What are the gifts of the Wise Men?
The Gifts: The first gift is Gold. Did you ever wonder why Jesus was born in a stable or cave? In ancient times gold was the gift given to kings, not to a baby of a poor, unknown couple. But here is where we must give credit to the Wise Men for their knowledge of scriptures.
What are the benefits of the Wise Men's treasures?
But the wise men were truly wise! These plant-derived treasures best known for their use in incense and ancient rituals, boast proven antiseptic and inflammatory properties. They were once considered effective remedies for everything from toothaches to leprosy.
How many wise men were there?
Yet today those who worship Jesus are persecuted by men from the same area of the world!) The exact number of Wise Men is not known but since the Bible talks of three gifts that were presented, it is assumed there must have been three Wise Men, each bearing his own gift. Another unknown fact is the time of arrival of the Wise Men to Bethlehem.
Why did the Wise Men choose myrrh as a gift?
Yet, the “Wise” men chose myrrh as one of the gifts to Jesus. Let’s consider the reason for each of the gifts. First, there was gold. Gold was given to Jesus in recognition of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Frankincense was given to Jesus as our Great High Priest.
How much were the Magi gifts worth?
The Magi gifts were of great value, with some estimating the value of these items around $4 million by our standards. How much of the gold, frankincense and myrrh were given we are not told. We don't really know how many wise men came to see the Child.
How much is myrrh worth today?
Myrrh is produced as a resin from the Commiphora tree, native to Yemen, Ethiopia and Somalia. A pound of granular myrrh for incense sold by a vendor called New Age on Amazon.com runs $13.95.
How much gold did the 3 wise men give Jesus?
That means that the wise men's gift of gold to Jesus would have a purchasing power in 2007 of an astonishing US$39 million; no small present.
What happened to the gold frankincense and myrrh given to Jesus?
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.
How much was frankincense worth?
Today, alongside its medicinal and cosmetic uses, frankincense has found a surge in popularity as an essential oil, which in its purest form can be sold for as much as $6,000 per liter. Frankincense essential oil alone generated more than $190 million in 2018, and that's expected to exceed $406 million by 2028.
What is myrrh called today?
Myrrh gum is commonly harvested from the species Commiphora myrrha. Another commonly used name, Commiphora molmol, is now considered a synonym of Commiphora myrrha. Commiphora myrrha is native to Somalia, Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, (Somali Region of) Ethiopia and parts of Saudi Arabia.
What was the value of the gold frankincense and myrrh?
Equivalent to today's prices, a pound of frankincense was worth $500 a pound, and a pound of myrrh was $4,000. Today, each are priced at approximately $15 a pound. However, the value of a pound of gold was valued at $600, and in today's market, a pound of gold could cost 10 times that amount.
What happened to the wisemen?
In the Book of Matthew, the magi stopped at Herod's palace on their way to Bethlehem, and the king asked them to let him know where this newborn babe was, so that “I may also go and pay him homage.” But the magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and so they left for their own country by another road” and ...
Why was frankincense so valuable?
The sacred trees that produce Frankincense and Myrrh are almost impossible to grow outside of the Arabian Peninsula, which meant they were constantly in short supply and high demand. According to a famous Roman historian, the sap made the Arabians the richest people on earth by Jesus's time, more valuable than gold.
What happened to the gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus?
No one knows what happened to them. Matthew only tells us the wise men brought them. There is not another word in scripture that tells us what happened after that.
Was there a 4th Wise Man?
There is an old legend of a 4th Wiseman named Artaban. Like the other Magi, he sees signs in the heavens proclaiming that a King had been born among the Jews. And so, he sets out to see the newborn ruler, carrying treasures to give as gifts to the child - a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl of great price.
Which of the three kings was black?
Balthasar, king of Ethiopia or Saba, land of spices, was 40 and brought frankincense in a censer. He is traditionally depicted as black.
What gifts did the wise men give Jesus?
And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (NKJV) Most people are familiar with the story of the Wise Men who traveled from the East to present gifts to Jesus.
How many wise men were there in the Bible?
The exact number of Wise Men is not known but since the Bible talks of three gifts that were presented, it is assumed there must have been three Wise Men, each bearing his own gift. Another unknown fact is the time of arrival of the Wise Men to Bethlehem.
Why did the wise men give myrrh to Jesus?
Yet, the “Wise” men chose myrrh as one of the gifts to Jesus. Let’s consider the reason for each of the gifts. First, there was gold. Gold was given to Jesus in recognition of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Frankincense was given to Jesus as our Great High Priest.
How many people did Jesus raise from the dead?
While on earth Jesus raised three people from the dead. (The widow’s son, Jairus’s daughter, and Lazarus) Jesus was crucified at the third hour. There were three hours of darkness while He hung on the cross. Jesus arose on the third day so the number three stands for the resurrection.
What is the three divine numbers?
Three is known as the “Divine Number”. When on earth, Jesus represented the three divine entities of the Godhead: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The number Three is also significant in scripture in many ways: Three times a voice from heaven spoke to Jesus. Jesus is 1. The Way 2. The Truth 3. The Life (John 14:6)
Was gold a gift to kings?
In ancient times gold was the gift given to kings, not to a baby of a poor, unknown couple. But here is where we must give credit to the Wise Men for their knowledge of scriptures. These men were not Jewish sages from the Temple at Jerusalem nor Biblical scholars from other parts of Judah.
What was the third gift they brought?
The third gift they brought was myrrh, a valuable substance used to embalm the dead. Stop and think of the significance—bringing a child something used to embalm the dead? They recognized that this little one was born to die.
What did Jesus taste on the cross?
Upon the cross, they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh. But instead of tasting myrrh to numb His pain, Jesus tasted death for every man. Whether or not the wise men fully understood all this, the Holy Spirit impelled them to make these gifts and the Holy Spirit recorded them.
What was the gift of wealth for the King?
If gold was a gift of wealth for a king, then frankincense was used to worship the King. These wise men recognized the sinless deity of Jesus that was deserving of their worship. Matthew 2:11 says, "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh."
Why is gold a gift to a king?
Gold -- His Sovereign Dominion. Gold is a gift that would be presented to a king because it was the most precious metal of that day and it symbolized royalty. The wise men recognized that this baby born in a manger was no ordinary baby -- this was King Jesus! The wise men did not cuddle Him.
How many doves did the wise men give Jesus?
For example, when they brought Jesus into the Temple in Jerusalem to dedicate Him according to the ancient Jewish Law, they could only afford two doves for their sacrifice—the amount allowed only for the poor (see Leviticus 12:8). But when the wise men found Jesus, their gifts to Him must have almost overwhelmed Mary and Joseph—gifts ...
What happened to Herod after the wise men left?
The Bible doesn’t say— but immediately after the wise men leave, King Herod became filled with jealousy and fear, wondering if the child the wise men were seeking might turn out to be a rival who would take over his throne.
