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Explanation for:
Matthew
2
:
4
And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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?"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Innocentius of Kherson","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d18072d36d1a976dd2c_Innocentius%20of%20Kherson.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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. According to a narrative in the Talmud, upon ascending to the throne, he questioned the Sanhedrin on whether his foreign lineage contradicted their laws, emphasizing that he gained his kingship through Roman appointment and Jewish acknowledgment. The Sanhedrin seemingly provided a varied response. While some asserted that his rule did not violate their legal standards, others countered that it would have been preferable for a descendant of the Maccabees to hold the throne. It is suggested that initially, he seemed to neglect these latter individuals, only to later covertly command their execution. His professed dedication to Jewish law is evident in his address found in the Acts during the reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple, where he referred to the Jews as \\"Men, brethren...\\". Thus, it is understandable that Herod would consult the Sanhedrin. He convened all the chief priests and scribes, forming a complete assembly. The high priestly role was singular, yet an assistant could serve in times of illness; furthermore, leaders from the twenty-four divisions of priests were also included under this title, and even former high priests were acknowledged as such. The scribes constituted a unique class within the Jewish community, blending spiritual and secular roles. They engaged deeply in the study of divine and civil laws, often holding positions akin to legal experts or religious advisors, with some being appointed publicly. Among them, those deemed most worthy often secured significant places within the Sanhedrin. At that time, a rift had developed between the scribes and the priests, with the scribes aligning more with the common people. Herod inquired, \\"Where is Christ born?\\" Notably, the tone of his question was starkly different. The wise men seemed to have assumed the matter was settled, asking instead, \\"Where is the King of the Jews born?\\" Herod, however, specifically asked where Christ was to be born, implying his disbelief in the Magi's claims. He might have thought that the Messiah had yet to arrive, presuming that the priests held knowledge of the prophetic passages that foretold the Messiah’s coming. Who better, after all, to elucidate this than the Sanhedrin, who, based on the prophecies, believed Jesus Christ was indeed born in Bethlehem? By reframing the question, Herod tailored it to facilitate the Sanhedrin's response. Had he asked, \\"Where was the King Christ born?\\" the chief priests would be obliged to say, \\"We know,\\" which could have cast doubt on their loyalty to their king, for why, knowing of the newborn King, did they not inform Herod? Notably, Herod does not refer to Jesus as King in his inquiry. Saint John Chrysostom points out that any title of King would have been detested by Herod. This narrative in the Gospel details the events surrounding Jesus Christ's earthly existence prior to His public ministry of salvation for humanity, highlighting the journey of the Magi and their reverence for Jesus Christ."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"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. They did not constitute a distinct class or sect and could belong to various groups. Their title derived from their proficiency in literary work, identifying them as Jewish scholars and interpreters of sacred texts; some of the most renowned among them were part of the Sanhedrin. It is likely that Herod, troubled by the news brought by the Magi, convened the entire Sanhedrin to gain a clearer understanding of the unsettling information that had disturbed both him and Jerusalem. - “He asked them, Where shall Christ be born?” He sought this information based on the prophecies and promises found in the Old Testament, which those learned men, as representatives and leaders of the people, should have been aware of. Herod aimed solely to ascertain the location of the Messiah's birth in order to carry out his plan to eliminate the newly born child. He seemed confident not only that the birth was imminent but also that the wise men referred to the coming of the king of the Jews as the Messiah. Therefore, he directly inquired about where the Messiah (Christ) was to be born."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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)."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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. Previously, he had likely aimed to eliminate the perceived threat to his reign by eliminating one infant whom the populace regarded as their future king. Rather than seeing the birth of the Jewish king through a spiritual lens, Herod viewed it politically, recognizing it as the onset of rising public unrest. Gaining exact knowledge of the star’s appearance would allow him to ascertain how long he had been in jeopardy, whether he was too late to act, and if merely killing one child would suffice to avert the threat. He deemed it crucial to consider every variable and thus sought to uncover every detail. After obtaining the information from the wise men, Herod slyly requested that they return to him with news so he too could worship the newborn king. It was naive for Herod to think the Magi would remain oblivious to his ulterior motives, as he feigned a desire to honor the child they intended to recognize as king in his stead. Nonetheless, this was a cunning charade: Herod sought to align himself with the Magi's reverence and to present himself as a believer in the Newborn, the foretold king destined to uplift both Israel and the world. The wise men, unaware of Herod's true nature, would have likely taken him at his word and complied with his request had they not been divinely warned."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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. Although the tidings brought by the visitors from afar appeared momentous, the Sanhedrin, mindful of their relationship with Herod, opted to confine their response to his inquiry by referring to an ancient prophecy which indicated that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem."}]}
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