The gifts of the Magi from Matthew 2 are listed as gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 - And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Each gift has a symbolic meaning tied to Jesus' identity and mission. They reflect His kingship, divinity, and sacrificial death. Here’s is further explanation.
The Significance Of The Three Wise Men Gifts
Gold – Symbol of Kingship
Gold is universally recognized as a symbol of wealth, honor, and kingship. In the Bible, gold is often associated with royalty and divine authority, making it a fitting gift for the King of Kings.
Biblical Connection to Royalty:
The use of gold in the construction of the temple and its sacred items signifies the splendor of God’s kingdom and the reverence due to Him as King. For instance, Solomon, a king who foreshadowed Christ, adorned the temple with gold: The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. - 1 Kings 6:19-20
Gold is also explicitly tied to royalty in describing the wealth and majesty of kings: The queen of Sheba... gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. - 1 Kings 10:10
Fulfilled in Jesus:
The Magi’s gift of gold acknowledges Jesus as the long-awaited King: Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. - Matthew 2:2
Jesus is described as the King whose reign will never end: On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. - Revelation 19:16
Frankincense – Symbol of Divinity and Worship
Frankincense is an aromatic resin used in incense for worship, symbolizing the presence of God and the prayers of His people. It points to Jesus’ divine nature and His role as our High Priest.
Biblical Connection to Divinity:
Frankincense was used in the Old Testament as part of sacred offerings to God: And the Lord said to Moses, 'Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense... and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.' - Exodus 30:34-35
The imagery of incense is linked to worship and prayer, signifying communication with the divine: Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! - Psalm 141:2
Fulfilled in Jesus:
The Magi’s gift of frankincense acknowledges Jesus’ divinity and role as our mediator: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. - 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus is the High Priest who bridges the gap between God and humanity: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. - Hebrews 9:11-12
Myrrh – Symbol of Death and Sacrifice
Myrrh is a resin often used in embalming and anointing the dead, foreshadowing Jesus' suffering, death, and burial. It symbolizes His role as the Suffering Servant and the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
Biblical Connection to Death:
Myrrh was used for embalming and as part of burial customs, signifying preparation for death: Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. - John 19:39-40
Myrrh was also associated with suffering, as it was offered to Jesus on the cross as a numbing agent: And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. - Mark 15:23
Fulfilled in Jesus:
The Magi’s gift of myrrh foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrificial death to atone for humanity’s sins: Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities. - Isaiah 53:4-5
Jesus Himself prophesied His death and its significance: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45
Conclusion
Gold signifies Jesus' kingship as the ruler of an eternal kingdom.
Frankincense highlights His divinity and role as the High Priest who mediates between God and humanity.
Myrrh foreshadows His sacrificial death and burial, pointing to His ultimate mission of redemption.
These gifts not only reflect the wise men's recognition of Jesus’ divine purpose but also provide a profound testimony to His identity as King, God, and Savior. The significance of these gifts calls us to respond with faith, worship, and thanksgiving for the salvation Jesus offers.
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