Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.

“Above, the Evangelist set down one motive of the Magi, namely Herod's persuasion; here he sets down another motive of the Magi for seeking Christ, namely the guidance of the star. And concerning this he does two things: first he sets down the guidance of the star; second, the effect of joy from this guidance, where it says, "And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." And note that the star first performs its office by its motion, because it directly led the Magi to Christ; likewise it manifests the place of the child by its standing still, where it says, "until, coming, it stood over the place where the child was." Hence, as to the first, he said, "it went before them." Now from the fact that he says, "Behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them," it is given to be understood that when the Magi turned aside into Jerusalem, the star disappeared; but when they departed from Herod, it appeared again. Now it disappeared for three reasons. First, on account of the confusion of the Jews, who, although they had been instructed in the law to seek Christ, while the Gentiles had not been instructed, nevertheless the Gentiles seek him, and the Jews despise him. Hence that saying of Isaiah 55:5 is fulfilled: "The nations that knew thee not shall run to thee." Second, on account of the instruction of the Magi: for the Lord willed to manifest himself to them not only through the star, but also through the law, so that the knowledge of the law might thus be joined to the knowledge of creatures. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand," Deuteronomy 19:15. Isaiah 8:20: "To the law rather, and to the testimony." Third, on account of our own instruction. And we are instructed concerning two things, according to the Gloss. First, that those who seek human help are abandoned by the divine. For it is unlawful to seek human help without seeking the divine; Isaiah 31:1: "Woe to you who go down into Egypt for help, trusting in horses, and putting your confidence in chariots, because they are many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong, and have not trusted in the Holy One of Israel, and have not sought after the Lord." Second, we are instructed as to this: that we, who are believers, ought not to seek signs, as these men did, who rejoiced upon seeing the star, etc.; but we ought to be content with the teachings of the prophets, because signs were given to unbelievers. In this too there is a twofold mystery. For the star signifies Christ; Apocalypse, last chapter, 16: "I am the root of David, the bright and morning star." Hence by this star we can understand the grace of God, which we lose when we approach Herod, that is, the Devil; Ephesians 5:8: "You were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord." Likewise, when we withdraw from Herod, that is, the Devil, we find the star, that is, the grace of Christ: similarly Exodus 13:21, where it is said that the Lord went before Israel, when it went out of Egypt, in the form of fire, etc. But here he went before in the form of a star. "Until, coming, it stood over where the child was." We understand two things here. One, that this star was not very high, because otherwise they would not have been able to distinguish the house of the child. The other, that the star, its office completed, was reduced back into its own matter. "Where the child was." He frequently calls him "child," so that you may know that he is the one of whom it is said, Isaiah 9:6: "A child is born to us." Next is set down the effect of this guidance as regards the Magi. Hence, "And seeing the star, they rejoiced," etc. They rejoiced on account of the hope which they had recovered. For they feared, since they had come from distant parts, that they would lose what they hoped for; Romans 12:12: "Rejoicing in hope." Likewise he adds "with joy"; for some rejoice, and yet do not rejoice, because human gladness is not perfect joy; Proverbs 14:13: "Mourning taketh hold of the ends of joy." But true and perfect joy is about God; Isaiah 61:10: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God." Third, he adds "great," because these men now knew great things concerning God — that God was incarnate, and greatly merciful; Isaiah 12:6: "Rejoice and praise, O habitation of Sion, for great is he that is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel." Fourth, he adds "exceedingly," because they rejoiced intensely; for they had recovered what they had lost; Luke 15:10: "There shall be joy before the angels of God," etc. Next he treats of the finding of the child. Hence, "And entering into the house, they found the child." And he touches on three things: the house, which, if it be asked what sort it was, is shown in Luke 2:7. Likewise, if it be asked what sort the child was, he differed in nothing from other children, as the saints say. As to appearance, he did not speak, he seemed weak, and the like. Likewise, if it be asked what sort the mother was, the answer is: such as is the wife of a carpenter. And I say this for the reason that, if these men had been seeking an earthly king, they would have been scandalized upon seeing these things; but seeing lowly things, and considering the most exalted things, they were moved to wonder, and adored him. And this is "and falling down they adored him." But why is no mention made of Joseph? It must be said that it was brought about by divine dispensation that he was not present, lest to these men, who were the firstfruits of the Gentiles, an occasion be given for a depraved suspicion. Next is touched upon the reverence which they showed to the child, where it says "and falling down." And it was threefold: in adoring, in offering, and in obeying. He says therefore, "and falling down they adored him," as God hidden in man; Psalm 71:9: "Before him the Ethiopians shall fall down." Likewise, by offering, they showed reverence; hence, "and opening their treasures." For it was the custom among the Persians always to worship with a gift; and this is "and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Psalm 71:10: "The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents; the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts." Isaiah 60:6: "All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense, and showing forth praise to the Lord." Mystically it must be considered that these men did not open their treasure on the way, but only then for the first time when they came to Christ: likewise we ought not