Sermons on Matthew 2:10-11
The various sermons below interpret Matthew 2:10-11 by focusing on the symbolic significance of the gifts brought by the Magi, particularly myrrh and frankincense. They commonly highlight the prophetic nature of these gifts, suggesting that they foreshadow Jesus' roles as king, high priest, and suffering servant. Myrrh is often interpreted as symbolizing Jesus' sacrificial death, while frankincense represents his holiness and priestliness. The sermons also emphasize the holiness of God, using the Greek word "hagios" to describe God's separateness and purity, which is mirrored in Jesus' life and mission. Additionally, the theme of Jesus' kingship is explored, with sermons underscoring his supreme authority as the "King of all kings" and contrasting his unexpected kingship with worldly expectations of royalty.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present unique nuances in their interpretations. One sermon emphasizes Jesus as the anointed one, focusing on the multifaceted role of Jesus as prophet, priest, and king, with myrrh symbolizing purification and sanctification. Another sermon highlights Jesus as the ultimate high priest, emphasizing his once-and-for-all sacrifice that satisfies God's justice and extends mercy. A different sermon explores the dual nature of God as both just and merciful, emphasizing the cost of forgiveness and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice. The theme of Jesus' kingship is also approached differently, with one sermon challenging personal priorities and responses to Jesus' authority, while another emphasizes the unexpected nature of Jesus' kingship as an expression of God's love, demanding worship and surrender.
Matthew 2:10-11 Interpretation:
The Profound Significance of Myrrh in Christ's Journey (TheChurch Estrella) interprets Matthew 2:10-11 by focusing on the symbolic meaning of the gifts, particularly myrrh. The sermon highlights that myrrh, often used for embalming, symbolizes Jesus as the suffering servant and the Lamb of God, who was born to die for the forgiveness of sins. This interpretation emphasizes the prophetic nature of the gifts, suggesting that the Magi's offering of myrrh foreshadowed Jesus' sacrificial death.
The Christmas Gift: Jesus as Our High Priest (Church of the Harvest) interprets Matthew 2:10-11 by emphasizing the symbolic significance of the gifts brought by the Magi. The sermon highlights that the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not only valuable but also spiritually significant, foreshadowing Jesus' roles as king, high priest, and suffering servant. The pastor uses the Greek word "hagios" to explain the holiness of God, which means "separate" or "other," and connects it to the holiness of Jesus as represented by the gift of frankincense.
Frankincense: The Holiness and Compassion of Christ (CBC Northwest) offers a similar interpretation, focusing on the symbolic meaning of the gifts. The sermon explains that frankincense represents the priestliness and holiness of Jesus, as it was used by priests during sacrifices. The pastor also uses the Greek word "hagios" to describe God's holiness and emphasizes that understanding God's holiness is crucial to understanding the significance of sin and the need for Jesus' sacrifice.
Recognizing Jesus: The King of Kings (CBC Northwest) interprets Matthew 2:10-11 by emphasizing the kingship of Jesus. The sermon uses a series of cultural references to various "kings" in popular culture to highlight that Jesus is the King above all kings. This interpretation underscores the unexpected nature of Jesus' kingship, contrasting it with worldly expectations of royalty.
Embracing Jesus' Kingship: A Call to Worship (Church of the Harvest) also focuses on the kingship of Jesus, interpreting the gifts of the Magi as prophetic symbols of Jesus' future roles. The sermon highlights the Greek linguistic emphasis in 1 Timothy 6:15, where Paul describes Jesus as the "King of all kings," noting that this is the strongest possible way to communicate Jesus' supreme authority.
Matthew 2:10-11 Theological Themes:
The Profound Significance of Myrrh in Christ's Journey (TheChurch Estrella) presents the theme of Jesus as the anointed one, the Messiah, who fulfills the roles of prophet, priest, and king. The sermon explains that myrrh's antiseptic properties symbolize the purification and sanctification of Jesus, setting him apart as holy. This theme is distinct in its focus on the multifaceted role of Jesus as both a spiritual and sacrificial leader.
The Christmas Gift: Jesus as Our High Priest (Church of the Harvest) presents the theme of Jesus as the ultimate high priest who fulfills the roles of sacrifice and intercession. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' sacrifice was once and for all, satisfying God's justice and extending mercy to humanity. The pastor also highlights the importance of understanding God's holiness to fully grasp the significance of sin and the need for Jesus' sacrifice.
Frankincense: The Holiness and Compassion of Christ (CBC Northwest) explores the theme of God's holiness and the sinfulness of humanity. The sermon emphasizes that understanding God's holiness is essential to understanding the cost of forgiveness and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice. The pastor also highlights the dual nature of God as both just and merciful, and how Jesus' sacrifice satisfies both aspects.
Recognizing Jesus: The King of Kings (CBC Northwest) presents the theme of Jesus' kingship as a challenge to personal priorities, asking whether individuals are against, dismissive, or worshipful of Jesus as King. This theme is explored through the lens of personal response to Jesus' authority.
Embracing Jesus' Kingship: A Call to Worship (Church of the Harvest) introduces the theme of Jesus' kingship as an unexpected and unusual expression of God's love. The sermon emphasizes the idea that Jesus' kingship demands a response of worship and surrender, contrasting it with the dismissive attitudes of the religious leaders and the opposition of Herod.
