And in this case, that wealth was likely used to help the family escape to another nation. Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin that is still widely used in parts of the Middle East and Africa today. 3 Reasons the 'Christmas Star' of 2020 Is Bringing So Much Hope, Amazing Children's Choir Sings 'I Can Only Imagine', The Thrill of Hope - Advent Devotional - Dec. 2, God Sees Your Value - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - December 3. Both frankincense and myrrh are derived from the gummy sap that oozes out of the Boswellia and Commiphora trees, respectively, when their bark is cut. The frankincense presented to Jesus would have been the incense, and the myrrh would have been in the form of oil. In ancient culture, myrrh was used as an antiseptic to clean and treat wounds, help stop bleeding, and to treat hay fever. Frankincense and myrrh were both highly valued in first century culture, noting a gift that was special yet also held practical value as an oil for Jesus and perhaps His family members. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense ) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Though the Bible’s account of the wise men’s visit is relatively straightforward, it can be viewed from many different angles. And as it is today, gold was a valued commodity in the ancient world. Why Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Were Given to Baby Jesus. 4 Ways I've Seen God's Presence in the Pandemic, 1 Thing You Never Learned about the Christmas Story, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2020, Crosswalk.com. Frankincense (along with myrrh) is perhaps best known in connection with spirituality. Myrrh is a fragrant spice derived from the sap of a tree native to the Near East. The primary significance of the gifts lay in their great value—they were indeed gifts fit for a king. Under the Old Covenant, the Most Holy Place (also known as the Holy of Holies) was an inner sanctuary within the Temple where the priest would encounter the presence of God and offer a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. In the book of Matthew 2:11, it reads, “After coming into the house … When burned as incense, it creates a strong and beautiful aroma. He is born a King. Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable. Perhaps the best known of these is in the Christian bible, where myrrh is described as one of the three gifts given by the Magi to the newborn baby Jesus. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Frankincense, a vegetable resin, brittle, glittering, and of a bitter taste, used for the purpose of sacrificial fumigation. This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. As evidenced by the account of Simon Magus in Acts 8, such men who “practiced magic” were contemporaries of Jesus and his disciples in and around Palestine. Myrrh speaks of His death. Article Images Copyright ©. Among the types of assets listed in the Bible (e.g., precious metals, livestock, servants, gemstones, etc. It burns for a long time, with a steady flame. By bringing a gift of gold, the wise men showed that they did indeed consider Jesus a king. Since the early days of Christianity, Biblical scholars and theologians have offered varying interpretations of the meaning and significance of the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the magi presented to Jesus, according to the Gospel of Matthew (2:11). What are frankincense and myrrh? One of the clearest examples of this picture is found in Isaiah 60, a scene describing an age to come when the nations would be drawn to the glory of Israel—“nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3). After the Babylonian captivity, remnants of Jewish culture lingered in that region and it’s likely that Hebrew Scriptures were among the sacred writings these wise men studied in their pursuit of wisdom. In addition to underscoring the royalty of Jesus, some have noted that the wise men’s gift of gold may have foreshadowed another aspect of Jesus’ ministry. Frankincense has a woody aroma and may offer several health benefits, including potential cancer-fighting properties. History and tradition have done their part to fill in the details regarding these visitors, including their number, names, and the timing of their arrival. The Magi also brought a gift of gold, symbolizing that the infant was a king. If you’re wondering what use an infant would have for these gifts, you’re not alone. It was also sometimes … Whether or not you want to read deeper theological meaning into them, one thing that is certain is that these were significant gifts intended to show great honor to King Jesus. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering. Both frankincense and myrrh are gum resins that are extracted from shrub-like trees in the Burseraceae family, which grow in dry climates across parts of Asia and Africa, including India, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Somalia. Not gonna lie it was probably handy to have around … The ancient Egyptians burned it as an offering to Ra, the sun god. One aspect of the visit that has largely escaped alteration is the list of gifts presented to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. (Matthew 2:11) . Frankincense and myrrh are perhaps best known for their biblical connotations. Myrrh is the sap of the Commiphora trees that are also native to the region around the Gulf of Aden. Though we don’t have a record of such, it is reasonable to think that the valuable gifts Mary and Joseph received from the wise men may have financed the family’s flight to Egypt. Thus, it’s not surprising that they made their way to Christmas stories—not to mention their roots in the Middle East and Africa, where Christianity set its roots. For thousands of years, practitioners of traditional medicine have valued frankincense and myrrh for their potent healing properties 1. Both frankincense and myrrh have healing properties that can help people emotionally, vibrationally, and spiritually. Why Do Some People Claim That Christmas Is a Pagan Holiday? Frankincense was used lavishly in religious rites. History of December 25thThe Birth of Jesus: Bible Story