Prophet, Priest, King- Matthew 2:9-12
Devotional
Day 1: From the East: Worship for All Peoples
The wise men remind you that what matters most is clear: God can draw hearts from far places to find Jesus and rejoice. They traveled, they saw the star settle over the child, and they burst into joy before they ever opened their treasures. They bowed low in worship, showing that this King is not only for one nation but for all peoples. Their story invites you to move—from curiosity to seeking, from seeking to kneeling, from kneeling to offering what you value most. Let your journey today end at Jesus’ feet with open hands and honest praise. [02:47]
Matthew 2:9–12
After meeting Herod, they continued on, and the same star they had first seen guided them until it paused above the place where the child was. Seeing it, their joy overflowed. They entered the house, found the child with his mother Mary, fell to the ground in worship, and presented their treasures—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they headed home along a different route.
Reflection: What is one “treasure” of time, attention, or resources you can lay at Jesus’ feet this week as a deliberate act of worship?
Day 2: Gold: Receiving the True and Better King
Gold announces royalty, and Jesus is the promised Son of David whose reign outlasts every throne. His kingdom is not built by force but by truth, righteousness, and peace that never runs out. He frees people from the dominion of sin and brings them into a kingdom that is both present and still arriving. You belong to this King as a citizen and an ambassador, living here with the priorities of there. Today, let allegiance replace anxiety and worship replace worry as you trust the King whose government rests securely on His shoulders. [03:58]
Isaiah 9:6–7
A child is given to us, a Son who carries the weight of rule on His shoulders. His names ring with wonder—wise counselor, true and mighty God, everlasting Father, prince who brings real peace. His reign will keep expanding, and His peace will not run dry. Sitting on David’s throne, He will uphold justice and righteousness for all time, and the Lord Himself will see that this promise stands.
Reflection: What is one decision you’re facing where you can explicitly submit your plan to Jesus’ kingship and wait for His peace before you move?
Day 3: Frankincense: Our Compassionate High Priest
Frankincense whispers of the temple, prayer, and a priest who stands in the gap—and Jesus is that priest for you. He knows weakness from the inside, yet He never sinned; therefore He is gentle with repentant people and strong to save. He offered Himself once for all and now intercedes at the Father’s right hand, opening the way to mercy. You do not approach a closed door; you are welcomed to a throne called grace. Come honestly, ask boldly, and receive what you truly need. [04:21]
Hebrews 4:14–16
Since we have a great high priest—Jesus, God’s Son—who has passed through the heavens, hold tightly to your confession. He is not distant from our frailty; He was tested in every way like us, yet without sin. So draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, to receive mercy and timely help when you need it most.
Reflection: Where do you most need mercy today, and what simple, specific prayer will you bring to Jesus your High Priest before the day ends?
Day 4: Myrrh: The Prophet Who Suffered and Speaks Life
Myrrh points to burial; it tells the truth that the Word made flesh would suffer and die. Jesus is the prophet who not only delivers God’s message but embodies it—calling people to repent, to believe, and to enter a new way of life. He drank none of the numbing mixture, bearing the full weight of the cross to bring full forgiveness. His death exposes sin, defeats it, and invites you into freedom. Receive His words not as advice but as life, and let obedience be your answer. [03:05]
Mark 15:22–24
They brought Jesus to the place called Skull. He was offered wine mixed with myrrh, but He refused it. They crucified Him and divided His clothes by casting lots to see who would take what.
Reflection: What one teaching of Jesus have you sidestepped, and what is a small, concrete step of obedience you can take this week to live it?
