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Q3. Gifts for the Christ-Child


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Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child? How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude? What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

1. Why was it appropriate for the Magi to bring gifts to the Chirst-child?

It was appropriate because it showed their understanding of who he was.

2. How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude?

It showed that their treasures and the most expensive things they had were worth giving to their long awaited King.

3. What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

I'm sure whatever kind of gift you have is appropriate as long as it is given with the right attitude.

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  • 10 months later...
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Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child? How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude? What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

The gifts the Magi bring to the Christ child, tho extravigent for a child, were appropriate for a king. If thee gifts they bought were an indication, then this was a big deal in their hearts.

We are to give nothing but our ALL! All we have to offer...

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  • 1 month later...

Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child?

It would have been appropriate because the Magi came to see the King of the Jews....they had followed a star to Bethleham and would have wanted to bring gifts worthy of a King.

How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude?

They brought gold....the most valuable of metals...to show the value they placed on this experience. This would have been an import item...even back then. Frankincence was highly valued for embalming or religious rituals and was also expensive. Myrrh was a valued perfume and also used in anointing. I think their hearts were in the right place.....they gave all that they knew to be of high value for the baby King.

What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

It is needed for us to give Him our all.....our heart, our love, our devotion....our belief in His diety.

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Gifts of the Magi - Kings and leaders historically gave these kind of gifts to each other. They spoke of honor and respect for their Kingdom and position. Solomon received extravagant gifts which were declarations of honor and respect. These specific gifts were practical and prophetic. Gold acknowledges placing tangible value on this child king. Frankincense speaks of the child's position as worthy of worship. Myrrh speaks of the child's being anointed as God's Messiah.

We can learn from the Magi to give good gifts from the heart. Acknowledge in the giving of our substance that today Jesus is our Lord. We give our body and heart as an expression of worship to the Lord. He is the object of our worship today. We yield ourselves to receive His anointing and go forth as His ambassador to bring Messiah, Savior, to others.

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Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child? How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude? What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

Answer;

1 Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child?

The purpose of Magi

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  • 6 months later...

Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child?

Whenever foreign dignitaries would appear before a great king they would bring gifts as a sign of obeisance and honor. It was appropriate for the Magi as important people of rank and character to bring these gifts to Jesus, the Christ-child, and their king.

How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude?

The extravagance of their gifts reflects their heart attitude, because it showed their loyalty, that they honored Him and it showed the deep respect they had for Him.

What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

The appropriate gifts to bring to Jesus are our best.

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  • 1 year later...

"Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." (2:11b) These may seem inappropriate gifts for a baby, but as munificent gifts from distinguished personages appearing before a king, they would be considered quite appropriate, perhaps as specimens of the products of their country. Later Christian writers, including John H. Hopkins, Jr. who wrote "We Three Kings," have seen significance in gold for Christ's royalty, frankincense for his deity, and myrrh for his humanity, ultimately his burial.

Whenever foreign dignitaries would appear before a great king they would bring gifts as a sign of obeisance and honor. The gifts reflected the Magi's heart attitude that they were worshipping a King.

Following this example, our gifts to God and Jesus must be our very best, whether it is worship, praise or works.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Q3. (Matthew 2:11b)

Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child?

Because it was appropriate to bring gifts to a king or person of high honor that you were visiting.

How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude?

We are to give and do our best for God. Their gifts were to be the best of what they owned-just as the sacrificial lamb was to be the best lamb that a family owned.

What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

We are to do our best for God. We are to give our time, praise, worship and a portion of our money to God. God gave his best for us and still does. We are to serve others as Jesus served others.

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Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child? How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude? What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

It was appropriate for the Magi to bring gifts to the Christ-child because it was the custom to present gifts to a great king as a sign of obeisance and honor. The extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude because they were the best that could be given at that time. We should do likewise and give our best to God.

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Anyone visiting a foreign king would take gifts. This still happens today. For the Magi visiting the ultimate king, the messiah, no gift would have been too expensive. As it turns out those gifts would have come in for supporting Joseph and his family in their escape to Egypt. Again that sort of God inspired providence happens today. Hallelujah!

For us today nothing is too good to put before God an nothing is too insignificant. There is a carol which tells us to give him ourselves, just as we are.

Don't hold back it's Christmas

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  • 1 month later...

Q3. (Matthew 2:11b)

Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child?

How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude?

