The Gifts

INTRODUCTION

Christmas is fast approaching!

Have you racked your credit card balance looking for that perfect gift for those who are important to you in your life?

I was telling Robyn the other days about my memory of being a young kid when my parents would take me to the town square to see Santa!

I was so excited to see Santa.

Santa had a little house, as I think the tiny house was not much bigger than an outhouse.

For all you youngsters, an outhouse is a kind of like a permanent port-a-potty. 😃

It was an exciting time to tell Santa all the gifts I wanted.

Gifts are an essential part of many cultures.

In many cultures, gifts are given on birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and certain holidays.

Christians exchange gifts on Christmas.

Most Americans give gifts on Christmas.

Jews exchange gifts at Hanukkah.

Just like in the Bible, sometimes gifts have special meanings intended to say something about the gift's receiver.

Big Idea of the Message: The gifts of the magi reflect what the Scriptures say the Messiah will be: Prophet, Priest, and King.

Let’s turn to Matthew 2:1-12.

The main focus will be on verse 11 today, but I would like us to go through the whole passage together.

Matthew 2:1–12 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem

2 saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.”

9 After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was.

10 When they saw the star they shouted joyfully.

11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.

SERMON

I. Myrrh for a Prophet.

FUNNY SLIDE

When the wise men entered the home where Jesus was, Jesus was probably one or two years old at this time.

When the wise men entered the home, the first thing they did was bow down and worship Him!

Jesus alone was the object of their adoration!

The wise men were not there to worship Mary.

When they opened their treasure boxes, they presented gifts to and in honor of Jesus.

Commentary on Matthew (Chapter 2 (Matthew 2))

Gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh certainly suggest three phases of our Lord’s life. His kingship, his divinity, and his sufferings are in the most solemn manner suggested by these wonderful gifts; and, although we must agree with the commentators who reject any special symbolism in these gifts on the basis that nothing in the text supports such symbolism, nevertheless, it must be admitted, they DO SUGGEST those things with reference to Christ.

The gifts would become useful and needed when Jesus and His family were forced to flee to Egypt to avoid the killing rampage of Herod.

As a side note, we see that giving is an essential aspect of worship.

The first gift we are examining is the gift of myrrh.

The prophesied Messiah in the Scriptures is said to be a prophet.

A prophet is someone sent by God to give people his message.

We see this in the Old Testament: each of the prophets is called by God and comes with a distinct message.

Jesus is presented as a prophet.

Matthew 21:11 (NET 2nd ed.)

11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Jesus spoke of Himself as a prophet.

Luke 4:24 (NET 2nd ed.)

24 And he added, “I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

Jesus foretold His death, burial, and resurrection.

Myrrh had two purposes in the Scriptures. The first was that it was used as a spice in anointing oil.

“It was mixed into the oil that was used to anoint prophets for the divinely appointed work of revealing God and communicating His will and words to His people” (Shari Abbott, “What Is the Significance of the Wise Men’s Gifts? And, Were These Men Kings (or Magi)?,” Reasons for Hope, December 22, 2019, https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/significance-of-the-three-kings-gifts/).

The second use for myrrh was as an embalming fluid.

This might appear odd, but the ancient church understood the symbolism of myrrh to be pointing toward the day Jesus died for the world's sins. (Robert Hampshire, “What Is the Significance of the Three Wise Men and Their Gifts?,” Christianity.com, December 1, 2020, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/significance-of-the-three-wise-men-and-their-gifts.html).

What is a prophet?

Any person directed by the inspiration of God to proclaim God’s will.

It is important to understand that Jesus is the ultimate prophet!

His message, His will, is the message and will of God.

His message is a direct revelation from the Father; when Jesus speaks, the Father speaks.

With Jesus, we do not need someone else's book or word; we do need “another” prophet or “another” testament; we just need Jesus!

Jesus will lead you to the Father; He will lead you to the Promised Land because He is God!

Let’s go back to our passage!

Matthew 2:11 (NET 2nd ed.)

11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

II. Frankincense for a Priest.

A Jewish priest in the time of the Bible was seen as a mediator between God and his people.

This played an essential role in the religious life of the people of God. “On the Day of Atonement, the Jewish high priest went into the Holy of Holies in the Temple.

There he offered sacrifice to God to make up for his sins and the sins of the people” (“Jesus: Prophet, Priest, and King,” Loyola Press).

