Three Trees
And What They Teach Us
Tree #1
 the
Garden, in Eden
 the tree of the
knowledge of good
and evil (Gen 2.9,
17)
◦ the tree served as God’s
way of teaching Adam
right vs. wrong
 but
Satan made
some false promises
concerning this tree
◦ Gen 3.4-6
Tree #2
 at
Sinai, the burning bush
 God brought Israel to this place and
gave them his Law
 God’s Law provided everything that the
tree in Eden
could not
 Psalm 19 makes
the comparison
clear
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
resulted in death (Gen 2.17) restores life (Psa 19.7)
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
resulted in death (Gen 2.17) restores life (Psa 19.7)
produced a false wisdom
(Gen 3.6)
makes wise (Psa 19.7)
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
resulted in death (Gen 2.17) restores life (Psa 19.7)
produced a false wisdom
(Gen 3.6)
makes wise (Psa 19.7)
was desirable to the eyes
(Gen 3.6)
makes the heart
rejoice (Psa 19.8)
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
resulted in death (Gen 2.17) restores life (Psa 19.7)
produced a false wisdom
(Gen 3.6)
makes wise (Psa 19.7)
was desirable to the eyes
(Gen 3.6)
makes the heart
rejoice (Psa 19.8)
eyes were opened to evil
(Gen 3.7)
enlightens the eyes to
what is good (Psa 19.8)
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
resulted in death (Gen 2.17) restores life (Psa 19.7)
produced a false wisdom
(Gen 3.6)
makes wise (Psa 19.7)
was desirable to the eyes
(Gen 3.6)
makes the heart
rejoice (Psa 19.8)
eyes were opened to evil
(Gen 3.7)
enlightens the eyes to
what is good (Psa 19.8)
access was discontinued
(Gen 3.22ff)
endures forever
(Psa 19.9)
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
resulted in death (Gen 2.17) restores life (Psa 19.7)
produced a false wisdom
(Gen 3.6)
makes wise (Psa 19.7)
was desirable to the eyes
(Gen 3.6)
makes the heart
rejoice (Psa 19.8)
eyes were opened to evil
(Gen 3.7)
enlightens the eyes to
what is good (Psa 19.8)
access was discontinued
(Gen 3.22ff)
endures forever
(Psa 19.9)
Satan’s words about the
tree were false
God’s Law is true and
righteous (Psa 19.9)
the lesson here
 the
Law of Moses served for Israel what
the tree of Eden served for Adam – a
lesson about God’s word and life
◦ Deut 30.19f: “I call heaven and earth to witness
against you today, that I have set before you life
and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose
life in order that you may live, you and your
descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by
obeying his voice, and by holding fast to him; for
this is your life and the length of your days, that
you may live in the land which the Lord swore to
your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to
give them."
the lesson here
 violation
of God’s word brings death
 obedience brings life; the Law / word of
God is the true source of our life
◦ Deut 32.46f: "Take to your heart all the words
with which I am warning you today, which
you shall command your sons to observe
carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is
not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life.”
Tree #3
 the
cross of Jesus
Christ
 Jesus is the Word of
God (John 1.1)
◦ he is the ultimate
revelation of God to
man (John 1.18)
◦ specifically, the gospel
message about his
death on the cross
(Eph 1.13; Col 1.5)
in Jesus and the gospel there is:
 life
(John 5.24; 6.63, 68; Phil 2.6)
 the wisdom of God to us (1 Cor 1.24, 30)
 rejoicing (1 Pet 1.8)
 enlightenment (John 1.9; Eph 1.18)
 the gospel endures forever (1 Pet 1.25)
 is truth (John 1.17; 14.6; Eph 4.21)
the gospel of Jesus and the Law
the Law of God
restores life (Psa 19.7)
makes wise (Psa 19.7)
Jesus


makes the heart rejoice
(Psa 19.8)

enlightens the eyes to
what is good (Psa 19.8)

endures forever
(Psa 19.9)

God’s Law is true and
righteous (Psa 19.9)

the gospel of Jesus and the Law
but just as the Law was greater than the tree in
Eden, so Jesus is far greater than the Law
 Jesus is the substance and fullness of what the
Law contained only as a shadow and type

◦ Col 2.17
mediations and exhortations

God demanded that Adam hear his word that
was delivered in connection with a tree
◦ and so also us

life and death depends upon our response to it
end
comparison
the tree in Eden
the Law of God
resulted in death (Gen 2.17) restores life (Psa 19.7)
produced a false wisdom
(Gen 3.6)
makes wise (Psa 19.7)
was desirable to the eyes
(Gen 3.6)
makes the heart
rejoice (Psa 19.8)
eyes were opened to evil
(Gen 3.7)
enlightens the eyes to
what is good (Psa 19.8)
access was discontinued
(Gen 3.22ff)
endures forever
(Psa 19.9)
Satan’s words about the
tree were false
God’s Law is true and
righteous (Psa 19.9)