The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn king. Gold, of course, was valuable as currency. Frankincense is a valuable perfume. Myrrh is a precious ointment often used in the burial process.
What did Mary and Joseph do with the gifts?
What did Jesus do with his gold, frankincense and myrrh – surely very valuable gifts that would have set him up for life? ... An alternative tradition holds that Mary and Joseph used the gold to pay for the stable, the frankincense to perfume it and the myrrh as an ointment for the new-born baby.
Which king brought which gift?
In time the personages of the Three Kings were embellished with details. Gaspar, king of Tarsus, land of merchants, was a youth of 20 and brought myrrh in a gold-mounted horn . Balthasar, king of Ethiopia or Saba, land of spices, was 40 and brought frankincense in a censer. He is traditionally depicted as black.
What did the wise men's gifts represent?
Each one represents one aspect of Jesus. Gold represents his kingship , frankincense was a symbol of his priestly role and myrrh, an anointing oil used in preparation for a burial, which prefigures his sacrificial death.
What wise men brought what?
The magi knelt down for the baby Jesus and “offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh .” Their gifts are possibly an allusion to Isaiah's vision of nations rendering tribute to Jerusalem: “A multitude of camels shall cover you.
What gift did Gaspar bring?
According to Western church tradition, Gaspar is often represented as a king of India and is usually said to have given the gift of frankincense to the Christ Child. In art he is frequently depicted with a reddish beard.
What is the symbolic meaning of gold frankincense and myrrh?
It has also been suggested that, In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself— gold representing his kingship , frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of ...
What was myrrh used for in the Bible?
Myrrh was an ingredient of Ketoret: the consecrated incense used in the First and Second Temples at Jerusalem, as described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud. ... Myrrh is also listed as an ingredient in the holy anointing oil used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests and kings .
What was frankincense and myrrh used for in the Bible?
As per the Biblical tale, as recounted in Matthew 2:1-12, an infant Jesus of Nazareth was visited in Bethlehem on the eve of his birth by Magi bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ... Frankincense was often burned as an incense , while myrrh made its way into medicine and perfume.
What happened to the gifts given to Jesus?
One legend says the thieves crucified with Jesus had stolen the gold given him at birth . Another says that Judas was made custodian of the gifts and he sold them and pocketed the money. There is a story that the myrrh given to Jesus as a child was used in his burial.
What is the difference between frankincense and myrrh?
Frankincense and myrrh are both resins extracted from trees in the Burseraceae family, also known as the torchwood or incense family. Frankincense comes from the dried sap of Boswellia trees, while myrrh comes from the lifeblood of the Commiphora.
How old was Mary when Jesus was born?
All About Mary
However, now we believe that Mary and Joseph were both in their teens when Jesus was born, around sixteen and eighteen respectively . This was the norm for Jewish newlyweds at that time. Please keep watching for more details about the life of Mary.
Was there a 4th Wise Man?
In the mountains of ancient Persia , lived Artaban, whose study of the planets and the stars led him to predict the birth of the King of Kings. ...
What gift did Melchior bring?
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.
What is the significance of frankincense?
The symbolism of frankincense
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.
What did Jesus use frankincense for?
Frankincense is the gum or resin of the Boswellia tree, used for making perfume and incense . It was one of the ingredients God instructed the Israelites to use in making the pure and sacred incense blend for the most holy place in the tabernacle.
