The Importance of Gold, Frankinscence and Myrrh

Intro

Matthew 2:1–11 (KJV 1900)

1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Beth-lehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 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.

What is the importance of the gifts given to Jesus?

Gold (precious metal… symbol of divinity… royalty… showing Jesus as King)

Frankincense (burned as a worship to God… similar to a burnt offering… showing Jesus as High Priest)

Myrrh (a grave burial spice… picture of death… pictured of a life poured out… showing Jesus as sacrifice)

1. Gold

a.) Gold was brought to kings as gifts

(QUEEN OF SHEBA to KING SOLOMON)

1 Kings 10:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

(TOU KING OF HAMATH TO KING DAVID)

1 Chronicles 18:10 (KJV 1900)

10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.

Of course Jesus was and is a king…

b.) Gold = value

It is used as life and sustenance

You can use it to make purchases

1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV 1900)

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The gold that was laid at Baby Jesus’ feet at His birth was the symbol that His body would be the precious payment for our sins at the cross…

c.) It was willingly offered to the LORD

(MOSES TAKES AN OFFERING OR THE TABERNACLE BUILDING)

Exodus 35:22 (KJV 1900)

22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.

LORD = Jehovah God

d.) Gold is a gift

Matthew 2:11 (KJV 1900)

11 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.

Jesus is a gift

Romans 6:23 (KJV 1900)

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

e.) Gold is the finished product of temptations and testings

Job 23:10 (KJV 1900)

10 But he knoweth the way that I take:

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

f.) At the Judgement Seat of Christ, gold is one of the precious metals that last through the fire

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (KJV 1900)

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2. Frankincense

a.) Used to make an incense that is “pure and holy” - a picture of holiness

Exodus 30:34–38 (KJV 1900)

34 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. 37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord. 38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

b.) Used for an offering made unto the LORD of sweet savour

Leviticus 2:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 And when any will offer a meat offering unto the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: 2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord:

This offering was pleasing to God

Mark 1:11 (KJV 1900)

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

c.) It wasn’t allowed to be used in the sin offering

Leviticus 5:11 (KJV 1900)

11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.

d.) It was placed on the bread on the table of shewbread as a memorial

Leviticus 24:7 (KJV 1900)

7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

Done in the tabernacle as part of worship to God

3. Myrrh

a.) Used as a Holy Anointing

Exodus 30:22–30 (KJV 1900)

22 Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, 24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. 26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. 30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

b.) Used as a purifying agent

Esther 2:9 (KJV 1900)

9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

c.) Used as an embalming spice for a burial

John 19:38–40 (KJV 1900)

38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were all used in the old testament tabernacle…

Gold: plated and overlaid on many items…

Frankincense: used to make an incense that is “pure and holy” and placed on the shewbread as a memorial…

Myrrh: used to make a holy anointing oil to anoint the ark of the covenant and other items in the tabernacle, to include Aaron and his sons (Levitical priests)

What is the importance of the gifts given to Jesus?

Gold (precious metal… symbol of divinity… royalty… showing Jesus as King)

Frankincense (burned as a worship to God… similar to a burnt offering… showing Jesus as High Priest)

Myrrh (a grave burial spice… picture of death… pictured of a life poured out… showing Jesus as sacrifice)