The passage describes the story from the Bible in Matthew 2:1-12 of the magi following a star to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. It explains the symbolic meaning of the gifts: gold was for the king, frankincense for God, and myrrh for the sacrificial savior. When we direct our hearts to worshipping Christ as our treasure, we will find great joy this Christmas.

1. Matthew 2:1–12Matthew 2:1–12

2. Where is your heart directed this
Christmas?

3. Where is your heart directed this
Christmas?
When we direct our hearts towards
Christ, we experience pleasure in
worshiping the one who is our
treasure.

4. Matthew 2Matthew 2
1 Now after Jesus was born in1 Now after Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judea in the days ofBethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, magi from the eastHerod the king, magi from the east
arrived in Jerusalem, saying,arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2 “Where is He who has been born King2 “Where is He who has been born King
of the Jews? For we saw His star in theof the Jews? For we saw His star in the
east and have come to worship Him.”east and have come to worship Him.”

5. Genesis 1:15 Then God said, "Let there beGenesis 1:15 Then God said, "Let there be
lights in the expanse of the heavens tolights in the expanse of the heavens to
separate the day from the night, and letseparate the day from the night, and let
them be for signs and for seasons and forthem be for signs and for seasons and for
days and yearsdays and years
Numbers 24:17 A star shall come forth fromNumbers 24:17 A star shall come forth from
Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, AndJacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And
shall crush through the forehead of Moab,shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

6. Matthew 2Matthew 2
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was3 When Herod the king heard this, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 Gathering together all the chief priests and4 Gathering together all the chief priests and
scribes of the people, he inquired of themscribes of the people, he inquired of them
where the Messiah was to be born.where the Messiah was to be born.
5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea;5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea;
for this is what has been written by thefor this is what has been written by the
prophet:prophet:

7. 6 ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,6 ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERSARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS
OF JUDAH;OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULERFOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and
determined from them the exact time the stardetermined from them the exact time the star
appeared.appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go
and search carefully for the Child; and when youand search carefully for the Child; and when you
have found Him, report to me, so that I too mayhave found Him, report to me, so that I too may
come and worship Him.”come and worship Him.”

8. Micah 5: 2–5
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be
ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”

9. Therefore He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has borne a child.
Then the remainder of His brethren
Will return to the sons of Israel.
And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
This One will be our peace.

10. Matthew 2Matthew 2
9 After hearing the king, they went their9 After hearing the king, they went their
way; and the star, which they had seenway; and the star, which they had seen
in the east, went on before them until itin the east, went on before them until it
came and stood over the place wherecame and stood over the place where
the Child was.the Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they10 When they saw the star, they
rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11. Matthew 2Matthew 2
11 After coming into the house they saw the11 After coming into the house they saw the
Child with Mary His mother; and they fell toChild with Mary His mother; and they fell to
the ground and worshiped Him. Then,the ground and worshiped Him. Then,
opening their treasures, they presented toopening their treasures, they presented to
Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having been warned by God in a12 And having been warned by God in a
dream not to return to Herod, the magi leftdream not to return to Herod, the magi left
for their own country by another way.for their own country by another way.

13. The Worshipers Gave theThe Worshipers Gave the
Perfect GiftsPerfect Gifts

14. They Gave Gold to the KingThey Gave Gold to the King
You are a king, then!” said Pilate. JesusYou are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus
answered, “You are right in saying I amanswered, “You are right in saying I am
a king. In fact, for this reason I wasa king. In fact, for this reason I was
born, and for this I came into the world,born, and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth. Everyone on theto testify to the truth. Everyone on the
side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37

15. They Gave Frankincense to GodThey Gave Frankincense to God
Thomas answered and said to Him, “MyThomas answered and said to Him, “My
Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him,Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him,
“Because you have seen Me, have you“Because you have seen Me, have you
believed? Blessed [are] they who did notbelieved? Blessed [are] they who did not
see, and [yet] believed.” John 20:28,29see, and [yet] believed.” John 20:28,29

16. They Gave Myrrh to the SaviorThey Gave Myrrh to the Savior
Nicodemus, who had first come to HimNicodemus, who had first come to Him
by night, also came, bringing a mixtureby night, also came, bringing a mixture
of myrrh and aloes, about a hundredof myrrh and aloes, about a hundred
pounds [weight]. So they took the bodypounds [weight]. So they took the body
of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappingsof Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings
with the spices, as is the burial customwith the spices, as is the burial custom
of the Jews. John 19:39,40of the Jews. John 19:39,40

17. Perfect GiftsPerfect Gifts
Gold – for our KingGold – for our King
Frankincense – for our Divine High PriestFrankincense – for our Divine High Priest
Myrrh – for our Sacrificial SaviorMyrrh – for our Sacrificial Savior
We will find exceeding joy when weWe will find exceeding joy when we
offer worship to theoffer worship to the LordLord JesusJesus ChristChrist

18. Where is your heart directed this
Christmas?
When we direct our hearts towards
Christ, we experience pleasure in
worshiping the one who is our
treasure.