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Matthew 2:1

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1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

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Christmas Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

By New Christian Bible Study Staff

The Adoration of the Magi, a Design for Bas Relief.

In the Christmas story, the wise men bring gifts to the Lord: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The gold is listed first, because it is the inmost - signifying good, e.g. the good that we do when we love the Lord and the neighbor.

The frankincense is next. It signifies rational truth, which is the set of true ideas that we know, not about external things like cars or cooking, but about what is really good, and what is really true.

These rational truths are built on earlier knowledges that we learn, before we have really made them our own. Those early knowledges about spiritual things - often learned in childhood - are represented by the myrrh.

In a way, these gifts are really a reciprocation. We can't actually give them to the Lord until the Lord has given them to us. We necessarily start out by learning and doing the Lord's law (myrrh). The Lord can then call up those memories to become rational truths (frankincense). Then, over time, and with effort, those truths can be transformed into good (gold). The wise men from the East had gone through this process of learning and becoming vessels that could receive truths and goods. They were able to perceive the Lord's birth, and find him, and bring gifts to him.

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Scriptural Confirmations # 5

  
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5. 3. Ye are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption; according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2).

For other foundation can no man lay more than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:11-12 seq.).

All are yours; but ye are Christ's; but Christ is God's (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).

We know that there is no other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many and lords many, yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him (1 Corinthians 8:4-6). They drank from the spiritual Rock, the Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).

The head of every man is Christ, the head of Christ is God (1 Corinthians 11:3).

As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, proclaim ye the Lord's death till He come (1 Corinthians 11:26).

No one can say that Jesus is the Lord but in the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Ye are the body of Christ, and members in part (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Christ was seen by many after the resurrection, and in addition to the apostles by five hundred (1 Corinthians 15:4-7).

Christ is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).

God who gave the light in our hearts, to the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God which is in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

God hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

Ye know not your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you (2 Corinthians 13:5).

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.