Preparing for the Promise - Gifts
Notes
Transcript
Background on the “Wise Men”
Background on the “Wise Men”
Magoi - great (or powerful) ones
Indicates that they were in a high position or influence
Kings
Priests
Occupied with the secrets of nature, astrology, and medicine
Daniel became the president of an order similar to them in Babylon -
Several references throughout the OT about men like these
Gifts for a King
Gifts for a King
Gold - The metal of kings
Gold was the proper gift for “king of men”
When gold was presented to Jesus by the men of Persia, it was an acknowledgment of his right to rule.
When gold was presented to Jesus by the men of Persia, it was an acknowledgment of his right to rule.
Gold was the metal of kings
Boice, J. M. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (p. 31). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
In Persian culture - where the wise men were from - you could not approach a king without a gift.
In Persia, where the wise men came from, you could not approach a king without a gift
Boice, J. M. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (p. 31). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.In Persia, where the wise men came from, you could not approach a king without a gift
When gold was presented to Jesus by the men of Persia, it was an acknowledgment of his right to rule.
Gold was the proper gift for “king of men”
Frankincense - Used in temple worship
Mixed with oil used to anoint the priests of Israel
Blended into the meal offerings that were presented to the priests as thanksgiving and praise gifts to God
The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, (Matthew 1–17), Volume 1: An Expositional Commentary Incense: The Worship of God
In presenting incense, the wise men, either intentionally or unintentionally, pointed to Christ as our great High Priest, the one whose entire life was pleasing to his Father.
The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, (Matthew 1–17), Volume 1: An Expositional Commentary Incense: The Worship of God
presenting incense, the wise men, either intentionally or unintentionally, pointed to Christ as our great High Priest, the one whose entire life was pleasing to his Father.
Myrrh - Used in embalming
The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, (Matthew 1–17), Volume 1: An Expositional Commentary Incense: The Worship of God
In presenting incense, the wise men, either intentionally or unintentionally, pointed to Christ as our great High Priest, the one whose entire life was pleasing to his Father.
Just as gold spoke of Christ’s kingship and incense spoke of the perfection of his life, myrrh spoke of his death.
By any human measure it would be odd, if not offensive, to present a spice used for embalming at the birth of a child.
But it was not offensive in this case, nor was it odd.
for embalming at the birth of a child. But it was not offensive in this case, nor
It was a gift of faith.
was it odd. It was a gift of faith.
“Gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, myrrh for one that was to die—these were the gifts of the wise men, and, even at the cradle of Christ, they foretold that he was to be the true King, the perfect High Priest, and in the end the supreme Savior of men.”
So What Do These Gifts Have to Do With Me?
So What Do These Gifts Have to Do With Me?
Myrrh represents the impending death of Jesus
Myrrh represents the impending death of Jesus
Jesus came to this world with the specific purpose of being the supreme sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus was our perfect sacrifice
Our sins have been wiped away
This could also represent the dying of our sins in Jesus
We bring our sins to him
He purifies them
Myrrh was a crude anesthetic sometimes used to deaden pain
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
It is because of this sacrifice that our sins have been washed away!
Frankincense is the representation of our worship to Jesus
Frankincense gave the sacrifice it’s pleasing odor
It was never mixed with sin offerings, only praise offerings
Our gift of incense is to know that Jesus was the end of our sin
That we are free and in that freedom we worship him wholeheartedly!
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
He has removed our sins from us
All he desires is our worship!
Gold is the gift fitting for a King
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
We are a gift fit for a king!
We present our lives to him cleansed from our sins because of his death
Standing before him completely changed
This is how we worship Jesus!
Go has created us all with unique gifts
I have a unique set of skills...
We are simply offering back to God what he has blessed us with
Giving our bodies in sacrifice to him!
Where Do We Go From Here?
Where Do We Go From Here?
Our daily worship to God is to present ourselves, our talents, our abilities completely to Him
He gave his son for our sins
Our lives have been purified
Now it is time to present them back to him!
What has God given you?
Are you presenting your gifts to Him wholeheartedly?
Meditate -
Ask - How can I present my life that is fit for a king?