It is easy to see why we misunderstand as much as we do about the birth of Christ, since Matthew 2:1 begins almost 2 years after he was born, when the Magi came bearing gifts. For the sake of this teaching we will turn to Luke chapter 2 to find some of the details prior to his birth. The following will be from Young’s Literal Translation: 

Luke 2:2-7 

2 And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled — this enrollment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria —3 and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city, and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David, to enroll himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with child. And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she brought forth her son — the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber. YLT 

The guest-chamber (Inn in the KJV) in those days was a room adjacent to the house for the lodging of guests. These days some people have Guest-houses, while others may have Guest-rooms. The Greek word is kataluma.  It is used 1 other time in Luke and once in Mark. In both instances it is translated ”guest-chamber” in the King James Version:  

Mark 14:14 
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 
KJV; 

Mark 14:14 NASB & NRSV:

and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house,’ The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room   

 Luke 22:11 
And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? KJV) 

The Guest Chamber or room was part of the house, not an outbuilding like a barn or a shed. Joseph and Mary were not out in the cold with no place to go. They were at a friend’s house or at the very least a friend of a friend. They were like royalty, direct descendants of King David and they were in the city of David. They didn’t just arrive but had been there at least a few days already . Anyone would have been glad to have them in their home, let alone the fact Mary was in her 9th month of pregnancy. Let’s read verse 6 of Luke 2 again in the NASB: 

Luke 2:6 

And it came about that while they were there,  

They weren’t just getting there on the back of a donkey like movies show. They had been in town a few, if not several days. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words explains it the best: 

kataluma (kata/luma, NT:2646), akin to kataluo (see Note above), signifies (a) “an inn, lodging-place,” Luke 2:7; (b) “a guest-room,” Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11. The word lit. signifies “a loosening down” (kata, “down,” luo, “to loose”), used of the place where travelers and their beasts untied their packages, girdles and sandals. “In the East, no figure is more invested with chivalry than the guest. In his own right he cannot cross the threshold, but when once he is invited in, all do him honor and unite in rendering service; cf. Gen 18:19; Judg 19:9,15.” These two passages in the NT concern a room in a private house, which the owner readily placed at the disposal of Joseph and Mary. (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.) 

Now, what is a manger? A Manger is the feeding trough for animals and a cozy place for a baby!  

NT:5336 phatne (fat’-nay); from pateomai (to eat); a crib (for fodder): 

(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.) 

So, there you have it; no barn, no stall, no cows, sheep or oxen, no donkeys (hee-haw)! No mean, old Inn-keeper! No snow on the ground, either. 

Merry Christmas and may God Bless you all in the name of Jesus Christ!