Luke 2:5

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

To be taxed {G583} with {G4862} Mary {G3137} his {G846} espoused {G3423} wife {G1135}, being {G5607} great with child {G1471}.

to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant.

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.

Commentary

Luke 2:5 describes a pivotal moment in the Christmas narrative, setting the stage for the birth of Jesus Christ. Joseph and Mary, despite Mary's advanced pregnancy, were compelled to travel to Bethlehem due to a Roman decree.

Context

This verse is part of the broader account in Luke 2, which opens with the decree from Caesar Augustus for a worldwide census. This registration, aimed at taxation, required everyone to return to their ancestral hometowns. For Joseph, a descendant of King David, this meant journeying from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, a distance of about 90 miles. Mary, his "espoused wife," accompanied him, even though she was "great with child." This forced journey highlights the immense logistical and personal challenges faced by Joseph and Mary, underscoring their obedience to the prevailing civil authority.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence and Human Obedience: The Roman census, seemingly a secular administrative act, was providentially used by God to fulfill ancient prophecies, specifically that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Joseph and Mary's obedience to the decree, despite the hardship, unknowingly aligned with God's perfect plan.
  • Mary's Status and Faith: The term "espoused wife" (Greek: emnesteumene, from mnesteuo) signifies a legally binding betrothal, which in Jewish custom was as serious as marriage, though the couple had not yet consummated the union. Mary's willingness to undertake such an arduous journey while "great with child" demonstrates her profound faith and commitment to God's will, as revealed to her by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:38).
  • Humility of the Messiah's Birth: The King of Kings was not born in a palace, but in humble circumstances, during a difficult journey, in a crowded town. This foreshadows the humble and sacrificial nature of Jesus' earthly ministry.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "espoused" (emnesteumene, from mnesteuo) emphasizes that Mary was formally betrothed to Joseph. In Jewish law, this made them legally husband and wife, even before the marriage ceremony and cohabitation. This status explains why Joseph would have to accompany her and why her pregnancy, though miraculous, was a matter of significant concern until Joseph received divine reassurance (Matthew 1:20).

Practical Application

Luke 2:5 reminds us that God often works through ordinary, even challenging, circumstances to bring about His extraordinary purposes. Joseph and Mary's journey, filled with discomfort and uncertainty, was a necessary step for the fulfillment of prophecy and the arrival of the Savior. It encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty even when faced with difficult or inconvenient demands, knowing that His plan is always unfolding. Their obedience, though seemingly to a human decree, ultimately served a divine agenda, leading directly to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 1:18 (2 votes)

    ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

  • Matthew 1:19 (2 votes)

    Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

  • Deuteronomy 22:22 (1 votes)

    If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, [both] the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

  • Deuteronomy 22:27 (1 votes)

    For he found her in the field, [and] the betrothed damsel cried, and [there was] none to save her.