Day 5: Adoration and Ambassadors of a Coming Kingdom
The gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—gather into one confession: Jesus is King, Priest, and Prophet, and He is worthy of your whole life. The kingdom is here and still arriving, and you are sent as a living preview of what is to come. In a hurried world, adoration slows you to receive grace upon grace; in a hurting world, obedience becomes a hopeful witness. Let worship lead to surrender, surrender lead to service, and service lead to joy. O come, let us adore Him with open hands and ready feet. [02:39]
John 1:14–18
The eternal Word became human and lived among us, and we saw the shining goodness of the Father’s only Son—full of grace and truth. From His fullness we keep receiving gift after gift of grace. The law came through Moses, but grace and truth arrive in their fullness through Jesus the Messiah. No one has ever seen God; the Son, closest to the Father’s heart, has made Him known.
Reflection: As you consider King, Priest, and Prophet, what one practice—adoration, intercessory prayer, or courageous witness—will you intentionally build into your week, and when will you do it?
Sermon Summary
We turned to Matthew 2:9–12 and watched the wise men make their long journey from the East to bow before the child and offer their treasures. Scripture doesn’t tell us how many they were or exactly where they came from, and they aren’t called kings. But what we do know matters most: Gentiles crossed deserts to worship Israel’s Messiah, signaling from the very beginning that this King came for all peoples. Their gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—became signposts to who Jesus is: the anointed King, our great High Priest, and the true Prophet. None of this was God’s “backup plan.” Before the Fall, the Father purposed to send the Son, and in the fullness of time He came.
Gold points to royalty. Isaiah promised a Son whose government would never end, and Gabriel told Mary that David’s throne would be given to Him. Before Pilate, Jesus declared that He is a King, but of a kingdom “not of this world.” His reign isn’t propped up by swords; it advances by truth, and His people carry its embassy into every place. Through Him we’re freed from slavery to sin and brought into an unending kingdom.
Frankincense points to priesthood. Under the Law it perfumed the priestly service and the offerings of God’s people. Jesus is the once-and-forever High Priest who not only presents the sacrifice—He is the sacrifice. Hebrews tells us He sympathizes with our weakness and invites us to draw near for mercy and help. Through Him we find peace with God.
Myrrh points to prophecy and to death. Myrrh shows up at Golgotha and at the tomb, reminding us that the Word became flesh to die and to rise. As the Prophet, Jesus doesn’t merely deliver news; He is the message—God’s final word—calling us to repent and live under His new kingdom. The wise men teach us to respond the right way: with costly joy, humble worship, and obedient steps, even when the road home looks different than the way we came.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Worship that bows and brings gifts True worship is not efficient or convenient; it is responsive love that kneels and gives. The wise men traveled far, risked much, and opened their treasures with joy. Worship that costs nothing won’t reshape us, but worship that yields control and resources forms our hearts. Bowing in glad surrender is where deep joy is found.
- 2. A kingdom not secured by swords Jesus’ reign advances by truth, not coercion. He refused to build a movement by force, choosing instead the power of witness, suffering, and resurrection. Allegiance to this King changes how we use power, especially for those without it. Hope shifts from political outcomes to faithful presence as ambassadors of His coming world.
- 3. Draw near to the throne of grace Frankincense whispers that access to God requires a priest—and Jesus Himself swings the door open. He knows our weakness firsthand and welcomes us without flinching. Confidence at the throne is not bravado; it’s trust in His finished work. Repentance is how we walk through that open door, again and again.
- 4. Listen to the Prophet who is the Word Jesus doesn’t merely teach; He reveals God and demands our attention. To “listen to Him” is to let His words rearrange our priorities, not just inform our opinions. Ignoring Him slowly hardens the soul; obeying Him creates life where decay once ruled. His voice is both comfort and command.
- 5. Myrrh and the honesty of Christmas Myrrh keeps Christmas from becoming sentimental; the cradle points toward the cross. God’s love does not bypass suffering—it absorbs it and remakes it. Following Jesus will involve losses, but none are wasted in His hands. Resurrection life grows in the soil of sacrificial love.
Bible Study Guide
- Matthew 2:9–12 (read aloud before discussion)
“After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. [12] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
Observation questions (3–4)
- Walk through the sequence of actions the wise men take in vv. 9–12. Which details does the text make sure to mention (the star, their rejoicing, going into the house, worship, the gifts, the dream)?
