Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Ver. 2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?] As presupposing a common notice. But the "kingdom of God cometh not by observation," Luke 17:21, neither is it of this world. Christ is somewhat an obscure King here, as Melchisedec was; and his kingdom consists in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, which the stranger worldling meddles not with, Proverbs 14:10; Romans 14:17. The cock on the dunghill esteems not this jewel.
For we have seen his star in the East] Some rumour of the star of Jacob they had heard and received, likely, either from Balaam's prophecy, Numbers 24:17, who was an East countryman; or from the Chaldean sibyl, or from the Jews in the Babylonish captivity; and now they make their use of it. (Hugo. Postill.) But the Scripture giveth more grace, James 4:6. Only take heed that "ye receive not the grace of God in vain," 2 Corinthians 6:1 .
And are come to worship him] With a religious worship; to kiss at his mouth, as the word signifieth; and as Pharaoh said to Joseph, they shall all kiss at thy mouth. Woe worth to us, if we kiss not the Son with a kiss of faith and love (προσκυνειν), since he is now so clearly revealed unto us, not by the sight of one star only, as to these, but by a whole heaven bespangled with stars, though not in every part, yet in every zone and quarter of it, as one saith of our Church. We have a word of prophecy (how much more is this true of the holy Gospel?) more sure than the voice that came from heaven in the holy Mount (saith St Peter), whereunto we shall do well to take heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place, 2 Peter 1:19. Besides the works of God, those regii professores, as one calleth them, those catholic preachers, Psalms 19:2,3, those real postills of the divinity, Christ is purposely compared to sensible objects, as to the sun, stars, rose, rock, &c., that through the creatures, as so many optic glasses, we might see him that is invisible, having the eyes of our mind turned towards Christ, as the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.