Dec. 21, 2025

The Gift

Primary Text: Matthew 2:1-3, 10-12      

1)  The Gift of God

John 4:9-14:  The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” …  Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

Romans 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

DQ 1) What did Jesus mean when He referred to “living water”?

DQ 2) Define the various facets of the “gift of God”?

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2) Every Good Gift

James 1:16-17: Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  

DQ 3) What are the good gifts you have received from God?

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3)  Gifts for the Christ Child

Isaiah 60:1-3: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you, and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”   

Matthew 2:1-3 (NASB):  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2:10-12 (NASB): When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  After coming into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.  Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

DQ 4) What do gold, frankincense, and myrrh represent spiritually?

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4) A Sacrifice of Praise

Hebrews 13:15-16:  Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Romans 12:1:  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

DQ 5) How is being a living sacrifice a continual gift to God?

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