“[King Herod] asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written.’”
Matthew 2:4-5
British Baptist minister Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892:
“The word ‘Bethlehem’ … signifies ‘the house of bread’ and ‘the house of war.’ Ought not Jesus Christ to be born in the house of bread? He is the Bread of His people, on which they feed…. Bethlehem, house of bread, rightly were you called ….
“And it is also called the house of war because Christ is to a man the house of bread or else the house of war…. [T]hat mouth from which the righteous draw their bread shall be to [the wicked] the mouth of destruction….
“‘Ephrathah’ was the old name of the place which the Jews retained and loved. The meaning of it is ‘fruitfulness’ or ‘abundance.’ Ah, fittingly was Jesus born in the house of fruitfulness; for whence comes my fruitfulness and any fruitfulness, my brother, but from Bethlehem? Our poor barren hearts never produced one fruit … till they were watered with the Savior’s blood….
“[O]ur fruitfulness comes from Him…. Glorious Bethlehem Ephrathah! Rightly named! Fruitful house of bread—the house of abundant provision for the people of God!”
“The word ‘Bethlehem’ … signifies ‘the house of bread’ and ‘the house of war.’ Ought not Jesus Christ to be born in the house of bread? He is the Bread of His people, on which they feed…. Bethlehem, house of bread, rightly were you called ….
“And it is also called the house of war because Christ is to a man the house of bread or else the house of war…. [T]hat mouth from which the righteous draw their bread shall be to [the wicked] the mouth of destruction….
“‘Ephrathah’ was the old name of the place which the Jews retained and loved. The meaning of it is ‘fruitfulness’ or ‘abundance.’ Ah, fittingly was Jesus born in the house of fruitfulness; for whence comes my fruitfulness and any fruitfulness, my brother, but from Bethlehem? Our poor barren hearts never produced one fruit … till they were watered with the Savior’s blood….
“[O]ur fruitfulness comes from Him…. Glorious Bethlehem Ephrathah! Rightly named! Fruitful house of bread—the house of abundant provision for the people of God!”
Scripture Focus
John 6:25-35
Insight
“He comes to make His blessings flow/ far as the curse is found.” (Isaac Watts, 1719)
Bible In A Year
- Hosea 7-8
- Proverbs 13
- 1 Peter 1