The Bible

 

Matthew 2:1-12 : The Visit of the Wise Men

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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,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Commentary

 

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.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Doctrine of the Lord #38

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38. The Lord is called Jehovah. This is apparent from the following:

...thus said Jehovah, your Creator, O Jacob, and your Maker, O Israel: “...for I have redeemed you.... ...I am Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1, 3)

I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. (Isaiah 43:15)

Thus said Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker.... (Isaiah 45:11, cf. 45:15)

...that all flesh may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 49:26)

...that you may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16)

...Jehovah...your Maker from the womb.... (Isaiah 49:5)

...O Jehovah, my rock, and my Redeemer! (Psalms 19:14)

Thus said Jehovah, your Maker, and your Former from the womb.... Thus said Jehovah, the King of Israel, and its Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts.... (Isaiah 44:2, 6)

Our Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 47:4)

“With everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you.” Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:8)

Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of Hosts is His name. (Jeremiah 50:34)

Jehovah (God) is my rock, my fortress, and...the horn of my salvation..., my Savior.... (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

...said Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.... (Isaiah 43:14, 48:17)

Thus said Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, His Holy One...: “Kings shall see....” (Isaiah 49:7)

I...am Jehovah, and besides Me there is no Savior. (Isaiah 43:11)

Have not I, Jehovah? And there is no other God besides Me, (and)...a Savior, there is none besides Me. Look to Me, that you may be saved, all you ends of the earth! (Isaiah 45:21-22)

I am Jehovah your God..., and...there is no Savior besides Me. (Hosea 13:4)

You have redeemed me, O Jehovah, God of truth. (Psalms 31:5)

Let Israel hope in Jehovah; for with Jehovah there is mercy, ...with Him is abundant redemption. He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities. (Psalms 130:7-8)

...Jehovah of Hosts is His name, and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)

In these passages Jehovah is called Redeemer and Savior, and because the Lord alone is the Redeemer and Savior, it is the Lord who is meant by Jehovah.

[2] That the Lord is Jehovah, or in other words, that Jehovah is the Lord, is apparent also from the following:

A Rod shall come forth from the stem of Jesse, and an Offshoot out of his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him.... (Isaiah 11:1-2)

It will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him to save us. This is Jehovah, for whom we have waited; we will rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of Jehovah; make smoothe in the desert a highway for our God.... (For) the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it....” Behold, the Lord Jehovih is coming in strength, and His arm shall rule for Him. (Isaiah 40:3, 5, 10)

I, Jehovah...will...give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles.... I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.... (Isaiah 42:6-8)

Behold, the days are coming...when I will raise to David a righteous offshoot, (who) shall reign as king and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.... And this is His name by which they will call Him: Jehovah Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:5-6, cf. 33:15-16)

You, Bethlehem Ephrathah..., out of you shall come forth to Me One to be Ruler in Israel.... He shall stand and give pasture in the strength of Jehovah.... (Micah 5:2, 4)

...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called...God, Hero, Father of Eternity...., upon the throne of David..., to establish it and found it with judgment and justice, from that time on and even to eternity. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Jehovah will go forth and fight against the nations.... And...His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem.... (Zechariah 14:3-4)

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you doors of the world, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and a hero, Jehovah a hero of war. (Psalms 24:7-10)

In that day Jehovah of Hosts will become a crown of adornment and a miter of beauty to the remnant of His people. (Isaiah 28:5)

...I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great...day of Jehovah. (Malachi 4:5)

And so on elsewhere in places that mention the great and coming day of Jehovah, such as Ezekiel 30:3, Joel 2:11, Amos 5:18, 20, Zephaniah 1:7, 14-15, 18.

  
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Published by the General Church of the New Jerusalem, 1100 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 19009, U.S.A. A translation of Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Domino, by Emanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772. Translated from the Original Latin by N. Bruce Rogers. ISBN 9780945003687, Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954074.