and Scripture VersesChristmas Bible Verses & Scripture StoryChristmas Prayers, Photo credits in order of appearance: ©Pexels/Tookapic, Â©Unsplash/JackT, ©Pixabay/xbqs42, ©Pixabay/Leo_65, Â©Unsplash/GarethHarper, Â©Unsplash/JakubJacobsky, ©Pexels/InbalMalca, 10 Things Christians Should Know about Marijuana, 10 Family Movies about the True Meaning of Christmas, Just Drop the Blanket: The Moment You Never Noticed in. Because of its scarcity and immense value, gold was particularly associated with royalty and nobility, as is seen in 1 Kings 10 when the Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon bearing great quantities of gold as a gift. Frankincense definition, an aromatic gum resin from various Asian and African trees of the genus Boswellia, especially B. carteri, used chiefly for burning as incense in religious or ceremonial practices, in perfumery, and in pharmaceutical and fumigating preparations. It’s possible that the wise men who visited Jesus hailed from this area, which would explain their familiarity with the Old Testament prophesy of the “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). History of December 25th, The Birth of Jesus: Bible Story and Scripture Verses, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His life. Also by Scott James on Crosswalk: The History and Meaning of the Advent Calendar. Isaiah 53:5). The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering. Gold speaks of His birth. The primary significance of the gifts lay in their great value—they were indeed gifts fit for a king. The story of the nativity is actually a blend of both the gospels of Luke and Matthew. Log in, 11 Unusual Facts about the Magi in the Bible », 23 Yummy Thanksgiving Dips You Can’t Stop Eating, 25 Christian Leadership Quotes That Will Make You A Dynamic Leader, Grow in Faith with These 15 Friendship with God Quotes, 70+ Powerful Bible Verses about Friendship, 27 Powerful Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quotes That Will Inspire You. With no hint of a backstory, Matthew simply introduces us to the travelers with, “behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem....” But who were these men? Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. Since they are closely related, their healing characteristics are fairly similar, with a few notable differences. These valuable gifts were clearly intended to honor Jesus, but it’s possible they carried deeper theological significance as well. It is combined with such herbs as notoginseng , safflower petals, angelica sinensis , cinnamon , and salvia miltiorrhiza , usually in alcohol, and used both internally and externally. However, without venturing too far off into extrabiblical speculation, it’s reasonable to draw a few possible inferences from the gifts brought by the wise men. Often an anointing oil. Understanding History, Origin and Traditions, When Was Jesus Born? In fact, it’s been used in religious rites and traded in the Arabian Peninsula, Mesopotamia, and the eastern Mediterranean for over 6,000 years. Burning incense at the altar was a key part of the sacrificial system prescribed by God for use in the Tabernacle and, later, in the Temple itself. The nations would come, but they wouldn’t be empty-handed: “they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord” (v. 6). All three gifts reveal thought-provoking implications that related to Jesus’ life and ministry. Learn more. Here are 5 science-backed benefits of frankincense — as well as 7 myths. If you’re wondering what use an infant would have for these gifts, you’re not alone. Much like frankincense, myrrh is not an herb but a resin, and appears with some relevance in a number of religious and spiritual contexts. It is the starting point for any mixture you feel like doing; it is the incense par excellence. These fragrant incense pieces come from the Burseraceae family of trees and are found across the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Myrrh can be used to make perfume, turned into oil, or used as medicine. Just like the first two gifts, there is a Temple connection with myrrh as well. Myrrh is thought to unite heaven and Earth … In the end, these wise men gave what they had to show their devotion to Jesus as the new king. He is the author of two family worship books (The Expected One: Anticipating All of Jesus in the Advent and Mission Accomplished: A Two-Week Family Easter Devotional) as well as the illustrated children's book The Littlest Watchman. For a family of humble means, a trip of this magnitude would be difficult to pull off. Myrrh definition is - a yellowish-brown to reddish-brown aromatic gum resin with a bitter slightly pungent taste obtained from a tree (especially Commiphora abyssinica of the family Burseraceae) of eastern Africa and Arabia; also : a mixture of myrrh and labdanum. Myrrh was also a product of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. In fact, these same three items were apparently among the gifts, recorded in ancient inscri… Putting this all together, the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that the wise men offered to Jesus symbolize giving our entire self to Jesus Christ: The gift of gold = offering the love in our hearts to Jesus. Perhaps the wise men intended this gift as an indication of Jesus’ humanity and the manner in which he would save his people—namely, that he would die for them (cf. In fact, these same three items were apparently among the gifts, recorded in ancient inscriptions, that King Seleucus II Callinicus offered to the god Apollo at the temple in Miletus in 243 B.C.E. In the ancient near east, the cost of frankincense precluded it from being used as a common household air freshener. Photo credits in order of appearance: ©Pexels/Tookapic. All rights reserved. It is a famous and crucial resin with incomparable esoteric magic virtues that is made to exude, support for every kind of magical or religious practice. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘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 rulerwho will shepherd my people Israel.’”, Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
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