- What specific things in the passage point to this visit happening after the manger scene (rather than immediately at Jesus’ birth)?
- The gifts are listed in the order gold, frankincense, myrrh. What physical or cultural details does the passage give about those gifts (or about how the gifts were given)?
- What does the passage explicitly state about God’s involvement in the wise men’s return to their country?
Interpretation questions (3–4) — (third person/objective)
- What does the wise men’s long journey from the east and their act of worship indicate about God’s intention for the nations and the scope of Jesus’ mission?
- How do the historical uses of gold, frankincense, and myrrh make them fitting signposts for king, priest, and prophet/death? In what ways does each gift point specifically to an aspect of who Jesus is?
- How should the phrase “My kingdom is not of this world” (referenced in the sermon) shape a believer’s understanding of the use of power and political hope?
- What does the wise men’s change of route after being warned in a dream reveal about the relationship between divine direction and human obedience?
Application questions (5–7) — specific and personal
- Worship that costs: Identify one tangible thing you have been reluctant to offer to Jesus (a portion of income, a block of your weekly time, or an area of influence). What exactly will you give this month (amount, hours, or specific use)? Who will you tell about this commitment for accountability?
- Kingdom without swords: Think of an issue where your first instinct is to win, control, or push back forcefully (at work, online, or in your neighborhood). Instead of using force, what is one non-coercive, gospel-shaped action you can take this week to witness Christ (serve, listen, invite, speak truth in love)?
- Draw near to the throne: Do you have a regular practice of approaching God with confession and asking for mercy? If not, choose one concrete habit for the next two weeks (5–10 minutes of confession each morning, a weekly journaling time, or meeting with a prayer partner). When will you do it?
- Listen to the Prophet: Name one teaching of Jesus you find easy to agree with but hard to obey. What is one specific, measurable step you will take this week to obey that teaching (a phone call, a boundary, a conversation, a small service)?
- Myrrh and honest Christmas: Is there a loss, fear, or season of suffering you are currently glossing over? How will you bring that to Jesus this week? (Be specific: who will you tell in the group, what Psalm or passage will you read, what prayer will you pray?)
- Accountability/action: Choose one of the concrete steps above. Who in the group will you ask to follow up with you next week about whether you took that step?
Leader tip: Allow a few minutes of silent reflection after the application questions so people can name a specific action. Close by inviting volunteers to pray briefly for one another about the steps they chose.
Sermon Quotes
Jesus is the ONLY One able to fill all three roles. Throughout the Old Testament we see many kings, many prophets, and many priests, but the three are all separate, not one person placed in all three roles.
The Trinity knew before the Fall that the Father would send the Son to make a way for salvation; Jesus coming wasn’t an emergency backup plan.
They came from the east and they chose to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to fall and worship at the sight of the Christ child.
Each of these gifts is historically and symbolically connected to one of the roles that Jesus fulfilled: gold for king, frankincense for priest, and myrrh for prophet pointing to death.
The gift of gold reminds us that because of Jesus we can be brought out of slavery to sin and into the freedom found only in Christ, taking up citizenship in a kingdom that will have no end.
The gift of frankincense reminds us that because of Jesus, we can be at peace with God, brought out of our rebellion and into his mercy.
The gift of myrrh emphasizes Jesus’ humanity and foreshadows his sacrificial death, reminding us that the Savior took on our flesh and died the death that our sin deserves.
Jesus is both messenger AND the message. He is the way, truth, and life, and he poured himself out to call people to the life only he can bring.
We often use 'Christ' like a last name, but it's a title meaning 'anointed one'—Jesus fulfills the Old Testament roles of prophet, priest, and king in one person.
Jesus is King—but not of a kingdom limited to this world. His kingdom is both now and not yet; believers are ambassadors, embassies of a Kingdom that is not yet fully realized but is coming.
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