Seamus Hammond
The gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh are well-known from the story of the three wise men, or magi, who bring these treasures to the infant Jesus. The gifts are mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew and have been interpreted in various ways over the centuries. The gold is a precious metal that represents holiness and honour, while frankincense is a fragrant gum resin used in incense and perfume, and myrrh is a resin used in incense, sacred oils, perfumes, and medicines. These valuable gifts were likely to have been given to honour Jesus as royalty, but they may also have carried deeper theological significance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gold | A precious metal that represents holiness, honour, royalty, incorruptible love, and enduring value. |
| Frankincense | An aromatic gum resin used as incense and perfume. It represents worship, divinity, and a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God. |
| Myrrh | A fragrant resin derived from the Commiphora tree, used in incense, perfumes, anointing oils, and embalming. It symbolises death, burial, and the gift of our willingness to serve Jesus Christ. |
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What You'll Learn
- Gold symbolises honour, royalty, incorruptible love and holiness
- Frankincense is a perfume and incense used in worship and to symbolise divinity
- Myrrh is a resin used in anointing oils, perfumes and embalming, symbolising death and humanity
- The gifts were fit for a king, and were also used to finance the Holy Family's escape to Egypt
- The three gifts together represent Jesus as King, God, and Man
Gold symbolises honour, royalty, incorruptible love and holiness
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are the three symbolic gifts that the Three Wise Men presented to Jesus upon his birth. The gold symbolises honour, royalty, incorruptible love, and holiness.
Gold is a precious metal that is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible. It is a gift given to honour Jesus, and it represents that he is Christ the King. In the Bible, gold is mentioned early on, along with the Pishon River, flowing out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:10-12). Abraham becomes wealthy with gold in Genesis 13 and 24, and Joseph is adorned with a gold chain around his neck by Pharaoh in Genesis 41.
Gold has always been a symbol of incorruptible love. In all ages, gold has served as an article and store of enduring value. Unlike silver, gold is highly resistant to oxidation and corruption. It is soft, warm, and beautiful, and it holds its value over long periods of time.
The gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought by the Three Wise Men were gifts fit for a king. These valuable gifts were intended to honour the newborn king, Jesus.
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Frankincense is a perfume and incense used in worship and to symbolise divinity
Frankincense is a highly prized aromatic gum resin derived from the sap of certain tree species native to the Middle East and Africa. It has been used for millennia as a key component in incense and perfume. In the ancient world, frankincense was extremely valuable due to its scarcity and its beautiful aroma. It was burned in temples and during religious ceremonies as a sacred offering to the gods.
Frankincense is mentioned in the Bible as one of the three gifts presented to Jesus by the Three Wise Men, alongside gold and myrrh. These gifts were fit for a king, and frankincense, in particular, was seen as a symbol of divinity. The burning of incense was closely associated with the worship of a deity, and so the inclusion of frankincense as a gift may have indicated that the Wise Men understood the prophecy of the newborn king to be a claim of divinity.
Frankincense is also believed to possess mystical and healing properties, promoting spiritual elevation and inner peace. It is often used in spiritual practices and healing rituals to symbolise purification and connection to the divine. The ancient Egyptians used frankincense in their embalming rituals, and it was also burned in temples to ward off disease and protect the inhabitants.
In addition to its symbolic and medicinal uses, frankincense has practical value. Its high worth made it a valuable resource that could be traded or sold. It was also used to create perfumes and anointing oils, and its anti-inflammatory properties are believed to offer relief from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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Myrrh is a resin used in anointing oils, perfumes and embalming, symbolising death and humanity
The three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were brought by the Magi to honour Jesus as a newborn king. Myrrh is a fragrant resin derived from the sap of the Commiphora tree, native to the Near East. It has been used in anointing oils, perfumes, and embalming.
Myrrh is symbolic of death and humanity. It was a key ingredient in the mixture of spices used to prepare bodies for burial. The gift of myrrh foreshadowed Jesus' death and the sacrifice he would make for mankind. It symbolised the power of Jesus over death, and his ability to turn death into life.
In the ancient world, myrrh was used as a perfume and anointing oil. It was also imbibed as a medicinal tonic. Myrrh is mentioned in the Gospel of John as one of the first things to be part of the life of Jesus.
The gifts of the Magi can be interpreted as symbols of Jesus' life and ministry. Gold symbolises royalty, frankincense symbolises divinity, and myrrh symbolises humanity. These gifts show Jesus as King, God, and Man.
The power of myrrh over death is also reflected in its ability to bring glory in heaven. It is seen as a sign of the union of Man and God, with myrrh linking the gold of humanity and the incense of divinity.
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The gifts were fit for a king, and were also used to finance the Holy Family's escape to Egypt
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are gifts that the Three Wise Men, or the Magi, presented to Jesus upon his birth. These gifts were fit for a king, and they were also used to finance the Holy Family's escape to Egypt.
Gold is a precious metal that has always been a symbol of incorruptible love and honour. It is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible, and its value has endured over the ages. As a gift to Jesus, it symbolises his royalty as the King of the Jews and Lord of Lords.
Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin that is burned as incense, creating a strong and beautiful aroma. In the ancient world, it was associated with the ceremonial worship of a deity. As a gift, it symbolises Jesus' divinity and foreshadows his role as the perfect sacrifice and mediator between humanity and God.
Myrrh is a fragrant spice derived from the sap or resin of the Commiphora tree, native to the Near East. It has been used for thousands of years in incense, perfumes, anointing oils, and medicines. In the context of Jesus' life, myrrh was used to prepare bodies for burial, symbolising his humanity and the sacrifice he would make for his people.
The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not only symbolic of Jesus' identity as King, God, and Man, but they also held great monetary value. After the Wise Men departed, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream, warning him of Herod's rage and instructing him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. For a family of humble means, this journey would have been difficult to finance. The valuable gifts received from the Wise Men likely provided the necessary resources for their escape, helping them to start a new life in a foreign land.
In conclusion, the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh honoured Jesus as a newborn king and held theological significance. They also served a practical purpose, providing the financial means for the Holy Family's escape to Egypt, where they found refuge and safety.
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The three gifts together represent Jesus as King, God, and Man
The three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were brought by the three wise men to honour the newborn king, Jesus. The gifts are symbolic and represent Jesus as King, God, and Man.
Gold is a precious metal that represents incorruptible love, royalty, and honour. It is a gift fit for a king, and in this case, it symbolises Jesus as King of the Jews and Lord of lords.
Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin that creates a strong and beautiful aroma when burned as incense. It was closely associated with the ceremonial worship of a deity in the ancient world. The wise men may have brought frankincense as a gift to indicate that they understood the newborn king to be divine. Frankincense also foreshadowed Jesus' role in bridging the gap between God and humanity, as it was used to worship God in temples. Thus, the gift of frankincense symbolises Jesus as God.
Myrrh is a fragrant resin derived from the sap or bark of a tree, native to the Near East. It was used in the ancient world for perfume, anointing oil, and embalming. Notably, myrrh was a key ingredient used to prepare bodies for burial. The gift of myrrh may have been an indication of Jesus' humanity and the manner in which he would save his people—that he would die for them. Therefore, the gift of myrrh symbolises Jesus as Man.
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Frequently asked questions
Gold is a precious metal that represents holiness and honour. Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin that is burned as incense, creating a strong and beautiful aroma. Myrrh is a fragrant resin derived from a tree that is used in perfumes and anointing oils.
The gold, frankincense and myrrh were gifts fit for a king, and honoured Jesus as royalty. Frankincense and myrrh also had spiritual significance, being used in temple rituals and pointing to Jesus' divinity and humanity.
The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolise the honour, worship and sacrifice that is due to Jesus as King, God and Man.
The gold, frankincense and myrrh were valuable gifts that could be traded or sold. They also had healing properties and could be used to care for the family's health.
