, which corresponds to the birth year of Jesus Christ. Upon seeing the star anew, the Magi rejoiced, interpreting this celestial event as affirmation of the already fulfilled birth of the King of the Jews. Their joy, however, transformed into awe and wonder when they witnessed another miraculous star above the home that sheltered the Christ child in Bethlehem.

The Magi journeyed to Bethlehem because the Jewish scribes had directed them to this town as the birthplace of the King of the Jews, eliminating the need for additional guidance to reach the city, just nine to ten versts from Jerusalem, especially since the route traversed a deep valley. Nevertheless, they required specific direction to identify the exact house in Bethlehem where the Christ Child lay. The Gospel account does not suggest that the Magi inquired with any local residents to clarify where the King of the Jews had been born, and clearly, the people of Bethlehem would not have known how to answer such a question. Thus, lacking divine guidance, the Magi were at an impasse until a miracle occurred: a star appeared over the house where the Child was located. Had the star simply halted at a high, unreachable position in the sky, the Magi would have been unable to ascertain which house, city, or even region it illuminated. Therefore, it must be recognized that the star must have hovered directly above the house itself, offering unmistakable evidence of the location. This star, resting upon the very rooftop, was certainly not a commonplace celestial body nor solely the conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars seen during their venture from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, but a miraculous sign unto them.

It then "stopped over the place" (ἐπα'νω) and likely disappeared afterward. But one may wonder why a star was needed when the location was already revealed? It was meant to signify the Child Himself; without it, identifying Him would have been impossible, for neither the dwelling was renowned nor was His mother celebrated and illustrious.