Matthew 2:4 (WEB)
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.
Catechism · 2
"Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary"
- §486Paragraph 2 · "Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary"Read at vatican.va
“The Father's only Son, conceived as man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, is "Christ", that is to say, anointed by the Holy Spirit, from the beginning of his human existence, though the manifestation of this fact takes place only progressively: to the shepherds, to the magi, to John the Baptist, to the disciples.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 1:20; 2:1-12; Lk 1:35; 2:8-20; Jn 1:3 1-34; 2:11.
The Mysteries of Christ's Life
“Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.” — Catechism footnote: Cf Jn 4 22; Mt 2:4-6.
Fathers and councils · 32
Tertullian
“Let those Eastern magi be believed, dowering with gold and incense the infancy of Christ as a king; and the infant has received “the power of Damascus” without battle and arms.” — editor's note: See Matt. ii. 1–12.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“For rain, coming down into a fleece, comes down noiselessly: so that the Magi, not knowing the mystery of the Nativity, say, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? and Herod being troubled inquired concerning Him who was born, and said, Where is the Christ to be born?” — editor's note: Ib. ii. 4.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Thus, too, Herod, who himself also was a king, is [said there to be] afraid of the royal child, and to put so many little children to death in order to make sure that the one might be slain.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 1–18.
Read the whole comment“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return unto Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 1–12.
Read the whole comment“Afterwards, when the things which had been done and said in the temple were made quite public, Herod perceived that he had been mocked; and then, in his desire to get at the death of Christ, he slew the multitude of children, as Matthew records.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 3–16.
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John Chrysostom
““But when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is.” ( Matt. ii. 4.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Matt. II. 4, 5.” — the author cites it
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Leo the Great
“Although I know, dearly-beloved, that you are fully aware of the purpose of to-day’s festival, and that the words of the Gospel have according to use unfolded it to you, yet that nothing may be omitted on our part, I shall venture to say on the subject what the Lord has put in my…” — editor's note: Secundum consuetudinem evangelicus sermo reseraverit. The Roman Gospel for the day was apparently then, as now with us, S. Matt. ii. 1–12: but the…
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
As the Magi seek a Redeemer, so Herod fears a successor.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
“The King,” he is called, though in comparison with him whom they are seeking he is an alien and a foreigner.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Herod “was troubled” when he heard that a King was born of Jewish lineage, lest, himself being an Idumaean, the kingdom should return again to native princes, and himself be expelled, and his seed after him. Great…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
If His birth as an infant makes proud kings tremble, what will His tribunal as a Judge do? Let princes fear Him sitting at the right hand of His Father, whom this impious king feared while He hanged yet on His…
Read the whole comment - Leo the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thou art troubled, Herod, without cause. Thy nature cannot contain Christ, nor is the Lord of the world content with the narrow bounds of thy dominion. He, whom thou wouldest not should reign in Judaea, reigns every…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Perhaps he was troubled not on his own account, but for fear of the displeasure of the Romans. They would not allow the title of King or of God to any without their permission.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
At the birth of a King of Heaven, a king of earth is troubled; surely, earthly greatness is confounded, when heavenly greatness shews itself.
Read the whole comment - Leo the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Herod represents the Devil; who as he then instigated him, so now he unweariedly imitates him. For he is grieved by the calling of the Gentiles, and by the daily ruin of his power.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Both have their own causes of jealousy, both fear a successor in their kingdom; Herod an earthly successor, the Devil a spiritual. Even Jerusalem is troubled, which should have rejoiced at that news, when a Jewish…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Jerusalem was troubled with him,” as willing to favour him whom it feared; the vulgar always pay undue honour to one who tyrannizes over it. Observe the diligence of his enquiry. If he should find him, he would do…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
They are called Scribes, not from the employment of writing, but from the interpretation of the Scriptures, for they were doctors of the law. Observe, he does not enquire where Christ is born, but where He should be…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Why does Herod make this enquiry, seeing he believed not the Scriptures? Or if he did believe, how could he hope to be able to kill Him whom the Scriptures declared should be King? The Devil instigated Herod; who…
Read the whole comment - Leo the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Magi, judging as men, sought in the royal city for Him, whom they had been told was born a King. But He who took the form of a servant, and came not to judge but to be judged, chose Bethlehem for His birth,…
Read the whole comment - Theodotus of AncyraCatena Aurea on Matthew
Had He chosen the mighty city of Rome, it might have been thought that this change of the world had been wrought by the might of her citizens; had He been the son of the emperor, his power might have aided Him. But…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Rightly is He born in Bethlehem, which signifies the house of bread, who said, “I am the living bread, who came down from heaven.”
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
When they should have kept secret the mystery of the King appointed of God, especially before a foreign king, straightway they became not preachers of the word of God, but revealers of His mystery. And they not only…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
He quotes this prophecy as they quote who give the sense and not the words.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Jews are here blamed for ignorance; for whereas the prophecy says, “Thou Bethlehem Ephrata;” they said, ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah.’
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
By cutting short the prophecy, they became the cause of the murder of the Innocents. For the prophecy proceeds, “From thee shall go forth a King who shall feed My people Israel, and His day shall be from…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The following is the sense of the prophecy. Thou, Bethlehem, of the land of Judah, or Ephrata, (which is added to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in Galilee,) though thou art a small village among the thousand…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
This latter half of the prophecy the Jews dropped; and other parts they altered, either through ignorance, (as was said above,) or for perspicuity, that Herod who was a foreigner might better understand the prophecy;…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or the sense is; though little among cities that have dominion, yet art thou not the least, for “out of thee shall come the Ruler, who shall rule My people Israel;” this Ruler is Christ, who rules and guides His…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Observe the exactness of the prophecy; it is not He shall be in Bethlehem, but shall come out of Bethlehem; shewing that He should be only born there. What reason is there for applying this to Zorobabel, as some do?…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
The star that guided the Magi to the spot where was the Infant God with His Virgin Mother, might have conducted them straight to the town; but it vanished, and shewed not itself again to them till the Jews themselves…
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Cross-references · 5
Cited together in Catechism §528.
Cited together in Catechism §528.
Cited together in Catechism §528.
Cited together in Catechism §528.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 2:3–6 (2) (Catena Aurea).