Gifts for the Greatest Servant

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. 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. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Introduction

Boxing Day

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older British tradition where the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families since they would have had to serve their masters on Christmas Day. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Until the late 20th century there continued to be a tradition among many in the UK to give a Christmas gift, usually cash, to vendors, although not on Boxing Day as many would not work on that day.

St Stephen's Day

The first Christian martyr

Acts 7:59–60 ESV

59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

We are looking at gifts given to the greatest servant.

1 - The Wise Men v1-2

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Matthew 2:1–2 ESV

Daniel 12:4 ESV

4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Dare to Stand Alone: Daniel Simply Explained The End of the World

This does not mean that the things revealed to Daniel were to remain a secret. The old Persian custom was that once a book had been copied and publicly circulated, one copy was sealed and placed in the library. This was so that future generations could read it. It is important to note that was done only once the book had begun to enjoy a wide readership.

Daniel’s last prophetic act was thus to ensure that what was revealed to him was known, not only by his own generation, but by generations to come. It is not God’s will that men and women of any time should be ignorant of the final outcome of history. He wants all to know what lies ahead.

2 - Consternation v3-4

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Matthew 2:3–4 ESV

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Herod became a paranoid tyrant, worried that he would lose his kingdom. The fortresses he built reflect this paranoia, as they provided refuge when he felt threatened. Josephus recorded Herod’s execution of his two sons due to rumours of mutiny: “He also sent his sons to Sebaste, a city not far from Caesarea, and ordered them to be there strangled … And this was the end of Alexander and Aristobulus” (Josephus, Jewish War, 1.27.6). Winstead, M. B. (2016). Herod the Great. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

3 - Chief Priests and Scribes v5-6

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Matthew 2:5–6 (ESV) (Micah 5:2)

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

4 - Hypocrisy v7-8

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Matthew 2:7–8 ESV

5 - Great Joy v10

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Matthew 2:10 ESV

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

6 - Worship v11a

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Matthew 2:11 (ESV)

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him.

It is that little child upon whom the main interest is concentrated. This is as it should be, for in this little one God has become incarnate:

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the Incarnate Deity. (Charles Wesley)

How much of this truth the wise men understood we do not know. We do p 171 know, though, that on seeing him they cast themselves to the ground and worshipped him; literally, “and having fallen they prostrated themselves before them.” They revere him as the Messiah, the king of the Jews. Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Vol. 9, pp. 170–171). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

7 - Gifts v11b

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Matthew 2:11 (ESV)

11 Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

a. Gold

To begin with gold, it is striking how often in Scripture this precious metal is indeed associated with royalty: Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Vol. 9, p. 172). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

1 Kings 10:14 ESV

14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

[20 tons]

b. Frankincense

As to frankincense, in by far the most of the cases in which this word occurs in the Old Testament it is mentioned in connection with the service of Jehovah. Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Vol. 9, p. 173). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Exodus 30:34–35 ESV

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.

Exodus 30:37 ESV

37 And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord.

Revelation 5:8 ESV

8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

c. Myrrh

As to myrrh, in the more than a dozen Old Testament passages where the word occurs it is mentioned in connection with the service of Jehovah in only one instance. It enters into the composition of anointing oil (Exod. 30:22–33). For the rest, as has already been indicated, it was a perfume used by and in the interest of mortal man, to make his life more pleasant, his pain less dreadful, and his burial less repulsive. Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Vol. 9, p. 173). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

John 19:39–40 (ESV)

39 [Joseph of Arimathea] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

8 - Warning v12

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Matthew 2:12 ESV

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

9 - Servant

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Isaiah 42:1 (ESV)

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

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Isaiah 53:11 (ESV)

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

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Mark 10:45 (ESV)

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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John 13:3–5 ESV

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Conclusion

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Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

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Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should 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.

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