Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 2:11

"And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." — Matthew 2:11 (ASV)

And when they had opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The best they had, presents fit for a King; offered as the tribute of the country from which they came, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh being found in the east. It is well to bring to Christ the best we have, and the best of the best: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

They saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

These were the products of their country, such as they would give to princes. Such treasures must have been of great use to Mary and Joseph to help them take care of the wondrous child who had been entrusted to their charge.

Those who look for Jesus will see Him. Those who truly see Him will worship Him. Those who worship Him will consecrate their substance to Him. The gold and spices were presented, not to Mary, but unto him.

The wise men kept their caskets closed until they saw Jesus, and then they opened their treasures. Let us keep our love and our holy service for our Lord’s eye and never wish to expose them to the world’s gaze.

The wise men’s gifts were royal, with a touch of the priestly in them: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. These choice offerings, especially the gold, would help Joseph and Mary to provide for the Royal Child, who was so soon to be exiled.

God brought providers from the far East to supply the needs of His Son. “Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.” Before the babe starts for Egypt, sages from the East must pay His charges.

Lord, You shall have my worship and my gifts, for You are the sole Monarch of my soul, and I will aid Your missionary cause so that when You go into Africa with Your Gospel, my gifts may go with You.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:

The old Reformers used to say, "Here is a bone that sticks in the throat of the Romanists, and they can neither get it up nor down, for it does not say, They saw Mary and the young child, the young child is put first, they came to see him; and it does not say that 'they fell down and worshipped them.'" If ever there was an opportunity for Mariolatry, surely this was the one, when the child was still newly-born and depended so much on his mother. Why did not the magi say, "Ave Maria!" and commence at once their Mariolatry?

Indeed, but these were wise men; they were not priests from Rome, otherwise they might have done it.