Summary – Matthew 2:1-12
The wise men from the east locate Jesus in Bethlehem and offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They are warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they depart by another route.
There are two things we see in this story:
First: What we think we know that we don’t know.
When I was a child, I never understood why the wisemen had to go to Herod to ask where Jesus is. I had seen the Christmas cards and could see that the star was shining down on the spot where Jesus was. At least, that is why I believed.
Other things believed but not in the Bible.
1. There were three Magi.
2. That the Magi were kings.
3. That the Magi found Jesus in the manger.
4. That the Magi were there while the shepherds were still there.
Here is the truth.
We don’t know how many Magi came. We often refer to the Magi as the wise men. They were probably astrologers, scholars who studied the stars and sacred prophecies.
What does the Bible say about their journey?
The Bible describes them as “from the East.”
It is probable that they came from either Persia (Modern-day Iran) or Arabia.
If they came from Persia then their journey would be 1,000 to 1,200 miles.
If they came from Arabia it would be 700-1,000 miles.
Either way, traveling on foot, (or even camels), would have taken several weeks. By the time they arrived, Jesus was probably a toddler and not a new born baby in a manger.
Remember that Herod decreed that all boys under two were to be killed. At that time, Jesus would have been under two years of age. Other than that, we don’t know.
What we do know about the three gifts.
It is not correct to say there were three gifts. There were three types of gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
In fact, one can easily imagine that there were several objects made of gold that were offered to Jesus. However, all gifts were of one of these three types – gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Each type held a special significance.
1. Gold: was a symbol of kingship
Because of the high cost of gold, it is often associated with royalty and wealth. With this gift they were acknowledging his status as a king.
2. Frankincense: was a symbol of divinity.
Frankincense was obtained from the resin of a special tree, which grows in the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula. Frankincense was used in religious rituals and temple sacrifices. Its inclusion as a gift to Jesus is a symbol of his divinity and his role as a priest.
3. Myrrh: Was a Symbol of Suffering and Mortality
Myrrh was obtained from the resin of a tree that was native to parts of Africa and the Middle East. It was used in ancient times for embalming and as an anointing oil. Its inclusion is prophetic of Jesus’ eventual suffering and death.
Nothing about the Magi coming to see Jesus, from the star, to the journey, to the gifts was by chance.
God hand was in it. God’s hand is also in your life.
Lonnie Davis