MATTHEW 2: 11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
A great deal of the time, we read this and think, 'Nice. They brought expensive presents because they knew they were honoring a king.' We pass by this or sing it in WE THREE KINGS as if there is no significance other than the monetary value of the three. But, once we take a closer look, we find that the gifts given by the Magi reveal a great deal about who these me were and what they could possible have been thinking. Also, it shows we believers how to approach Jesus in our own lives.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
A great deal of the time, we read this and think, 'Nice. They brought expensive presents because they knew they were honoring a king.' We pass by this or sing it in WE THREE KINGS as if there is no significance other than the monetary value of the three. But, once we take a closer look, we find that the gifts given by the Magi reveal a great deal about who these me were and what they could possible have been thinking. Also, it shows we believers how to approach Jesus in our own lives.
1) GOLD
The first gift mentioned is GOLD. It is the sign of wealth and, in the time of Christ's birth and many other times, a sign of Kingship; of Royalty.
It was a symbol of Christ's authority on this world as its KING. This thought makes the Devil's gesture to give him the kingdoms of the world laughable. But Jesus was after a different kind of Kingdom; one not made with hands. No, he didn't want a stone temple to dwell in or a kingdom you had to map out and draw borders.
NO, if you read Matthew through, you will see that this disciple was smitten with the idea of the KINGDOM OF GOD. If you look at the Greek word for Kingdom, it is more about one's authority to do or say what they will than it is about how much territory they wrack up. That is why Jesus' own people were at odds with his kingship. They wanted someone to suplant the Romans physically and run all of their enemies back to where they had come from and set up his throne in Jerusalem and begin a glorious golden age.
What Jesus meant when he said KINGDOM was RULE. He wanted the rule of God to begin in the believer. SO, by bringing gold, the magi were announcing his right as KING.
It was a symbol of Christ's authority on this world as its KING. This thought makes the Devil's gesture to give him the kingdoms of the world laughable. But Jesus was after a different kind of Kingdom; one not made with hands. No, he didn't want a stone temple to dwell in or a kingdom you had to map out and draw borders.
NO, if you read Matthew through, you will see that this disciple was smitten with the idea of the KINGDOM OF GOD. If you look at the Greek word for Kingdom, it is more about one's authority to do or say what they will than it is about how much territory they wrack up. That is why Jesus' own people were at odds with his kingship. They wanted someone to suplant the Romans physically and run all of their enemies back to where they had come from and set up his throne in Jerusalem and begin a glorious golden age.
What Jesus meant when he said KINGDOM was RULE. He wanted the rule of God to begin in the believer. SO, by bringing gold, the magi were announcing his right as KING.
2) FRANKINCENSE
The second gift mentioned is FRANKINCENSE. This is not as common to the reader as gold was. This was an incense used in temples all over the world at that time. It was even used in Jerusalem. It was burnt for its aroma, but also because of its symbolism. As the Frankincense was burnt, it rose up as if to heaven. Thus it represented to some the rising of our prayers and petitions to God.
So, when people of that time thought about Frankincense, not only did they think valuable, but they thought divine. No matter what god you worshipped, the incense was used. In fact it was used extensively in the Jewish temple before its destruction.
So, the Magi brought the child Jesus Frankincense, not only to honor a King, but to honor God as well. They may not have totally understood it, but they knew enough to know that the divine was involved. They knew the God of the Hebrews; maybe not in a personal way. But maybe so. No one can know. But they brought this gift to honor Jesus as the Christ, the son of the Living God.
So, when people of that time thought about Frankincense, not only did they think valuable, but they thought divine. No matter what god you worshipped, the incense was used. In fact it was used extensively in the Jewish temple before its destruction.
So, the Magi brought the child Jesus Frankincense, not only to honor a King, but to honor God as well. They may not have totally understood it, but they knew enough to know that the divine was involved. They knew the God of the Hebrews; maybe not in a personal way. But maybe so. No one can know. But they brought this gift to honor Jesus as the Christ, the son of the Living God.
3) myrrh
The last gift is the most perplexing; Myrrh. Myrrh was used in temples also as incense, but it had so many other uses. One of those uses was it's role in burial. It's fragrance was useful in preparing the body for burial. When the women came to prepare Jesus for his burial (before his glorious resurrection), did they bring Myrrh?
The better question is, "Why bring something used in burial to a child?"
They may have totally missed the significance of bringing this gift. After all, it was an expensive gift no matter what its use. But, by bringing Myrrh to Jesus, they were foreshadowing his life and death on Earth. It not only shouted that he was KING and GOD, but that he was truly human. For without the humanity of Christ, his sacrifice means nothing and our sins remain with us.
No, I believe by bringing Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, the Magi knew the significance and could at least feel that this King was more than just a King. He had the authority to BE king and it came from God himself. They also may have begun to understand what Jesus had set off to do in our place.
Is this where the gifts of the Magi ended up? Check out this story of the historical gifts of the Magi!
The better question is, "Why bring something used in burial to a child?"
They may have totally missed the significance of bringing this gift. After all, it was an expensive gift no matter what its use. But, by bringing Myrrh to Jesus, they were foreshadowing his life and death on Earth. It not only shouted that he was KING and GOD, but that he was truly human. For without the humanity of Christ, his sacrifice means nothing and our sins remain with us.
No, I believe by bringing Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, the Magi knew the significance and could at least feel that this King was more than just a King. He had the authority to BE king and it came from God himself. They also may have begun to understand what Jesus had set off to do in our place.
Is this where the gifts of the Magi ended up? Check out this story of the historical gifts of the Magi!