TREES IN THE BIBLE
In Singapore, also known as the Garden City, trees and landscaping are all around us. Greenery is such an integral part of our environment that developments are even subject to requirements for the provision of greenery. Yet most of the time, we treat trees as little more than background scenery. They are there, but we rarely stop to think about them.
Interestingly, trees are also often treated as background scenery when we read the Bible. But if we take a closer look, we will find that trees appear in many important passages and can teach us valuable lessons.
From the very first chapters of Genesis to the final chapter of Revelation, trees are woven into some of the Bible's most important stories.
The Tree of Life
Trees appear almost immediately in Genesis. In the garden of Eden, God made “every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9).
Two trees, however, were specifically named: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning him that he would die if he ate from it (Genesis 2:16–17).
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were driven out of the garden (Genesis 3:22–24). God said that if man were to eat from the tree of life, he would “live forever” (Genesis 3:22). So God placed Cherubims and a flaming sword at the east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.
But here is an interesting detail: the tree of life does not disappear from the Bible.
In Revelation 22, we read of the tree of life. John sees it on either side of the river of water of life. It bears twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month, and its leaves are “for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:1–2).
There is something wonderfully fitting about this. The Bible begins with humanity being separated from the tree of life, and it ends with God's people once again having access to it (Revelation 22:14).
The Olive Tree
Of course, the tree of life is not the only memorable tree in Scripture.
The olive tree appears repeatedly throughout the Bible. After the Flood, Noah sent out a dove, which returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf (Genesis 8:11). Olive oil was also an important part of everyday life in biblical times, being used for food, lamps and anointing.
The olive tree is also used by Paul as an illustration in Romans 11:17–24. He describes Israel as an olive tree and Gentile believers as branches that have been grafted in among the other branches.
Paul's point is that the Gentile believers should not become proud or look down on others. They are dependent on the root and are sustained by it. In verse 20, Paul warns them: “Do not be haughty, but fear”.
This is a useful reminder for Christians today. Whatever our background, we have no reason to boast. We stand only because of God's grace.
The Fig Tree
Then there is the fig tree. Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves after they ate of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:7). Centuries later, Jesus used a fig tree to teach His disciples (Matthew 21:18–22). When Jesus approached a fig tree and found that it had leaves but no fruit, He cursed it. The tree withered at once.
The significance of this passage goes beyond the tree itself. Throughout the Scriptures, fruit can represent the evidence of what is happening within a person's life. Jesus said, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:17). The image is simple but memorable: what is inside a tree eventually becomes visible through its fruit. A tree may appear healthy from the outside, but ultimately its fruit reveals its condition.
This gives us something to reflect on. It is possible to have an outward appearance of faith while lacking the spiritual fruit that should accompany it. Religious activities, ceremonies and outward appearances are not substitutes for genuine faith and obedience to God.
Jesus' teaching, therefore, challenges us to ask: Are we merely appearing fruitful, or are we actually bearing fruit?
The fig tree also appears in another of Jesus' parables. In Luke 13:6–9, Jesus tells the parable of a barren fig tree. The owner has been looking for fruit on the fig tree but finds none. The gardener asks for one more year to care for the tree and give it another opportunity to bear fruit.
The parable reminds us both of God's patience and of the seriousness of His judgment. God's patience should never be mistaken for an absence of judgment. We are given time to repent and bear fruit, but that time is not unlimited.
Conclusion
Trees are used extensively throughout the Bible as pictures of people and their actions. A healthy tree is also a picture of what a life rooted in God can look like—alive, fruitful and firmly planted. So the next time you come across a tree while reading the Bible, it might be worth slowing down.
It may be more than just background scenery.
Ask Yourself:
Which two trees were specifically named in the garden of Eden?
What do the tree and fruit illustrate about a person’s faith?
Suggested Answers:
The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
A tree may appear healthy from the outside, but ultimately, its fruit reveals its condition. It is just like how our actions will show the faith we have.
