Tree of Life
Man’s First Choice
“The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden, he placed the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” (Genesis 2:9, NLT)
Apart from Genesis, the Tree of Life only appears again in the Old Testament in the wisdom literature of Proverbs. The expression Tree of Life symbolizes the enrichment of life:
In knowledge - Proverbs 3:18
In righteous fruit (good deeds) - Proverbs 11:30
In fulfilled desires - Proverbs 13:12
In gentle speech - Proverbs 15:4
Tabernacle and Temple Imagery
The menorah and other adornments of the Tabernacle and temple possess Tree of Life imagery, symbolic of God’s Holy presence. The doors and walls of Solomon’s temple contain images of trees and cherubim that recall the Garden of Eden and God’s sacred presence with humanity (1 Kings 6:23–35). Ezekiel indicates that carvings of palm trees and cherubim will be present in the future temple (Ezekiel 41:17–18).
Tree of Life in the New Testament
The Tree of Life is a powerful symbol that transcends the Bible's narrative, appearing at the beginning, middle, and end of the text, including the book of Revelation, which contains the only New Testament references to the tree. This continuity of the Tree of Life throughout the Bible serves as a profound reminder of God's enduring presence and His plan for humanity, evoking a sense of awe and reverence in the reader.
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7, NLT see also 22:2, 19)
In Revelation, the Tree of Life represents the restoration of God's life-giving presence. Access to the tree was cut off in Genesis 3:24 when God stationed mighty cherubim and a flaming sword to block the way. But here in Revelation, the way to the tree is open again for all who have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the Tree of Life.” (Revelation 22:14, NLT)
Restored access to the Tree of Life was made possible by “the second Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:44–49), Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of all humanity. His sacrifice opened the way to the Tree of Life, offering eternal life to all who seek forgiveness through His blood. This profound act of love and redemption is a source of hope and joy for believers, as it signifies the eternal life of God made available to redeem humanity.
Why did God put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden?
God put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden to give Adam and Eve a choice to obey Him or disobey Him. Adam and Eve were free to do anything they wanted except eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Genesis 2:16-17, “And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’” If God had not given Adam and Eve the choice, they would have essentially been robots, simply doing what they were programmed to do. God created Adam and Eve to be “free” beings, able to make decisions, able to choose between good and evil. For Adam and Eve to be free, they had to make a choice, a choice that carried the weight of their free will.
God knew ahead of time what the results of sin would be. God knew that Adam and Eve would sin and would thereby bring evil, suffering, and death into the world. Why, then, did God allow Satan to tempt Adam and Eve? God allowed Satan to tempt Adam and Eve to force them to make the choice. Adam and Eve chose, of their own free will, to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. The results—evil, sin, suffering, sickness, and death—have plagued the world ever since. Adam and Eve’s decision results in every person being born with a sinful nature and a tendency to sin. Adam and Eve’s decision is what ultimately required Jesus Christ to die on the cross and shed His blood on our behalf. Through faith in Christ, we can be free from sin’s consequences and, ultimately, from sin itself. May we echo the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:24-25, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Sources
Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words (p. 409). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
“Tree of Knowledge.” The Lexham Bible Dictionary.
“Tree of Life.” The Lexham Bible Dictionary.
“Tree of Life.” Tyndale Bible Dictionary (p. 1274).
“The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” The Topical Encyclopedia.