2:4Luke 2:4

Joseph, who belonged to the house and lineage of David, went up from his home in Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, the city of David, to have his name enrolled under the Roman decree.DA 43.2–44.1+2 The enrollment ordered by Caesar Augustus reached even to the hills of Galilee and required registration for the census.DA 44.2–3+1 God in His providence brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem at the appointed time, making Caesar His agent to place the mother of Jesus there so the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of David's line would be fulfilled.ST Sep 13, 1877+3 It is the account of Christ coming in humble earthly circumstances, with His divine glory veiled in a frail infant laid in a manger, without worldly display, rank, or outward grandeur.DA 43.1+2 Born in poverty to lowly parents, He laid aside His kingly crown in heaven to clothe His divinity with humanity, and so knows the hardship of poverty and is accessible to people of every station.9T 185.2+3

Joseph, who was of the house and lineage of David, went up from his home in Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, the city of David, to have his name enrolled under the Roman decree for the census.DA 43.2–44.1+4 That imperial enrolment decree of Caesar Augustus extended even to the hills of Galilee and required the registration.DA 44.2–3+1

Mary accompanied Joseph on the difficult journey, and she became weary climbing the hill to Bethlehem, and because the inns were full they had to rest in a crude shelter used for cattle.COS 9.2–10.1 As they journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem they were attended by angels.DA 44.2–3

Nazareth was a despised, obscure village where Jesus lived for many years with His divine mission hidden from the world.9T 185.2+1 There He worked as a carpenter in ordinary, unhonored life.Lt 1, 1880, par. 5–6

Bethlehem was the birthplace foretold by prophecy for the Messiah, and Joseph and Mary arrived there when the appointed time came for Christ to be born.ST Sep 13, 1877+3 God's providence brought them to that place to register under the decree, so that what had been foretold concerning Bethlehem would be fulfilled.ST Sep 13, 1877+3

In that providence Caesar Augustus was made God's agent to bring the mother of Jesus to Bethlehem, just as Cyrus was once called to the throne to set free the captives of the Lord.ST Sep 13, 1877+4 The imperial enrolment reached even to Nazareth in Galilee, and by it God directed their steps from the north to Judea, to the city of David.DA 44.2–3+3 Their coming there fulfilled the witness that the Messiah would come from David's line, for Joseph was of David's house and family, Mary also was of the lineage of David, and the Son of David must be born in David's city.DA 43.2–44.1+2 Bethlehem was thus appointed in God's providence as the birthplace of the Prince of life, whose glory will fill the whole earth and whose dominion will last through all generations, coming with mercy to uplift the fallen and bring gladness to desolate places.Ms 27, 1898, par. 10

Luke 2:4 belongs to the account of Christ coming in humble earthly circumstances, with His divine glory veiled in a frail infant laid in a manger, without worldly display, rank, splendor, luxury, or outward grandeur, so that people would be drawn to Him by heavenly truth and the testimony of prophecy.DA 43.1+3 He was born in poverty to lowly parents in Bethlehem and lived in the despised village of Nazareth, though God was His Father.9T 185.2+1 He left the royal courts of glory in heaven, laying aside His kingly crown and royal robe to clothe His divinity with humanity and become a simple man on earth to redeem the world.Ms 74, 1894, par. 1+1 His lowly birth and life show that He knew the hardship of poverty and make Him accessible to people of every station, so that even the humblest believer can approach Him and hear the truth, for God thus introduced the gospel through humility rather than status.FE 401.1+1

His coming as a babe in Bethlehem set up a standard against Satan and began His conflict with the powers of darkness that continues as long as time lasts.Ms 56, 1890, par. 4–5 From that birth Satan never lost sight of Him and set on foot various plans to destroy Him, but every plan failed because the Son of God was upheld by His Father's strong arm.2SP 87.2 Satan knew Christ's position in heaven and was filled with apprehension, fearing he would fail in his cherished purpose of reigning supreme over the whole earth and that the power he already possessed would be wrested from him, so he later went out into the wilderness to beset Christ with temptations, bringing every force and artifice at his command to allure Him from His allegiance.2SP 87.2 His humble, unhonored life in obscure Nazareth, where His divine mission was hidden from the world and He worked as a carpenter, shows that people can walk closely with God in daily work and that greatness in God's sight comes through humble goodness and faithfulness, not by seeking eminence.Lt 1, 1880, par. 5–6 The account does not reveal the day on which He was born; December 25 is only a supposed date, and the actual date is unknown.Ms 8, 1880, par. 7–11

The verse begins the sweet story of Bethlehem to be repeated to children on the Sabbath to make the day a delight and the best day of the seven.Ms 57, 1897, par. 21–22+1 It presents Christ as a babe who was a child like themselves, obedient to His father and mother and afterward an industrious youth helping to support the family.Ms 57, 1897, par. 21–22+1 He thus knows the trials and perplexities, temptations, weariness, joys and happiness of youth.Ms 57, 1897, par. 21–22