When you think of the gifts that the wise men brought one can quickly name them; Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh. But have you ever thought of the forgotten gift that is never mentioned or even realized that there is a gift that is not talked about much? Ever stop to think why King Herod had a fit over only three wise men? As we look into the story found in Matthew chapter 2 the answer to these questions will be looked at.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;For out of you shall come a RulerWho will shepherd My people Israel.’”
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
First let's take a look at who the wise men are. Now if it was only 3 as in the song it is likely in the busy city of Jerusalem they might not get noticed, however; hundreds of year before Isaiah prophesied about this event. We see in :
Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.
That there was multitude which would be more than 3 camels and they came from Sheba which was like the Roman Empire and covered a vast area including Babylon. Being from Babylon they would have been aware of Daniel and his teachings of the birth of the Messiah. Notice that even the gifts that they were to bring were prophesied about even the forgotten gift.
By now you are probably wondering what the forgotten gift is. Back in Matthew we see that once they saw the Child they fell down and worshiped Him. In Isaiah it was foretold that they would proclaim the praises of the LORD. Before they even opened their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, they offered up the gift of worship as they has said they had come to do.
So this Christmas let's give the gift that counts, the gift of worship to Jesus our Lord and King.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;For out of you shall come a RulerWho will shepherd My people Israel.’”
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
First let's take a look at who the wise men are. Now if it was only 3 as in the song it is likely in the busy city of Jerusalem they might not get noticed, however; hundreds of year before Isaiah prophesied about this event. We see in :
Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.
That there was multitude which would be more than 3 camels and they came from Sheba which was like the Roman Empire and covered a vast area including Babylon. Being from Babylon they would have been aware of Daniel and his teachings of the birth of the Messiah. Notice that even the gifts that they were to bring were prophesied about even the forgotten gift.
By now you are probably wondering what the forgotten gift is. Back in Matthew we see that once they saw the Child they fell down and worshiped Him. In Isaiah it was foretold that they would proclaim the praises of the LORD. Before they even opened their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, they offered up the gift of worship as they has said they had come to do.
So this Christmas let's give the gift that counts, the gift of worship to Jesus our Lord and King.