Bible Questions Answered:
I see a discrepancy between Luke's account (manger) of the Lord's lodging and Matthew's which states a house. Thank you.
Roy/ Dallas Texas
Bible Answer:
Text:
Matthew 2:11 KJV
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
Luke's account:
Luke 2:4-7 KJV
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 was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 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*.
*Manger-Greek; Phatne (Fat-nay): A crib (for fodder), stall.
*Inn-Greek; Kataluma (Kat-al-oo-mah): Lodging-place: guest chamber.
(Abingdon's/ Strong's Concordance of the Bible.)
Please, may it come to no one as a surprise, that in the day of our Lord's birth, there were no Holiday Inns, Radisons, etc. as well as motels and lodges.
When travelers came to Bethlehem to be taxed, they made plans to stay with relatives, or friends who lived there. And yes this no doubt was Joseph's plan as well, but alas if it was, others had come and beaten him to it, leaving no option, but to stay with the animals.
And now concerning the subject of a manger.
Manger: A box or trough to hold fodder for horses or cattle to eat.
(New World Dictionary)
Again, may it come as no surprise to anyone, that there were no and barns or buildings to house animals in Bethlehem.
But wasn't there a place of shelter for the baby Jesus?
Yes, it was where the shepherds kept their sheep at night or in time of inclement weather. In Bethlehem are scattered caves where shepherds kept their flocks, in protection against marauding animals and robbers.
The manger was in a cave, with animals.
Now, this of course still leaves the question of Luke's account of the manger versus Matthew's account of the house.
The answer is that some time had elapsed, since our Lord's birth and His being taken to a house.
No doubt and we can see that in this account, Joseph did his best to see to it Mary and the child were in a house of warmth and safety, and he did, it was there that the wise men found the baby Jesus.
One cannot leave this subject but point out the wisdom of the wise men.
Matthew 2:11 KJV
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother,
and fell down, and worshiped Him:
and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
Having seen the King of the Jews, the Wise Men, fell down on their knees, their foreheads to the ground in homage to the baby Jesus.
Isn't it interesting that people of other faiths, take their shoes off before entering their places of worship, while Christian people today, need to do nothing?
Perhaps, we have failed.
Perhaps, it is time to show the reverence, and worship to the living God, that we always should have shown. Our King, is the Lord of Lord's and the King of Kings, the great I AM.
Exodus 3:4,5 KJV
4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5 And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Joshua 5:15 KJV
And the Captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Psalm 33:8 KJV
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Psalm 89:7 KJV
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.
Selah