With this understanding, the writer of Hebrews can compare Jesus to the mysterious priest of the Old Testament, Melchizedek, as the better and more perfect high priest (“Jesus: Prophet, Priest, and King,” Loyola Press).

Frankincense is a resin from India and Arabia known for its use in incense, perfumes, and healing properties.

In Exodus 30:34 it was used in the sanctuary of the Lord, and the book of Leviticus mentions its use several times (2:1, 16; 6:15; 24:7).

Because of its use in the Temple, frankincense is considered to be emblematic of Jesus’ office as a Priest of God (Exodus 30:34–37).

It is also symbolic of the priest’s work in offering the prayers of the people to the Lord” (Luke 1:10; Revelation 8:3-5)” (Abbott, “Significance of the Wise Men’s Gifts”).

A priest is seen as a mediator between people and God.

The priests in the Old Testament would perform religious rites on behalf of the people.

The priestly class would perform all the religious rites in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple.

We must understand that Jesus is the ultimate priest, the only mediator between man and God.

This job belongs to Jesus, not Mary, not any other human.

Jesus is the priest who can sympathize with us; He knows our weaknesses and understands our struggles!

Hebrews 4:15 (NET 2nd ed.)

15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus is the only way to God.

John 14:6 (NET 2nd ed.)

6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

You do not need some fancy religious formula; you do not need to wear any secret clothing; you do not need someone in a pious-looking outfit to connect with God.

All you need is Jesus!

In Christ alone, we have access to God!

Jesus died on the cross to the great gulf between people and God that sin created can be closed!

Jesus is the bridge.

There is nothing hidden.

Any person or group telling you that you need to follow some secret formula is a false teacher, and you should run away as quickly as possible!

The wise men’s gift of frankincense symbolizes that Jesus is our High Priest!

Let’s look at verses 11-12 again.

Matthew 2:11–12 (NET 2nd ed.)

11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.

III. Gold for a King!

The last of the gifts is gold. Gold in biblical times meant wealth, but it also had royal connotations.

Robert Hampshire observes that “the gold points to Jesus’ royalty, the frankincense to his divinity, and the myrrh to his humanity.”

The gifts of the wise men tell who Jesus is “in a tangible way” (Hampshire, “What Is the Significance of the Three Wise Men and Their Gifts?”).

Psalm 72:15 shows us that gold was to be offered to a king.

Jesus is king!

What is a king?

A king is a man who has authority over a people based on his lineage and often a claim to the divine right of rule.

Jesus is the ultimate King, the ultimate and final authority!

When you look at the three gifts given to Jesus, they are royal gifts worthy of a king.

Who is your king?

Who is the ultimate authority in your life?

Who died for your sins?

MY KING JESUS!

Who died and rose again on the third day?

MY KING JESUS!

Who will forgive your sins and make you whole?

MY KING JESUS!

Who is seated at the right hand of the Father?

MY KING JESUS!

Who will we all stand before one day?

Philippians 2:9–11 (NET 2nd ed.)

9 As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name, that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth—

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

MY KING JESUS!

CAN I GET AN AMEN CHURCH FAMILY?

CONCLUSION

In the beginning, I told you of my fond memories of going downtown to see Santa.

At that time in my life, I was all about gifts!

The wise men brought gifts and worshiped Jesus for who he was.

This is the essence of true worship—honoring Christ for who he is and being willing to give him what is valuable to you.

We see in their lives a pattern for worship:

They entered.

They had prepared for their journey, studied, and sought out Jesus.

They bowed.

They humbled themselves in the presence of their superior.

They acknowledged his authority.

They gave.

They gave expensive and sacrificial gifts out of respect and honor for the child king.

They worshiped.

They recognized God’s guidance in bringing them and attested to Jesus’ royalty.

They exalted Jesus as the rightful king.

They obeyed.

Their worship was not empty.

They followed the guidance they received from God.

Worship God because He is the perfect, just, and almighty Creator of the universe, worthy of the best you have to give. (Life Application Commentary- Matthew)

Over time, my joy has shifted from getting gifts (which I still love) to giving gifts.

Jesus has given me the gift of eternal life, and I want to strive to give Him my life daily!

Application Point: Which gift do you identify with the most regarding how you view Jesus?