The gifts were significant in the story of the Wisemen and Jesus. Matthew 2: 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [1] Each of these gifts was expensive in its own right, but they were of great value combined.
The standard offering for the purification of a mother was a lamb. We know Mary and Joseph did not have much money because they brought the sacrifice for the poor at the Temple. Luke 2: 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” [2]
After the visit of the Wisemen, God warned Joseph in a dream. Matthew 2: 13b “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” [3] Joseph obediently left immediately. These gifts would have financed their trip and stay in Egypt. God provided in an amazing way.
Prophetic Meaning of the Gifts
Gold was a gift fit for a King. Psalm 72: 15 Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him. [4] Jesus is our King. Revelation 15: 3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. [5]
Priests used frankincense in the incense used in the Temple and as a gift for God. Isaiah 60:6b The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.[6] Hebrews 6: 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. [7]
Myrrh was a valued spice and perfume that was used in embalming. Thus, this was a gift for someone that was going to die. Mark 15: 22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it. [8] John 19: 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth.[9]
Gifts and Worship
The Wisemen gave the gifts in an act of worship. From the prophetic gifts, we can see how Jesus is worthy of our worship. He is our King and priest who interceded for us through His death on the cross. We can give Jesus the gift of worship.
Psalm 95: 1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him… 6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, 7 for he is our God. [10] To learn how the gifts were significant, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/seeking-jesus
[1-10] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.