to make manifest our goods while on the way. Hence this is reproved below, in chapter 25, concerning the virgins; and in 13:44 it is said: "The kingdom of heaven is like to a treasure hidden in a field, which a man having found, hid, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." "They offered him gifts," etc. Some assign a literal reason for these gifts, and these say that they found three things: a squalid house, a weak child, and a poor mother. And therefore they offered gold for the support of the mother, myrrh for the strengthening of the child's limbs, frankincense to remove the stench. But it must be said that something is mystically intended here, and rather these three things are referred to three things which we ought to offer, namely, faith, action, and contemplation. As to faith, in two ways: first, as to those things which concur in Christ. Namely, kingly dignity; Jeremiah 23:5: "A king shall reign, and shall be wise," etc.; and therefore they offered gold as tribute. The greatness of the priesthood; and therefore frankincense as sacrifice. The mortality of man; and therefore myrrh. Likewise, as to faith in the Trinity, because the persons of the Trinity are signified in us. Second, they can be referred to our own action. For by gold wisdom can be signified; Proverbs 2:4: "If thou shalt dig for her as for treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord." By frankincense, devout prayer; Psalm 140:2: "Let my prayer be directed, O Lord, as incense in thy sight," etc. By myrrh, the mortification of the flesh: Colossians 3:5: "Mortify your members which are upon the earth"; Song of Songs 5:5: "My hands dropped with myrrh." As to contemplation, however, by these three things can be signified either the three senses of sacred Scripture, namely the literal — under which is comprehended the allegorical, the anagogical, and the moral — or the three parts of philosophy, namely moral, logical, and natural: for we ought to make use of all these in the service of God. Next is set down how they showed reverence in obeying. Hence, "And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their own country." But how did they receive an answer, who had not asked? But it must be said that the Lord sometimes responds to a mental question, and these men were inwardly asking what would please God concerning their return; Exodus 14:15: "Why criest thou to me?" But are revelations, perhaps, immediately from God? Dionysius proves that they are not, except through the mediation of angels. Why then does he not name an angel? But it must be said that when Scripture sometimes makes mention of God, and not of an angel, this is done on account of a certain excellence of that manifestation; Galatians 3:19: "the law...ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Acts 7:37: "This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel: A prophet will God raise up to you from among your brethren, as it were me: him you shall hear," etc. Hence what the Gloss says, that this was immediately through God, is to be referred to the manner of speaking of Scripture. "They went back another way into their own country." In this it is shown that we arrive at our own country, Paradise, from which we were expelled through sin, through obedience. Proverbs 4:27: "The Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right hand; but those that are on the left hand are perverse." Chrysostom says here that these men, having returned, led a holy life, and afterward became helpers of the holy apostle Thomas; nevertheless nothing is found written about them in sacred Scripture after their departure.”

“We have here the wise men's humble attendance upon this new-born King of the Jews, and the honours they paid him. From Jerusalem they went to Bethlehem, resolving to seek till they should find; but it is very strange that they went alone; that not one person of the court, church, or city, should accompany them, if not in conscience, yet in civility to them, or touched with a curiosity to see this young prince. As the queen of the south, so the wise men of the east, will rise up in judgment against the men of that generation, and of this too, and will condemn them; for they came from a far country, to worship Christ; while the Jews, his kinsmen, would not stir a step, would not go to the next town to bid him welcome. It might have been a discouragement to these wise men to find him whom they sought thus neglected at home. Are we come so far to honour the King of the Jews, and do the Jews themselves put such a slight upon him and us? Yet they persist in their resolution. Note, We must continue our attendance upon Christ, though we be alone in it; whatever others do, we must serve the Lord; if they will not go to heaven with us, yet we must not go to hell with them. Now, I. See how they found out Christ by the same star that they had seen in their own country, Mat 2:9, Mat 2:10. Observe, 1. How graciously God directed them. By the first appearance of the star they were given to understand where they might enquire for this King, and then it disappeared, and they were left to take the usual methods for such an enquiry. Note, Extraordinary helps are not to be expected where ordinary means are to be had. Well, they had traced the matter as far as they could; they were upon their journey to Bethlehem, but that is a populous town, where shall they find him when they come thither? Here they were at a loss, at their wit's end, but not at their faith's end; they believed that God, who had brought them thither by his word, would not leave them there; nor did he; for, behold, the star which they saw in the east went before them. Note, If we go on as far as we can in the way of duty, God will direct and enable us to do that which of ourselves we cannot do; Up, and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee. Vigilantibus, non dormientibus, succurit lex - The law affords its aid, not to the idle, but to the active. The star had left them a great while, yet now returns. They who follow God in the dark shall find that light is sown, is reserved, for them. Israel was led by a pillar of fire to the promised land, the wise men by a star to the promised Seed, who is himself the bright and morning Star, Rev 22:16. God would rather create a new thing than leave those at a loss who diligently and faithfully sought him. This star was the token of God's presence with them; for he is light, and goes before his people as their Guide. Note, If we by faith eye God in all our ways, we may see ourselves under his conduct; he guides with his eye (Psa 32:8), and said to them, This is the way, walk in it: and there is a day-star that arises in the hearts of those that enquire after Christ, Pe2 1:19. 