Why were gifts presented to Christ?
Notice, they inquired for the child Jesus, who was born KING of the Jews.
Now why did they present gifts to Him? Because it was His birthday?
Not at all, because they came several days or weeks after the date of His birth. Was it to set an example for us, today, to trade gifts back and forth among ourselves?
No, notice carefully. They did not exchange gifts among themselves, but “they presented unto HIM gifts.”
They gave their gifts to Christ, not to their friends, relatives, or one another.
Why? Let me quote from the Adam Clarke Commentary, volume 5, page 46: “Verse 11. (They presented unto him gifts.)
The people of the east never approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present in their hands.
The custom is often noticed in the Old Testament, and still prevails in the east, and in some of the newly discovered South Sea Islands.”
There it is. They were not instituting a new Christian custom of exchanging gifts with friends to honour Christ’s birthday. They were following an old and ancient eastern custom of presenting gifts to a king when they came into his presence.
They were approaching Him, born King of the Jews, in person.
Therefore custom required they present gifts – even as the Queen of Sheba brought gifts to Solomon – even as many people today take a gift along when they visit the White House for an appointment with the President.
No, the custom of trading gifts back and forth does not stem from this scriptural incident at all, but rather, as quoted from history above, it is the continuance of an ancient pagan custom.
Instead of honoring Christ, it invariably retards His Work, often sets it back, at the Christmas season every year.
The exchanging of gifts, does is honor Christ? click here to read…
By: Herbert Armstrong
