Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1-7

[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  first  made  when Cyrenius  was governor  of Syria.)  [3] And  all  went  to be taxed,  every one  into  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  of  the house  and  lineage  of David:)  [5] To be taxed  with  Mary  his  espoused  great with child.  [6] And  so it was,  that, while  they  there,  the days  were accomplished  that she  should be delivered.  [7] And  she brought forth  her  firstborn  son,  and  him  in swaddling clothes,  and  laid  him  in  a manger;  because  no  room  for them  in  the inn. 

What does Luke 2:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In narrating John"s birth, Luke stressed his naming, but in his account of Jesus" birth, he concentrated on its setting.
Luke"s brief account of Jesus" birth emphasizes three things. He described the political situation to explain why Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This set Jesus" birth in a context of world history and anticipated His cosmic significance. Second, Luke connected Bethlehem with David to show that Jesus qualified as the Messiah. Finally, he presented Jesus" humble beginnings and so introduced the themes of Jesus" identification with the poor and His rejection.
Luke paralleled John and Jesus" births as he did the announcements of their births, and he stressed Jesus" superiority again. Zechariah announced John"s birth, but angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus.