3 Gifts
In Matthew chapter 2 the wise men brought gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. These represent 3 major orders that Jesus fulfills.
Gold- Is symbolic of kingship. The wise men tell Harod before they go that they are going to see the child who is born King of the Jews. The Gospel according to Mathew is focused on the fulfillment of the prophesies of the King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Matt 2:6 quotes the prophesy that this king would be born in Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. That is the reason for the big list of names that no one ever reads, to prove that Jesus fulfills this role.
Frankincense- Is an incense which is symbolic of prayer. This represents Jesus as High Priest, who intercedes (prays for the forgiveness of sins and offers a Sacrifice) to The Father on our behalf. Revelation 8:1-5 speaks of how prayer rises up to The Father like the smell of incense burning. Leviticus chapter 16 tells about how the high priest uses incense while making atonement for the people of God. Psalm 141:2 say let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
Myrrh- A burial perfume that was put on the bodies of the dead. This is symbolic of Christ as our Sacrifice; that he would die for our sins. Remember later (in John 12) Mary anoints Jesus with Myrrh before his death. Then after the crucifixion Joseph and Nicodemus anoint his body before they place him in the tomb. (John 19:38)
In Hebrews 7 it explains all three of these. It speaks of Jesus as fulfilling the order of Melchizedek, who was King and High Priest. then about Jesus it says:
Hebrews 7:26-27 ESV
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Gold- Is symbolic of kingship. The wise men tell Harod before they go that they are going to see the child who is born King of the Jews. The Gospel according to Mathew is focused on the fulfillment of the prophesies of the King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Matt 2:6 quotes the prophesy that this king would be born in Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. That is the reason for the big list of names that no one ever reads, to prove that Jesus fulfills this role.
Frankincense- Is an incense which is symbolic of prayer. This represents Jesus as High Priest, who intercedes (prays for the forgiveness of sins and offers a Sacrifice) to The Father on our behalf. Revelation 8:1-5 speaks of how prayer rises up to The Father like the smell of incense burning. Leviticus chapter 16 tells about how the high priest uses incense while making atonement for the people of God. Psalm 141:2 say let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
Myrrh- A burial perfume that was put on the bodies of the dead. This is symbolic of Christ as our Sacrifice; that he would die for our sins. Remember later (in John 12) Mary anoints Jesus with Myrrh before his death. Then after the crucifixion Joseph and Nicodemus anoint his body before they place him in the tomb. (John 19:38)
In Hebrews 7 it explains all three of these. It speaks of Jesus as fulfilling the order of Melchizedek, who was King and High Priest. then about Jesus it says:
Hebrews 7:26-27 ESV
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.