Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - Part 3

                                                         

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

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 meal offering 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.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." - Hebrews 4:14

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. (Matthew 16:21, 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

As the priests would eat the shewbread with the bitter frankincense, we are to crucify our sinful nature.

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

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