The Significance of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for His honor
And frankincense for His pleasure
And myrrh for the cross He will suffer

These are some of the lyrics from the Downhere song, “How Many Kings,” sung during the 2023 Message and Music services at our Wexford campus. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. What is the significance of these gifts given to the newborn Savior of the world?

Gold

Gold is a precious metal that represents holiness and honor, and gold is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible. Immediately after the creation account in Genesis, we see gold along the Pishon River, flowing out of the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:10-12). Then we read that Abraham becomes wealthy with gold in Genesis 13 and 24, and that Joseph is adorned with a gold chain around his neck by Pharoah in Genesis 41.

In the book of Exodus, we read that God instructs the artisans to construct His dwelling place, the Tabernacle, out of many items of gold, including the lampstand of pure gold along with curtain clasps, frames, decorations, and the breastplates for the priests. Why is gold the preferred metal for all these sacred items? Exodus 28:36 tells us why. “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord.” Precious gold sets items and people apart as holy to God, and gold gives honor to them.

The Bible begins and ends with references of gold. Amazingly, the prophetic book of Revelation refers to gold no less than 22 times! In the first chapter of Revelation, we see among the seven golden lampstands, “someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest” (Revelation 1:13). This King Jesus is such a brilliant vision for the apostle John that he falls at the Son of Man’s feet in holy reverence. This mirrors the presentation of the gift of gold to the toddler Jesus from the bowing Magi from the east (Matthew 2:11). Gold is a gift given to honor Jesus, and this precious metal is worn by Jesus, King of Kings!

Frankincense

Frankincense is a fragrant incense, and it is specifically mentioned 7 times in the Bible. When the different types of offerings are described in Leviticus, God instructs the priests of Aaron to prepare grain offerings with flour, olive oil and incense to burn on the altar as a food offering, “an aroma pleasing to the LORD”. (Leviticus 2:3) This is the most holy part of food offerings to the LORD.

In Exodus 30:34-35, the LORD tells 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.” This ground powder is placed in front of the ark of the covenant, where God promises to meet with Moses in this most holy place.

Perhaps this is a picture of what the Psalmist is describing in Psalm 141:2, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” The sweet aroma of Frankincense is pleasing to God, and our prayers are a sweet-smelling sacrifice to Him. God takes pleasure in these gifts! Miraculously, the Magi knew what a pleasure this gift would be when they bowed down and gave it to the little boy Jesus! (Matthew 2:11)

Frankincense given to Jesus was symbolic because He revealed Himself on earth as the Priest for mankind. Finally, frankincense is listed with other valuable items like gold, silver, precious stones, costly ivory, and spices that merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over as lost when Babylon falls in the end times. (Revelation 18:11-13) Myrrh is also included in this list of precious cargo.

Myrrh

Myrrh is a valuable spice mentioned 17 times in the Bible, and it seems to serve several purposes, including myrrh-infused anointing oil, preferred perfume for royalty, and an ingredient for embalming the dead.

Myrrh is mentioned in Genesis 37, where we read about the caravan of Ishmaelite traders carrying myrrh on their camels, who took Joseph to Egypt when his brothers sold him. This is significant because it shows that myrrh was expensive and precious since it had to be gathered from far-off regions and transported by camel caravans.

In Exodus, God instructs Moses to mix cinnamon, calamus and cassia with myrrh in the liquid form to make anointing oil for Aaron and the priests. “Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.” (Exodus 30:25) In the book of Esther, we see young women using myrrh for their beauty treatments in preparation of being introduced to King Xerxes. (Esther 2:12)

Myrrh is mentioned several times in the Song of Songs as an irresistible perfume. And then we see myrrh as added to the wine offered to Jesus on the cross in Mark’s gospel. He was offered myrrh-infused wine as he hung on the cross, yet Jesus refused to receive it as He suffered on the cross for our sins! (Mark 15:23) Christ the Prophet was crucified for revealing Himself to be God’s Son.

Finally, myrrh is mentioned as mixed with aloes in the embalming solution for the linen strips that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus used to wrap Jesus’ dead body in accordance with Jewish burial customs. (John 19:39)

Conclusion

Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Each of the gifts given by the Magi to the Christ child have a symbolic meaning as He is revealed to the world as King, Priest, and Prophet. Gold honors Jesus because it represents that He is Christ the King. Frankincense pleases Jesus as it is used to worship Him, and it reveals that He is Christ the High Priest. Myrrh is a perfume used to anoint dead bodies, and it is symbolic of His death for the sake of the truth, as Christ the Prophet. 

Considering the special gifts given to Jesus causes me to pause and think about their significance this Christmas season and compels me to bow down and worship Jesus, our Prophet, Priest, and King!