Wednesday

December 9

“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.”  Matthew 2:11

According to Matthew, these men brought Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  A few schools of thought exist on the significance of these gifts.  Some say these gifts had practical use. Selling the gifts could afford the otherwise impoverished Mary and Joseph the ability to flee to Egypt.  Frankincense and myrrh were expensive (as was gold) and both held medicinal value as well. 

Other scholars suggest these were just gifts fit for a king and were meant to elevate the status of the Christ-child. 

Another potential reason behind these gifts was representation of the Holy of Holies, where all three elements played a part.  Gold overlaid everything inside the Most Holy Place (1 Kings 6:20-22); frankincense was used as part of the incense burned at the altar (Exodus 30); and myrrh was used as an anointing oil for the high priest (also Exodus 30). 

Yet another potential meaning behind these gifts was symbolism, prophetic towards Jesus’ position and future.  Gold was a symbol of royalty and Jesus’ kingship; frankincense was used for ceremonial worship of deities and may have  represented Christ’s priesthood; and myrrh was used in anointing the dead, specifically by Nicodemus to anoint  Jesus’ body in  John 19:38-40, representing the ultimate sacrifice of the priest-king.

Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the gift of your Son, help us to freely lay the gift of our lives before you to be used however you see fit.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Nathan Gilbert