What would Mary and Joseph have done with the presents that the 3 Wise men gave Jesus?
My daughter was pondering this question. And so I am now. Would they have kept them or given them away?
Most probably it was used to fund the journey of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt because of the threat from Herod.
December 29th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Probably they were sold to provide for them when they had to flee because of Herod. Gold is obvious, Frankincense and Myrrh are expensive.
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December 29th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Christ was rich, he gave it all away!
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December 29th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Don’t know. But they were pagan astrologers so maybe they would of not put them to any use.
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December 29th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
first the tithe then sold for provisions for their family. Why lug around so much stuff when fleeing for your life?
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December 29th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Financed an emergency trip to Egypt.
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December 29th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Most probably it was used to fund the journey of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt because of the threat from Herod.
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December 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Can you cite the chapter and verse that tells you that there were 3 wise men? Just because there were 3 gifts, does not mean that there were 3 magi. In fact, the words used could mean a large number of men came to visit.
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2 Thess 3:5
December 29th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
They probably used the gold to support themselves during the time they were in hiding from Herod in Egypt. Frankincense was used for times of prayer and worship, so it was probably used in the worship of God. Myrrh is a burial spice and was probably taken by the women to his tomb on the morning of the Resurrection with the intend that it be used to prepare his body.
As it appears Joseph had died prior to the time Jesus began his ministry, it may also have been used to prepare Joseph’s body.
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December 29th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
The gold would have been given to the temple. The rest probably to the poor who might have needed them.
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December 29th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
They were astrologers and no number is given for how many there were. They appeared when Jesus was toddler age. The bible doesn’t specifically say what was done with the gifts, but I see no plausible option but to keep them for the family’s use.
For more information:
http://www.watchtower.org/e/200812/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19981215/article_02.htm
edit: To Mike above me: Joseph and Mary were POOR.
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