What did Jesus do with his gold, frankincense and myrrh - surely very valuable gifts that would have set him up for life? | Notes and Queries (2024)

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What did Jesus do with the gold, frankincense, and myrrh? ›

Each of these precious gifts has a symbolic meaning. Frankincense was used for worship in the Temple; it is symbolic of Christ the High Priest. Gold is symbolic of Christ the King. Myrrh a perfume, was used to anoint dead bodies, it is symbolic of His death for the sake of truth, and therefore of Christ the Prophet.

However, it is agreed three gifts were brought. The gifts, which the three men carried, were fit for a King. Equivalent to today's prices, a pound of frankincense was worth $500 a pound, and a pound of myrrh was $4,000.

Back in the time of Christ, and well into antiquity before, the resins were highly sought after for their healing properties. The resins can be ground into powder and burned as incense, applied on the skin, or ingested. Today they also can be taken in capsule form.

Their gifts had special symbolic meanings as well: gold signified Jesus' status as "King of the Jews;" frankincense represented the infant's divinity and identity as the Son of God; and myrrh touched upon Jesus' mortality.

The preacher will tell us that gold stands for the Christ child's kingly status, frankincense for his divinity, and myrrh for the anointing at his sacrificial death. That is all well and good, but again, there is nothing about it in Matthew's gospel.

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. This dates back to Origen in Contra Celsum: "gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to a God."

Used in religious and spiritual rituals for thousands of years, frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. Because it is so fragrant when burnt, it was used by ancient people as a religious offering. In Christian symbolism, frankincense can represent Christ's sacrifice.

Spiritual Meaning of the Magi Gifts. The ancient church understood that the three types of gifts clearly symbolize three key aspects of Christ's identity. The gold points to Jesus' royalty, the frankincense to his divinity, and the myrrh to his humanity.

By giving Jesus these three essential, holy and precious gifts, the wise men prepared Jesus, “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), to offer the ultimate sacrifice as the new and everlasting high priest, bringing eternal light, life and God's presence from heaven above to earth below.

The frankincense represents Jesus' deity. In the Old Testament, frankincense was traditionally burned in the temple as an offering to God (Leviticus 2:2). By bringing this gift, the Magi affirmed Jesus was no ordinary man; he is both fully man and fully God.

What did God use frankincense for? ›

Bible Facts

Frankincense was used in ancient Israelite temple worship as: An ingredient in the perfume of the sanctuary (see Exodus 30:34). An accompaniment to the meat offering, which was part of all burnt and peace offerings (see Leviticus 2:1, 16).

According to Western church tradition, Melchior is often represented as a king of Persia and is usually said to have given the gift of gold to the Christ Child. In art he is frequently depicted as the oldest of the three Magi, often with a long white beard.

The first gift of Christmas was a simple gift, a sacred gift. It wasn't gold or frankincense or myrrh. It was a gift of love and life and peace and hope given by a Father to all His children. For God so loved the world, and so loved you and you and you and every single one of us, He gave His Son.

Three wise men, or Magi as they were known, whose names were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, traveled a far distance to pay homage to Christ. They brought with them fine gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Three Kings Day, or El Dia de Reyes, remains an important holiday for Catholics.

The scent of myrrh is complex and difficult to describe. It is often described as having a balsamic, slightly spicy and slightly smoky odor. Some people say it has a note of undergrowth or dried earth. Its fragrance is resinous and rich.