Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh part 2

What is frankincense?

Frankincense is a white resin burned as fragrant incense. It is first mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 30:34 when the LORD told Moses to make a perfume, pure and holy, to put before the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle. The frankincense, along with three fragrant spices, was to be only for the LORD. (Exodus 30:34-38).

It appears that because frankincense was to be only for the LORD, the wise men offering frankincense to the young child Jesus was symbolic that Jesus is the LORD. (John 14:7-10, Colossians 1:15).

Frankincense was also placed on meal offerings to the LORD. The priests, Aaron’s sons, took his handful of the flour, the oil, with all the frankincense, and would burn the memorial of it upon the altar to the LORD. (Leviticus 2:1-3)

As the remnant of this offering with frankincense was for the high priest Aaron and his sons, the wise men offering frankincense to Jesus, points to Jesus being our High Priest.

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." - Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV

Frankincense was also placed on the shewbread, which was placed in the holy place by the altar of incense and the golden menorah. The shewbread was renewed every week and would be eaten by the priests. It is said that the frankincense gives the shewbread a bitter taste.

Here we see the frankincense pointing to the bitterness of suffering of Christ, the Bread of Life that was offered for our sins. (John 6:48).

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." - John 6:51 KJV

Jesus experienced the bitterness of extreme pain and suffering of lashes and then crucifixion. As the priests would eat the shewbread with the bitter frankincense, we are to follow Jesus and crucify our sinful nature. (Matthew 16:21).

"Knowing this, that our old man [our old sinful lifestyle] is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6 KJV

We do this by repenting of our sins, being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, to live a new life in Jesus. (Acts 2:38-39).