Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 2

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 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:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Little did Caesar realize that he was accomplishing the purpose of God by bringing Mary to Bethlehem at that particular time, so that her Child might be born there.

But God can accomplish the purpose of His providence and His grace in any way He pleases. Although Caesar was not aware of all that was involved in his action, his decree—which he intended simply as a means of registering his subjects and filling his treasury—was to be overruled by God for the fulfillment of the prophecy, spoken centuries before the event occurred, that Christ must be born at Bethlehem.

It may seem strange to some of you that an imperial edict, issued from Rome, should have an important influence on the place of the Child's birth.

Yet I do not doubt that, in God's esteem, the whole of the great Roman Empire was of very little importance in comparison with His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And today, the thrones and dominions of the mightiest monarchs are only like the small cogs in the wheels of divine providence when the welfare of even the least of the Lord's people is concerned.

He does not reckon events according to their apparent importance; the standard of the sanctuary is a very different measure from that which worldly people use.

When any purpose of God is to be accomplished, all other things will be subordinated to it.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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.

Now has heavenly glory wedded earthly poverty; and, from now on, let no one dare to despise the poor and needy, since the son of the Highest is born in a stable, and cradled in a manger. How low the King of glory stoops, and how gloriously he uplifts the lowly to share his glory!

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

For such is the condition, even of gracious souls, that the near approach of the divine glory begets in them trembling and alarm.

Oh, how wondrously changed shall we be when we are able to bear even the glories of heaven! Have you ever thought of this, dear friends? The beloved apostle, John, saw Christ in his glory, and he wrote, When I saw him, I fell at his feet, as dead; and these shepherds, even at the sight of the angel of the Lord, were sore afraid. You and I, beloved, must undergo a marvelous change before we shall be able to be at home with God in his glory; but that change shall, through his abundant grace, take place before long.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

This shall be a sign unto you, said the angel to the shepherds; and this is the sign of the Christ of God even to this day. There are some, who are constantly bringing discredit upon religion by their pompous ritual and gorgeous ceremonies, and it is buried beneath the weight of their sensuous worship, but the living Christ is still found in simple, lowly guise, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 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:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

These men were probably poor and illiterate, but that did not hinder God from revealing himself to them, nor prevent the coming of his Son to them. They were engaged in their ordinary calling, keeping watch over their flock by night, when this great blessing came to them. Seldom does such a blessing as this come to idlers. It was not while they were going about idly and wasting their time, but while they kept watch over their flock that the angel of the Lord came upon them. First one angel led the way, and then a multitude of the heavenly host followed, and these poor men, perhaps troubled with the common superstition of the Jews that the appearance of God, or any supernatural visitation, would always be followed by death, were sore afraid.