Matthew 2:10-11 Historical and Contextual Insights:
The Profound Significance of Myrrh in Christ's Journey (TheChurch Estrella) provides historical context by explaining the use of myrrh in ancient times, particularly its role in embalming and as a perfume. The sermon also references the historical practice of anointing kings and priests with myrrh, linking it to Jesus' anointing as the Messiah. Additionally, the sermon mentions the cultural significance of myrrh in the story of Joseph and its use in the embalming of Jesus, highlighting its historical and cultural relevance.
The Christmas Gift: Jesus as Our High Priest (Church of the Harvest) provides historical context by explaining the role of the high priest in the Old Testament, who made sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins and prayed on behalf of the people. The sermon also describes the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the use of frankincense in the tabernacle as a symbol of the prayers of God's people rising to heaven.
Frankincense: The Holiness and Compassion of Christ (CBC Northwest) offers historical insights into the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, explaining the role of the high priest and the significance of the Day of Atonement. The sermon also describes the use of frankincense in the tabernacle and its symbolic representation of the prayers of the people.
Recognizing Jesus: The King of Kings (CBC Northwest) provides insight into the expectations of the Jewish people for a Messiah, noting that they anticipated a king born in a palace, surrounded by wealth and luxury. This historical context highlights the unexpected nature of Jesus' humble birth.
Embracing Jesus' Kingship: A Call to Worship (Church of the Harvest) discusses the cultural expectations of a king during Jesus' time, noting that the Jews expected a savior born in a palace. The sermon contrasts this with the reality of Jesus' birth in a cave, emphasizing the unexpected nature of God's plan.
Matthew 2:10-11 Cross-References in the Bible:
The Profound Significance of Myrrh in Christ's Journey (TheChurch Estrella) references several biblical passages to support its interpretation of Matthew 2:10-11. It cites Genesis 37 and 43, where myrrh is mentioned in the story of Joseph, and Exodus 30, which describes the use of myrrh in the anointing oil for the Tabernacle. The sermon also references Isaiah 53, which prophesies the suffering servant, and John 19, where Nicodemus brings myrrh for Jesus' burial. These references are used to illustrate the prophetic and sacrificial significance of myrrh in the biblical narrative.
The Christmas Gift: Jesus as Our High Priest (Church of the Harvest) references Hebrews 10 to explain Jesus' role as the ultimate high priest and the significance of his sacrifice. The sermon also cites Hebrews 4:14 to emphasize Jesus' understanding and sympathy for human weaknesses, as he faced the same testings but did not sin.
Frankincense: The Holiness and Compassion of Christ (CBC Northwest) references Hebrews 4:14 to highlight Jesus as the great high priest who understands human weaknesses. The sermon also cites Hebrews 10 to explain the transition from the old covenant of animal sacrifices to the new covenant established by Jesus' sacrifice.
Recognizing Jesus: The King of Kings (CBC Northwest) references 1 Timothy 6:15, where Paul describes Jesus as the "King of kings and Lord of lords." This passage is used to emphasize Jesus' supreme authority over all creation.
Embracing Jesus' Kingship: A Call to Worship (Church of the Harvest) also references 1 Timothy 6:15, highlighting the Greek linguistic emphasis on Jesus' supreme authority. The sermon uses this passage to underscore the idea that Jesus is the ultimate King above all earthly rulers.
Matthew 2:10-11 Christian References outside the Bible:
The Profound Significance of Myrrh in Christ's Journey (TheChurch Estrella) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Matthew 2:10-11.
The Christmas Gift: Jesus as Our High Priest (Church of the Harvest) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in the discussion of Matthew 2:10-11.
Frankincense: The Holiness and Compassion of Christ (CBC Northwest) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in the discussion of Matthew 2:10-11.
Recognizing Jesus: The King of Kings (CBC Northwest) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Matthew 2:10-11.
Embracing Jesus' Kingship: A Call to Worship (Church of the Harvest) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Matthew 2:10-11.
Matthew 2:10-11 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
The Profound Significance of Myrrh in Christ's Journey (TheChurch Estrella) uses a story about a sheep walking off a cliff, followed by others, to illustrate the biblical metaphor of humans as sheep in need of a shepherd. This secular illustration is used to emphasize the sermon's point about human fallibility and the need for Jesus as a guiding shepherd.
The Christmas Gift: Jesus as Our High Priest (Church of the Harvest) uses a humorous illustration about receiving practical baby gifts like diapers and snot suckers instead of gold, frankincense, and myrrh at a baby shower. The pastor also shares a story about a young minister wearing an old choir robe as an illustration of Jesus' sacrifice and the exchange of righteousness.
Frankincense: The Holiness and Compassion of Christ (CBC Northwest) uses a humorous illustration about essential oils, comparing frankincense to a "Swiss Army knife" of oils with many practical uses. The pastor also shares a story about a shepherd in Turkey whose sheep followed each other off a cliff, illustrating the witlessness of sheep and humanity's tendency to stray.
Recognizing Jesus: The King of Kings (CBC Northwest) uses a series of cultural references to various "kings" in popular culture, such as the Lion King, King Kong, Burger King, and King James (LeBron James), to illustrate the concept of kingship and to contrast these with the kingship of Jesus.
Embracing Jesus' Kingship: A Call to Worship (Church of the Harvest) uses similar cultural references, including B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and King Kong, to illustrate the concept of kingship and to emphasize that Jesus is the King above all kings.