2. Observe how joyfully they followed God's direction (Mat 2:10). When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Now they saw they were not deceived, and had not taken this long journey in vain. When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Now they were sure that God was with them, and the tokens of his presence and favour cannot but fill with joy unspeakable the souls of those that know how to value them. Now they could laugh at the Jews in Jerusalem, who, probably, had laughed at them as coming on a fool's errand. The watchmen can give the spouse no tidings of her beloved; yet it is but a little that she passes from them, and she finds him, Sol 3:3, Sol 3:4. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. What a transport of joy these wise men were in upon this sight of the star; none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a Spirit of bondage, at length receive the spirit of adoption, witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of God; this is light out of darkness; it is life from the dead. Now they had reason to hope for a sight of the Lord's Christ speedily, of the Sun of righteousness, for they see the Morning Star. Note, We should be glad of every thing that will show us the way to Christ. This star was sent to meet the wise men, and to conduct them into the presence chamber of the King; by this master of ceremonies they were introduced, to have their audience. Now God fulfills his promise of meeting those that are disposed to rejoice and work righteousness (Isa 64:5), and they fulfill his precept. Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord, Psa 105:3. Note, God is pleased sometimes to favour young converts with such tokens of his love as are very encouraging to them, in reference to the difficulties they meet with at their setting out of the ways of God. II. See how they made their address to him when they had found him, Mat 2:11. We may well imagine their expectations were raised to find this royal babe, though slighted by the nation, yet honourably attended at home; and what a disappointment it was to them when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor mother all the retinue he had! Is this the Saviour of the world? Is this the King of the Jews, nay, and the Prince of the kings of the earth? Yes, this is he, who, though he was rich, yet, for our sakes, became thus poor. However, these wise men were so wise as to see through this veil, and in this despised babe to discern the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father; they did not think themselves balked or baffled in their enquiry; but, as having found the King they sought, they presented themselves first, and then their gifts, to him. 1. They presented themselves to him: they fell down, and worshipped him. We do not read that they gave such honour to Herod, though he was in the height of his royal grandeur; but to this babe they gave this honour, not only as to a king (then they would have done the same to Herod), but as to a God. Note, All that have found Christ fall down before him; they adore him, and submit themselves to him. He is thy Lord, and worship thou him. It will be the wisdom of the wisest of men, and by this it will appear they know Christ, and understand themselves and their true interests, if they be humble, faithful worshippers of the Lord Jesus. 2. They presented their gifts to him. In the eastern nations, when they did homage to their kings, they made them presents; thus the subjection of the kings of Sheba to Christ is spoken of (Psa 72:10), They shall bring presents, and offer gifts. See Isa 60:6. Note, With ourselves, we must give up all that we have to Jesus Christ; and if we be sincere in the surrender of ourselves to him, we shall not be unwilling to part with what is dearest to us, and most valuable, to him and for him; nor are our gifts accepted, unless we first present ourselves to him living sacrifices. God had respect to Abel, and then to his offering. The gifts they presented were, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, money, and money's-worth. Providence sent this for a seasonable relief to Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition. These were the products of their own country; what God favours us with, we must honour him with. Some think there was a significancy in their gifts; they offered him gold, as a king, paying him tribute, to Caesar, the things that are Caesar's; frankincense, as God, for they honoured God with the smoke of incense; and myrrh, as a Man that should die, for myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies. III. See how they left him when they had made their address to him, Mat 2:12. Herod appointed them to bring him word what discoveries they had made, and, it is probable, they would have done so, if they had not been countermanded, not suspecting their being thus made his tools in a wicked design. Those that mean honestly and well themselves are easily made to believe that others do so too, and cannot think the world is as bad as it really is; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. We do not find that the wise men promised to come back to Herod, and, if they had, it must have been with the usual proviso, If God permit; God did not permit them, and prevented the mischief Herod designed to the Child Jesus, and the trouble it would have been to the wise men to have been made involuntarily accessory to it. They were warned of God, chrēmatisthentes - oraculo vel responso accepto - by an oracular intimation. Some think it intimates that they asked counsel of God, and that this was the answer. Note, Those that act cautiously, and are afraid of sin and snares, if they apply themselves to God for direction, may expect to be led in the right way. They were warned not to return to Herod, nor to Jerusalem; those were unworthy to have reports brought them concerning Christ, that might have seen with their own eyes, and would not. They departed into their own country another way, to bring the tidings to their countrymen; but it is strange that we never hear any more of them, and that they or theirs did not afterwards attend him in the temple, whom they had worshipped in the cradle. However, the direction they had from God in their return would be a further confirmation of their faith in this Child, as the Lord from heaven.”

