three trees

And What They Teach UsThree Trees

Tree #1the Garden, in Edenthe 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 #2at Sinai, the burning bushGod 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

comparisonthe tree in Eden the Law of God

comparisonthe tree in Eden the Law of Godresulted 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 herethe 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 hereviolation of God’s word brings deathobedience 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 #3the 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 Jesus

restores life (Psa 19.7) makes wise (Psa 19.7) makes the heart rejoice (Psa 19.8)




the gospel of Jesus and the Lawbut just as the Law was greater than the tree

in Eden, so Jesus is far greater than the LawJesus is the substance and fullness of what

the Law contained only as a shadow and type◦Col 2.17

mediations and exhortationsGod 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











Satan’s words about the tree were false


three trees

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