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Was there any significance behind the three gifts the Magi brought?

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

The gifts are very significant and found throughout the Bible.

And she gave the king 120 talents of gold.. 1 Kings 10:10

GOLD: Kings wore crowns of gold and sat on thrones of gold. The most appropriate gift to give a king, as the Queen of Sheba gave Solomon, was gold. It had the highest value so it was given to one of great value.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. Exodus 30:34-36

FRANKINCENSE: Frankincense was an incense burned in the temple. As a fragrant offering, it connected heaven and earth, drawing God to his people.

He (Joseph of Arimathea) was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19:39-40

MYRRH: Myrrh was used as a gift and as an incense burned at the temple (mixed with the frankincense). It was associated with beauty, cosmetics and perfume (Esther bathed in it for six months before meeting the king). Because of its strong scent, it was used to “perfume” the dead bodies, keeping a deceased loved one smelling fresh.

Since he is a king, Jesus deserved the gift of GOLD.

Since he offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins, Jesus became the FRANKINCENSE, drawing God to his people.

Since he died so that many would live, Jesus’ death was being foretold in the MYRRH.

In an indirect way, the gifts speak of the return of Jesus Christ one day, proclaiming himself king, the ultimate sacrifice and the one risen from the dead.