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Reference
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
The conclusion of the former chapter acquainted us with the birth of John the Baptist; the beginning of this chapter relates the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ and the remarkable circumstances which did attend it.
And here we have observable, 1. The place where he was born was not Nazareth, but Bethlehem, according to the prediction of the prophet Micah, Mic 5:2. “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel.”
We may suppose, that the blessed virgin little thought of changing her place, but to have been delivered of her holy burden at Nazareth, where it was conceived. Her house at Nazareth was honoured by the presence of the angel; yea, by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost: that house therefore, we may suppose, was most satisfactory to the virgin’s desire. But he that made the choice of the womb where his son should be conceived, it was fit he should also choose the place where his son should be born. And this place, many hundred years before the nativity, was foretold should be Bethlehem.
Observe, 2. How remarkable the providence of God was in bringing the virgin up from Nazareth the Bethlehem, that Christ, as it was prophesied of him, might be born there. Augustus, the Roman emperor, to whom the nation of the Jews had now become tributary, puts forth a decree, that all the Roman empire should have their names and families enrolled, in order to their being taxed. This edict required, that every family should repair to that city to which they did belong, to be enrolled and taxed there.
Accordingly, Joseph and Mary, being of the house and lineage of David, have recourse to Bethlehem, the city of David, where, according to the prophecy, the Messias was to be born.
Here note, how the wisdom of God overrules the actions of men, for higher or nobler ends than what they aimed at. The emperor’s aim was by this edict to fill his coffers. God’s end was to fulfill his prophecies.
Observe, 3. How readily Joseph and Mary yielded obedience to the edict and decree of this heathen emperor. It was no less than four days’ journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem: how just an excuse might the virgin have pleaded for her absence! What woman ever undertook so hazardous a journey, that was so near her delivery? And Joseph, no doubt, was sufficiently unwilling to draw her forth into so manifest a hazard.
But as the emperor’s command was peremptory, so their obedience was exemplary. We must not plead difficulty for withdrawing our obedience to supreme commands. How did our blessed Saviour, even in the womb of his mother, yield homage to civil rulers and governors?
The first lesson which Christ’s example taught the world, was loyalty and obedience to the supreme magistrate.
Observe, 4. After many weary steps, the holy virgin comes to Bethlehem, where every house is taken up by reason of the great confluence of people that came to be taxed; and there is no room for Christ but in a stable: the stable is our Lord’s palace, the manger is his cradle.
Oh, how can we be abased low enough for him that thus neglected himself for us! What an early indication was this, that our Lord’s kingdom was not of this world!
Yet some observe a mystery in all this: an inn is domus publici juris, not a private house, but open and free for all passengers, and a stable is the commonest place in the inn; to mind us, that he who was born there, would be a common Saviour to high and low, noble and base, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile; called therefore so often the Son of man; the design of his birth being the benefit of mankind.