Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

This verse alludes to Ps 72:10–11 and Isa 60:6, passages that reinforce the emphasis on the Gentiles in this passage (cf. on v.6). Some time had elapsed since Jesus’ birth (vv.7, 16), and the family was settled in a house. While the Magi saw both the child and his mother, their worship (cf. comment on v.2) was for him alone. Bringing gifts was particularly important in the ancient East when approaching a superior (cf. Genesis 43:11; 1 Samuel 9:7–8; 1 Kings 10:2). Frankincense is a glittering, odorous gum obtained by making incisions in the bark of several trees; myrrh exudes from a tree found in Arabia and a few other places and was a much-valued spice and perfume used in embalming .