Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 2:7-9

"Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found [him,] bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was." — Matthew 2:7-9 (ASV)

Pseudo-Chrysostom: As soon as Herod heard the answer, though it was doubly authenticated by both the authority of the priests and the passage from the prophets, he still did not turn to worship the King who was to be born, but sought how he could put Him to death with subtlety. He saw that the Magi could be neither won by flattery, nor awed by threats, nor bribed by gifts to consent to this murder; he therefore sought to deceive them. He secretly called the wise men, so that the Jews, whom he suspected, might not know of it, for he thought they would be more inclined to a King of their own nation.

Remigius of Auxerre: He diligently enquired craftily, because he feared they would not return to him, and he needed to know how he could put the young Child to death.

Pseudo-Augustine: The star had been seen, with great wonder, nearly two years before. We are to understand that it was revealed to them whose star it was, and it remained visible all that time until He, whom it signified, was born. Then, as soon as Christ was made known to them, they set out and came and worshipped Him in thirteen days from the east.^{i 1}

St. John Chrysostom: Or, the star appeared to them a long time before, because the journey would take some time, and they were to stand before Him immediately on His birth, so that seeing Him in swaddling clothes might make Him seem all the more wonderful.

Glossa Ordinaria: According to others, the star was first seen on the day of the Nativity, and having accomplished its purpose, it ceased to exist. Thus Fulgentiusⁱ says that the Boy at His birth created a new star. Though they now knew both the time and place, Herod still did not want them to be ignorant of the Child's identity, saying, Go and enquire diligently concerning the young Child; this was a commission they would have executed even if he had not commanded it.

St. John Chrysostom: He says, concerning the young Child, not the King; he envied Him the royal title.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: To induce them to do this, he assumed an appearance of devotion, beneath which he sharpened the sword, hiding the malice of his heart under the guise of humility. Such is the way of the malicious: when they wish to hurt someone secretly, they feign meekness and affection.

St. Gregory the Great: He feigned a desire to worship Him only so that he might discover Him and put Him to death.²

Remigius of Auxerre: The Magi obeyed the king enough to seek the Lord, but not enough to return to Herod. In this, they are like good hearers, who do the good they hear from wicked preachers but do not imitate their evil lives.

1. Serm. in App. 131, 3
2. Hom. in Ev. i. 10. 3