The Gifts of Christmas: Frankincense

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12

Many years ago there was a Christmas play at our church in which I played a wiseman. We had to sing "We Three Kings", and, of course, it was videoed. All along, that video would get played, and there would be plenty of laughing about my performance. I hated the song "We Three Kings" for many, many years. The verse I sang was the verse that says, "Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh, Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship Him, God most high".

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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 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.

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12

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Frankincense comes from the resin of a tree. It is used as a perfume and essential oil. However, in the Old Testament, it had a different uses. One use was that it was used with a meat or meal offering. Another use of the Frankincense was that it was put on the Shew Bread in the Tabernacle, and later the Temple. This bread was in the first chamber of the tabernacle called the Holy Place. There were twelve cakes or loaves on the table; one for each tribe. Only the priests could enter the Holy Place and only the priests could eat the shew bread when the cakes were changed out.

The gift of frankincense speaks of Jesus as our High Priest. The writer of Hebrews said:

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

It is the work of Jesus as our high priest that gives us access to the Father. He intercedes on our behalf to the Father when we pray. Having been a man and tempted with the same sins that we are tempted with, He understands our weaknesses, and yet He did not sin. Being sinless, He does not have to offer a sacrifice for His own sins because He has none. The shew bread speaks of Jesus being the "bread of life" (John 6:35). As the bread of life, Jesus fills our spiritual hunger so that we never hunger again. Frankincense was put on the bread in the tabernacle that represented Jesus. It was a sweet smelling savor to the Lord, just as Jesus's sacrifice was.

Father, we are so thankful for the access to You that we have through Jesus. We are grateful that He is our Intercessor. Our words are so feeble and fall short of what they should be. It is good to know that Jesus speaks on our behalf and makes our prayers worthy of Your ears.