The Star Disappeared When the Magi Reached Jerusalem: Why?
Matthew 2:1-13
1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king behold there came magi from the east to Jerusalem 2: 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 3: When Herod the king had heard these things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him 4: And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together he demanded of them where Christ should be born 5: And they said to him In Bethlehem of Judaea for thus it is written through the prophet 6: And you Bethlehem in the land of Juda are not the least among the princes of Juda for out of you shall come a Governor that shall rule My people Israel 7: Then Herod when he had privately called the magi inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared 8: And he sent them to Bethlehem and said Go and search diligently for the young child and when you have found him bring me word again that I may come and worship him also 9: When they had heard the king they departed and saw that the star which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was 10: When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy
Comments: Matthew 2:9 Why did the star disappear when the magi reached Jerusalem? We know the star disappeared for a time because the magi had to ask where they could find the young king Matthew 2:2.
The news spread all over Jerusalem that the deliverer had been born Matthew 2:3! No doubt Simeon and Anna, who had been saying the same thing for a few years already, knew of the magi. The Bible says all Jerusalem knew about them. Both Anna and Simeon had already seen Jesus and proclaimed the newborn as the Messiah, the one who the scriptures foretold would be king in Israel Luke 2:25-37.
The Holy Spirit had told Simeon that he would see the Messiah in his lifetime Luke 2:25-32, and he did. Imagine his excitement when, a few years after he had actually seen the infant king, the magi show up in Jerusalem proclaiming that same king.
Anna, the prophetess, who had likely taken the vow of the Nazarite as a young widow Numbers 6:2(3-21), had also already seen the King of the Jews sought by the magi Luke 2:36-37. Anna would certainly have heard the magi were in Jerusalem proclaiming his birth through their inquiries. The Bible says Anna had already been preaching the good news that the Messiah had been. The Bible says she spoke of him to all who looked for redemption in Israel. No doubt Simeon had been doing the same.
Had the people doubted Anna and Simeon’s message that the deliverer had been born? Thought they were just old and senile? The magi showing up changed all that. Anna and Simeon could now shout to the rooftops, “I told you so!” This would never have happened had the star not disappeared at Jerusalem.
The star disappearing and the magi’s message reaffirmed Anna and Simeon’s testimony that Messiah had indeed been born. It was yet another step in preparing the people of Jerusalem to believe Jesus, when he began his 31/2-year ministry.
Anna, Simeon, and the magi, were all forerunners of John. They knew who Jesus was before John knew, though John, too, preached him before he knew him John 1:30-34, Luke 7:19.
At some point after the magi spoke to Herod and then left for Bethlehem, the star suddenly reappeared. The magi were overjoyed to see it again. There is a possibility the star did not reappear until after they reached Bethlehem, as they already knew they were headed to Bethlehem before they left Jerusalem Matthew 2:4-8. Once they reached Bethlehem, the star led them straight to the home of Mary and Joseph.
11: And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures they presented to him gifts gold and frankincense and myrrh 12: And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod they departed into their own country another way 13: And when they were departed behold the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him
Comments: Matthew 2:13 All of the gifts presented to the young king Jesus were valuable and likely sustained the family during their sojourn to Egypt.
Jocelyn Andersen is the author of several non-fiction books, including, Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified, a Study of HOPE.
She will be releasing e-book and print commentaries on every book of the Bible she features in this column. Click HERE to subscribe to updates, book release and event announcements, and links to all her Substack columns. Connect with Jocelyn on Goodreads and LinkedIn.
Note from the editor: I read my Bible every day, always picking up today where I left off yesterday. I have been doing this for over 44 years. The posts on this column are usually notes on whatever passage I happen to be reading on any particular day during what I call my “on-track” Bible reading.
Read more about this commentary HERE.