What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

a) The Magi recognized, even though Jesus was a small child, that they

were in the presence of the King of the Jews, the King of kings. By custom,

dignitaries from other countries would bring gifts as a sign of honor to a

great King.

B) The Magi gave the best of what they possessed. These gifts were fit

for royality, which Jesus was. "Per John H Hopings" : Gold for Christ's

royality, Frankincense for his diety, and Myrrh for Jesus humanity.

c) Gifts that are appropriate for us to bring include: Our best!, No matter

how seemingly insignificant, our prayers, our worship, and our heart full

of love and gratitude to the Lord.

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  • 9 months later...

It was a custom that whenever foreign dignitaries appeared before a great kind they would bring gifts.  Jesus was a great King.  Their gifts were appropriate to their station.  These gifts they brought were from their country and it was their best.  Our gifts although not as extravagant, would be the best we are able to do.  Our first fruits.  No skimming.  The best of what we have.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child? How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude? What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?
 

 

It was appropriate for  the Magi to bring gifts to the Christ- Child because they recognised him as a king and thus did that which was usually done for kings.

 

The extravagance of their gifts reflected their great regard and respect for a king that comes only from their heart since they did that on their own accord and willingly too.

 

The gifts of our hearts (our selves) are what are appropriate for the King of kings.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Jesus is the "new born" king so extravagant gifts are very fitting in showing honor and respect to someone this important. Their gifts show how much they admire and regard Jesus and the role He will play in human history.

We bring ourselves to God to do His will, we bring our love and praise to honor who He is and what He has done, and we bring back our gifts to be used to,further God's kingdom.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Gifts were usually brought when one had an audience with royalty. The magi considered the child Jesus to be royalty therefor the gesture was appropriate. I often  wonder if the magi considered it odd that the future messiah was born so humbly.

 

The magi were in awe of the messiah so they had brought such gifts.

 

Our gifts can only be like those of the drummer boy! But we can give as if we were partners of Jesus in his mission field.

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  • 1 year later...

Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child? How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude? What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

It was appropriate for the Magi to bring gifts to the Christ-child because they were honoring Jesus for who he is, and they gave that which was important to them and and valuable to them and thus worthy to give a King. The extravagance of their gifts reflected their heart attitude by their willing to give out of the abundance of their lives and we must not forget that they traveled a great distance to give these gifts, This showed the essence of true worship. the gifts that are appropriate for us to bring are a pure heart and true worship, and a love for God's people even if they are out of our comfort zone.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The Magi knew that Jesus was somebody important and they also thought of him as the King so they wanted to bring Him the best that they had just like any other king. You could tell that their hearts were in the right place because of the extravagance gifts. The gifts that are appropriate for us today is our gifts, tithes, offerings and our time.

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  • 3 years later...

Q3. (Matthew 2:11b) Why was it appropriate for the Magi bring gifts to the Christ-child? How does the extravagance of their gifts reflect their heart attitude? What kinds of gifts are appropriate for us to bring?

As a sign of obeisance and honor, it was customary for foreign dignitaries to bring gifts when they appear before a king. The Magi recognized Jesus to be the King of kings and it was appropriate that they bring gifts when they appeared before Him.

The gifts that they brought – gold, frankincense and myrrh – were very expensive. Each had prophetic significance. Gold was fit for royalty and it proclaimed that He is the King. Frankincense was used in worship in the temple and it spoke of Jesus being the Priest. Myrrh was used in embalming and as an anointing oil. Bitter to taste, it spoke that Jesus is the Prophet and that He was born to die. Apart from its prophetic significance, the extravagance of their gifts reflected their heart attitude of offering the best to the one worthy to receive them. Moreover unknowingly their gifts were a provision for Joseph, Mary and Jesus at the time of their greatest financial need. When they fled to Egypt because of Herod, God provided in a foreign country through these gifts. Had they not had this provision, they may not have gone to Egypt. Because of that flight a prophecy concerning Jesus was also fulfilled - Out of Egypt I called My Son.

We are to give ourselves completely to the Lord. Romans 12:1,2 says in J.B Philips version – With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

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  • 3 years later...

Q3. We must always bring our very best to Our Lord. The Magi did bring expensive and valuable gifts to Jesus. They appear to be inappropriate for a baby but they were useful to provide for the family’s stay in a foreign and strange country until it was safe to return to their own country. It doesn’t matter what we bring to Jesus as long as our heart attitude is right and it is the best that we can bring. 

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