Matthew 2:7-8

Evidently Herod summoned the Magi secretly to avoid arousing undue interest in their visit among Israel’s religious leaders (Matthew 2:7). He wanted to know when the star had appeared so he could determine the age of the child King.

Under a pretext of desire to "worship" the new King, Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem as his representatives with orders to report what they found to him. His hypocritical humility deceived the wise men. He must have sensed this since he sent no escort with them but trusted them to return to him.

It is remarkable that the chief priests and scribes apparently made no effort to check out Jesus’ birth as the Magi did.

"It is strange how much the scribes knew, and what little use they made of it." [Note: Richard Glover, A Teacher’s Commentary of the Gospel of Matthew, p. 14.]

Their apathy contrasts with the Magi’s curiosity and with Herod’s fear. It continued into Jesus’ ministry until it turned into antagonism.

". . . the conflict on which the plot of Matthew’s story turns is that between Jesus and Israel, especially the religious leaders." [Note: Kingsbury, p. 8.]

"Except for Jesus himself, the religious leaders are the ones who influence most the development of the plot of Matthew’s story." [Note: Ibid., p. 18.]