The Place of His Birth| Matthew 2:1-10

Where Did Jesus Come To?

Chapter 1 answers the question "Where did Jesus come from?" but Chapter 2 answers the question "Where did Jesus come to?" The town, the culture, the government, and the political climate of the time in which our Lord was born are all described—not only the place of His nativity but also the places of His early childhood and how He, being from Bethlehem, was still truly called a Nazarene.

The Place of His Birth

Remember, our author Matthew is targeting Jewish minds. It is for this reason that he is sure to note that He is from Bethlehem of Judea. He is referencing a prophecy of the coming Messiah from Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Bethlehem means "the house of bread," and what a fitting name for the place where God would usher in the Bread of Life. This little town was no stranger to redemption. It was here that Boaz redeemed his Gentile bride from the next of kin. It was here that the despised shepherd boy became king. Whilst it was the "least among the thousands of Judah," it was chosen by God to be the birthplace of the King of Kings.

He comes to the despised places

Bethlehem teaches us that no matter how small and remote a place may be, God is willing to come. He comes to villages, countrysides, to commoners. His news reached the palaces. It alerted the scholars and wise men of the day. The governments were made aware. But it was in Bethlehem that He was born. Christ takes up His abode in humble places, not the lofty and proud. We know from other accounts that even the inns had no place for Him, so it was to a manger He came. Not only did He come to a small town, but to the most despised place in town, not even fit for humans.

Make room for Him

What a Savior is mine! My heart was not fit for human dwelling, much less divine, and still He came in. He made Bethlehem a glorious little town, and He made a common manger one we have sung of for 2,000 years now, and He does the same to every place He comes to—He glorifies it. Jesus comes to the small and despised places and is born in the hearts of the humble! Your heart may be like a dirty old manger, no place for a king, much less the King, but if He was born in a manger in a barn in Bethlehem, He won't despise being born in you.

Won't you make room for him?