(Magi from the east came to Jerusalem) and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
A T Robertson
eidomen gar autou ton astera en tēi anatolēi. This does not mean that they saw the star which was in the east. That would make them go east to follow it instead of west from the east. The words "in the east" are probably to be taken with "we saw" ie we were in the east when we saw it, or still more probably "we saw his star at its rising" or "when it rose" as Moffatt puts it. The singular form here (tēi anatolēi) does sometimes mean "east" (Rev 21:13), though the plural is more common (Mt 2:1). In Lk 1:78 the singular means dawn as the verb (aneteilen) does in Mat 4:16 (LXX). The Magi ask where is the one born king of the Jews ... These men may have been Jewish proselytes and may have known of the Messianic hope ... The whole world was on tiptoe of expectancy for something. Moulton (JTS, 1902, 524) "refers to the Magian belief that a star could be the fravashi, the counterpart or angel (cf Mat 18:10) of a great man" (McNeile). They came to worship the newly born king of the Jews. ... Alford is positive that no miracle is intended by the report of the Magi or by Matthew in his narrative. But one must be allowed to say that the birth of Jesus, if really God’s only Son who has become Incarnate, is the greatest of all miracles. Even the methods of astrologers need not disturb those who are sure of this fact.
John Calvin
The notion of some commentators, that he is said to have been born King, by indirect contrast with one who has been made or created a king, appears to me over ingenious. I rather suppose the Magi to have simply meant, that this king had been recently born, and was still a child, by way of distinguishing him from a king who is of age, ... for they immediately add, that they had been drawn, not by the fame of his exploits, or by any present exhibitions of his greatness, but by a heavenly presage of his future reign. But if the sight of a star had so powerful an effect on the Magi, woe to our insensibility, who, now that Christ the King has been revealed to us, are so cold in our inquiries after him!
And have come to worship him The reason why the star had been exhibited was, to draw the Magi into Judea, that they might be witnesses and heralds of the new King. So far as respects themselves, they had not come to render to Christ such pious worship, as is due to the Son of God, but intended to salute him, according to the Persian custom, as a very eminent King. For their views, with regard to him, probably went no farther, than that his power and exalted rank would be so extraordinary as to impress all nations with just admiration and reverence. It is even possible, that they wished to gain his favour beforehand, that he might treat them favourably and kindly, if he should afterwards happen to possess dominion in the east.
Matthew Henry
Note, Those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them anything of the knowledge of Christ, must make it their business to worship him. Have we seen Christ's star? Let us study to give him honour.
