The Gifts of the Wise Men

An article by John Welsh republished in the Deseret News recently discusses why the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were such appropriate gifts to give the Savior.  He detailed the symbolism and connections to the temple associated with the gifts which were likely “given by priests to their new high priest.”  The gifts of the wise men symbolically “prepared Jesus… to offer the ultimate sacrifice as the new and everlasting high priest.”  Surely we can indeed view the gifts as carrying with them a great message about the Savior’s mission and status as the “great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14). 

                As I was reading today the account in Matthew 2 of the wise men, though, I realized that there are perhaps some other very practical reasons that the wise men gave these gifts.  What we read in the gospels suggests that Mary and Joseph were poor: certainly if they had substantial means they would have been able to pay someone to provide them a place to sleep that night in Jerusalem.  Also, the offering of two turtledoves at the temple when Jesus was eight days old also seemed to indicate their lack of wealth.  The New Testament student manual explains it this way: “The law of Moses declared women to be ceremonially unclean after giving birth. To become clean, a new mother had to present a lamb at the temple for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering (see Leviticus 12:5–6). ‘And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles [turtledoves], or two young pigeons’ (Leviticus 12:8). That Mary presented turtledoves or pigeons instead of a lamb is evidence Jesus Christ was born to a mother of little material means.”  The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were surely a great blessing to this poor family, especially given their unexpected flight to Egypt.  It seems to me that Matthew was making this connection in the way he told the story: we read that “when [the wise men] were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt” (Mathew 2:13).  It was directly after they received the three gifts that the young family had to flee from Herod and make the arduous journey to Egypt, a trip of over 450 miles one way if they went to the current city of Cairo.  Much of that trip is across an unforgiving desert.  Surely to this family of little means the gold and expensive frankincense and myrrh were critical in providing them what they needed to buy food and materials on their journey.  Frankincense and myrrh apparently both have medicinal qualities and these may have been of great help to the travelers if they didn’t sell or trade the gifts along the way for needed essentials. 

                Nephi told us in connection with his own journey across the wilderness: “And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them” (1 Nephi 17:3).  Surely the Lord was providing means to Joseph to accomplish His commands when He sent wise men with valuable gifts before the trip to Egypt.  And perhaps those gifts we remember at Christmastime can be a reminder that the Lord will likewise provide for us in our difficult journeys when we follow His commands.