Just like the first two gifts, there is a Temple connection with myrrh as well. Exodus 30 tells us that liquid myrrh was a main ingredient in the anointing oil used to ceremonially prepare the priests, the instruments, the altar, and the Temple itself before sacrifices could be made. Mary and Joseph saw a glimpse of this when they received the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And in this case, that wealth was likely used to help the family escape to another nation. Joseph was instructed to take refuge in Egypt, a journey of over miles. For a family of humble means, a trip of this magnitude would be difficult to pull off. Now that we know the significance of the gifts brought to baby Jesus, let's dive into the importance of the gift givers.
For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
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. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Matthew [ESV]. The term wise men also translated as magi refers to astronomers or astrologers who served in royal courts throughout the ancient near eastern world. Within the Medo-Persian Empire, for example, magi were regarded as valuable advisors due to their knowledge of science, agriculture, and sorcery.
By the 1 st Century AD, magi were more broadly known as men who studied sacred writings and dabbled with occult practices. What was the significance of the gifts? Were they for the infant Jesus or for a much bigger purpose? Fact is we will never know for sure the truth about gold, frankincense and myrrh; nor why the Magi travelled half-way across the world to bless the Christ Child with them.
They were obviously astronomers of some sort, because it was the Star of Bethlehem that indicated the birth. When they made it into Jerusalem, they went right to Herod to ask where the Baby might be. Interestingly, Herod seems to know right away that the prophesies about the Messiah were connected, because he asked his scholars where Messiah was to be born. This is important to note when we look at the potential uses for the gifts in a moment.
Church history and tradition have expanded on the story to name the men who actually gave the gifts — Melchior bringing gold, Caspar with frankincense, and Balthasar with myrrh. It has also been suggested that, In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming.
Because the Magi were coming to hail the new king, gold makes sense as an acknowledgement of royalty. Gold was valuable, beautiful, and long-lasting. Scholars generally agree that the gift of gold represented Jesus as a king with an everlasting throne. It was a treasure befitting royalty, albeit royalty in the home of a young, poor family. As an interesting theory that is somewhat on the fringe, some believe the gold was entirely different. Instead of precious metals, the theory explains that frankincense and myrrh were both precious resins used for fragrance and were both derived from the same region — from the east.
Gold seems out of place — one of these things is not like the other — unless it was gold-en spice like turmeric , as some like to claim that it was. God seldom uses a gift he has given us once. The myrrh in this narrative had practical, medicinal uses and also had the purpose of embalming a loved one who passed away.
Third, God can use the most unlikely people to remind us about him and the Gospel. But they reminded them about a greater truth.
God, our king gold would come to fulfill his priestly duties frankincense and die for our sins myrrh. Maybe we have people in our lives whom we would least expect to receive a reminder of the Gospel from.
But God works in ways we cannot comprehend, and through some of the most unlikely of people. Share this. What Is Myrrh in the Bible? Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Myrrh in the Old and New Testament According to this Bible Study Tools article, myrrh dates back to Exodus when the Israelites would use myrrh as a main ingredient in holy anointing oil Exodus What Is the Power of Thanksgiving?
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