“When they had heard the king,.... With great care and attention, what he had told them of the birth place of the young child; the strict charge he had given them to search diligently for him, and then return to him with an account of the whole affair; and his expressions of respect to the new born prince, which they took to be said in great sincerity, they departed; took their leave of Herod and his court, and set forward on their journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem: and lo, to their great surprise and joy, the star, which they saw in the east, then appeared; for, it seems, it had for some time disappeared: it looks as if it had been only seen at the time of Christ's birth, and when they were in their own country; for both here, and in Mat 2:2 they are only said to have seen it "in the east", that is, when they were in the east country; so that it seems from that time they had had no sight of it, not while they were on their journey, nor at Jerusalem; nor was it necessary they should. When they saw it in their own country, according to their best observation, it was over the land of Judea, and they were persuaded of it, that it was a certain sign that the king of the Jews was born: they therefore determine upon and prepare for a journey to Jerusalem, the metropolis of the nation, and where the king kept his court, to inquire for him; nor needed they the guidance of the star to direct them to a place so well known; but being in quest of him in an obscure place, and without any guide, this star appears to them; and, which is something very extraordinary, went before them, till it came, and stood over, where the young child was. This star had a motion, kept pace with them, and was a guide unto them, till it and they came to the place where Christ was; and then it stood directly over the house, so that they had no need to inquire of any person for him. It is certain from hence, that this star was indeed a very unusual one; its being seen in the daytime, its motion and standing still, its situation, which must be very low, and its use to point out the very house where Christ was, show it to be so; but though it was an unusual appearance, it should not be thought incredible. (a) Varro relates, that "from the time Aeneas went from Troy, he saw the star Venus in the daytime, day after day, till he came to the field of Laurentum, where he saw it no more, by which he knew that those lands were fatal.'' The appearing of this star, and then its disappearing for a time, agree, in some measure, with the account the Jews give of the star which they expect will be seen at the coming of the Messiah; for they (b) say, "after seven days that star shall be hid, and the Messiah shall be hid for twelve months--when he shall descend, the pillar of fire shall be seen as before, in sight, and afterwards the Messiah shall be revealed, and many people shall be gathered to him.'' (a) Apud Servium in Virgil Aeneid. l. 1. p. 471. Ed. Basil. 1586. (b) Zohar in Exod. fol. 3, 4. & 71. 1.”

“When they had heard the king, they departed--But where were ye, O Jewish ecclesiastics, ye chief priests and scribes of the people? Ye could tell Herod where Christ should be born, and could hear of these strangers from the far East that the Desire of all nations had actually come; but I do not see you trooping to Bethlehem--I find these devout strangers journeying thither all alone. Yet God ordered this too, lest the news should be blabbed, and reach the tyrant's ears, before the Babe could be placed beyond his reach. Thus are the very errors and crimes and cold indifferences of men all overruled. and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east--implying apparently that it had disappeared in the interval. went before them, and stood over where the young child was--Surely this could hardly be but by a luminous meteor, and not very high.”

“This passage shews, that when the star had brought the Magi nearly to Jerusalem, it was hidden from them, and so they were compelled to ask in Jerusalem, where Christ should be born? and thus to manifest Him to them; on two accounts, first, to put to confusion the Jews, inasmuch as the Gentiles instructed only by sight of a star sought Christ through strange lands, while the Jews who had read the Prophets from their youth did not receive Him, though born in their country. Secondly, that the Priests, when asked where Christ should be born, might answer to their now condemnation, and while they instructed Herod, they were themselves ignorant of Him. The star went before them, to shew them the greatness of the King.”