Matthew 2:11

‘And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and paid him homage, and opening their treasures they offered to him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.'

And then, having made enquiries, they came to the house where the young child was, and saw Him with Mary His mother. And they fell down before Him and paid Him homage, opening up their treasures and offering Him gold and frankincense and myrrh (compare Isaiah 60:6; Psalms 72:10; Psalms 72:15). Note how Joseph, who has been prominent all the way through chapter 1 is here kept out of sight. All the homage, and even worship, was for the young child. There were eyes for no one but Jesus only. Mary is only introduced because He was on His mother's knee, being little more than a year old. To have introduced Joseph would have been to distort the picture and detract attention from Jesus. Mary is only mentioned because she was the necessary framework so as to emphasise that the young child was an infant (note her description as ‘His mother' and the ‘Him' --- ‘Him'). The centre of attention had to be kept on Jesus.

(Any suggestion that this non-mention of Joseph therefore indicates another ‘source' is to miss the point completely. Whatever sources there may have been they cannot be found by this means).

‘They offered to him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.' These were three of the greatest portable treasures that the world could afford, and all three were involved in Israel's worship. But gold is the delight of the hearts of men, indicating kingship and wealth; frankincense (Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20) was used in worship and for perfuming king's palaces; and myrrh is what sweetens men and women in both life and death (Genesis 37:25; Genesis 43:11; Esther 2:12; Psalms 45:8; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 1:13; Song of Solomon 3:6; Song of Solomon 4:6 etc.; Mark 15:23; John 19:39). They are in the end simply illustrations of luxury gifts fit for a King. Frankincense is an odiferous resinous gum coming from certain trees growing in Arabia, India and Somalia. Myrrh is similar and is found in Arabia and Ethiopia. It is noteworthy that there is no verse in Scripture where all three are brought together as gifts, apart from here. Had Matthew simply wanted to deliberately imitate Scripture he would surely have chosen alternatives about which he could find a quotation.

We may close our dealings with the passage by emphasising its significance.

· While the most important men in Jewry ignored the coming of the Messiah, apart from the godly who were waiting for the consolation of Israel, learned but anonymous men from afar, guided by God, came to seek Him, putting them to shame. We are reminded of the words of John, ‘He came to His own world and His own people did not receive Him' (John 1:11).

· Those who had the knowledge of the Scriptures, but were hardened in their views, took no note of them, while the nameless Magi who heard them afresh and did not claim them as God's Law, responded to them. As with the tax-gatherers and sinners later, it was the unexpected who sought Jesus. ‘I am enquired of by those who asked not for me; I am found of those who sought me not; I said, Behold me, behold me, to a nation which was not called by my name' (Isaiah 65:1).

· While the Jews on the whole did not allow themselves to be stirred by the arrival of the Magi, except in the wrong way, the interest of these Gentiles themselves only increased more and more, an indication of what was to follow in Acts as many Jews were apathetic while many Gentiles were eager to learn about Jesus.

· God had made even the creation itself bear witness to the advent of His Son. The very stars cried out to all who would hear, and added their testimony to His coming (we might add, ‘and all the sons of God shouted for joy').