“Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
—Matthew 2:11
The story of the wise men is familiar to us, especially at Christmas. We picture exotic travelers, following a star across deserts, finally arriving at a humble home to worship a child. Yet Matthew lingers on a small but profound detail: they opened their treasure chests.
What they offered was not random. These gifts were intentional, costly, and deeply symbolic. Together, gold, frankincense, and myrrh tell us who Jesus is—and what it means to truly worship Him.
Gold: A Gift for a King
Gold has always been associated with royalty. It represents wealth, authority, and power. By offering gold, the wise men acknowledged that this child was no ordinary baby. He was a King.
This is striking when we remember where they found Him—not in a palace, but in an ordinary home, born into a poor family. True worship often requires faith to see beyond appearances. The wise men recognized kingship where others saw obscurity.
Gold asks us a question: Who truly rules our lives?
To worship Jesus as King means surrendering our ambitions, plans, and priorities to His lordship. Worship is not just admiration; it is allegiance.
Frankincense: A Gift for God
Frankincense was a fragrant resin used in temple worship. It was burned as incense before God, symbolizing prayer, devotion, and the presence of the divine.
By offering frankincense, the wise men were making a remarkable statement: this child was not only King, He was God. In Jesus, heaven had come near. God had taken on flesh.
This gift reminds us that worship is at the heart of our response to Christ. Jesus is not merely to be followed or admired—He is to be adored. Our prayers, songs, obedience, and daily devotion rise to Him like incense.
Frankincense asks us: Is my worship intentional and costly, or casual and convenient?
Myrrh: A Gift for a Suffering Savior
Myrrh is the most sobering of the gifts. It was used in embalming and burial, often associated with suffering and death. This gift quietly points ahead to the cross.
From the beginning, the shadow of the cross fell across the cradle. Jesus was born not only to reign, but to suffer and die for the salvation of the world. The wise men’s gift reminds us that the story of Jesus cannot be separated from sacrifice.
Myrrh asks us: Are we willing to follow Christ not only in blessing, but in cost?
True discipleship includes surrender, self-denial, and trust—even when the path leads through suffering.
Opening Our Treasure Chests
Matthew tells us that the wise men opened their treasure chests. Worship always involves opening what we value most. God is not impressed by the size of our gifts, but by the posture of our hearts.
The wise men offered:
- Gold — their wealth and allegiance
- Frankincense — their worship and devotion
- Myrrh — their acknowledgement of sacrifice and redemption
In doing so, they teach us that worship is holistic. We worship Jesus as King, God, and Savior.
A Final Thought
The wise men traveled far, risked much, and gave generously—yet they received far more than they offered. They encountered the living Christ.
As we reflect on their gifts, perhaps the more important question is not what did they bring to Jesus? but what are we bringing to Him today?
May we, like the wise men, open our treasure chests—and bow in worship before the King.
