The Word of יהוה is good, light and sweet. We know that Messiah as the Word of יהוה is good, for in Him was His Father well pleased. Messiah is the Light and in Him is no darkness. As the sweet, faithful Seed of the Word of יהוה, He did nothing of His own accord, He was not controlled by desires of His flesh. He only spoke His Father’s command or word. No doctrine of men. No traditions. No lies. He was the Firstfruit of the resurrection. It is written that He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. Considering that throughout the Word of יהוה men are compared to trees, have you ever examined which tree accurately testifies of Messiah?
There is a reason for our Heavenly Father’s design. He communicates to His children spiritual concepts through physical things. This is known as “speaking in parables.” (Greeks refer to it as “analogical reasoning” or against logical reasoning.) In fact, Paul explains that His invisible attributes are clearly seen through His creation, that we may understand Him through what He created, that we are without excuse.
Throughout the Word of יהוה men are compared to trees. Trees of the field are compared to man’s life [Deu 20:19]. Isaiah describes trees of righteousness, a planting of יהוה. Messiah is referred to as a Branch of Righteousness, a Branch growing out of the root of Jesse [Isa 11:1-10, Jer 23:5-8, Jer 33:14-16, Zec 6:12-15]. John spoke metaphorically of people as trees when he told the brood of vipers to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Figuratively referring to people, Messiah taught that a tree is known by its fruit. He also expounded the parable of how the disciples were as branches, how they should abide in Him and bear fruit. The same fruit. The fruit of light. So if our Heavenly Father created a tree with certain attributes that testify of Messiah, then what tree bears witness of the fruit of righteousness? If believers are as branches grafted to such a tree, what fruit represents “fruit in keeping with repentance”? Which tree accurately represents a faithful people, a people who are called by His Name, a people referred to as Israel? Let’s examine the attributes of the olive tree to determine if it accurately testifies of Messiah. Let’s examine the attributes of the olive tree to determine if its branches accurately testify of believers abiding in the Righteous Branch, producing fruit in keeping with repentance, walking as He walked, faithfully obeying the Word of יהוה.
Expounding the Parable of the Olive Tree
Creation testifies that the branches of the olive tree produce bitter fruit…so bitter, in fact, that the fruit is not palatable raw from the tree but only after fermentation or pickling. At the center of this bitter fruit is an inedible seed that is as hard as stone. Its flesh is plump and oily. The olive tree awakens or blossoms in the spring after other fruit trees have already awakened; the small blossoms are hidden by evergreen leaves. These small blossoms are largely wind-pollinated; most olive varieties are self-pollinating. The fruit is harvested in the “dark” portion of the year, after the intensity of the heat has passed, as the hours of the darkness of the night exceed the hours of the light of the day (see Prodigy of the Almond Tree: Part 1). The olive tree is described as having a graceful and billowing appearance; in other words, the olive tree has a beauty of its own. Furthermore, did you know that the olive tree is regarded as an invasive “weed” tree [1]?
Creation testifies that the branches of the olive tree produce bitter fruit…so bitter, in fact, that the fruit is not palatable raw from the tree but only after fermentation or pickling. At the center of this bitter fruit is an inedible seed that is as hard as stone. Its flesh is plump and oily. The olive tree awakens or blossoms in the spring after other fruit trees have already awakened; the small blossoms are hidden by evergreen leaves. These small blossoms are largely wind-pollinated; most olive varieties are self-pollinating. The fruit is harvested in the “dark” portion of the year, after the intensity of the heat has passed, as the hours of the darkness of the night exceed the hours of the light of the day (see Prodigy of the Almond Tree: Part 1). The olive tree is described as having a graceful and billowing appearance; in other words, the olive tree has a beauty of its own. Furthermore, did you know that the olive tree is regarded as an invasive “weed” tree [1]?
Listen to the testimony of the olive tree:
- bitter fruit
- a seed as hard as stone
- plump and oily flesh
- small, hidden spring blossoms
- self-pollination by the wind
- a beauty of its own
Throughout the Word of יהוה, people are compared to trees, and their fruit is what they do and say. The fruit of bitterness is associated with a rebellious, disobedient people [H4805, H4784], people who will not hear the Word of יהוה.
Throughout the Word of יהוה, the children of Israel continuously rebelled against the commands of יהוה and are described as “a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of יהוה [Isa 30:9]. [Click here for more verses - bitterness and rebellion.] In regards to the seed of a tree, the seed is found within the fruit. At the core of the bitter olive fruit is an inedible seed that is as hard as stone. Likewise, at the core of stubborn and rebellious people who will not hear the Word of יהוה are hearts described as “hard as stone” [click here for verses]. Regarding the fruit of the olive tree, each cell contains a tiny droplet of oil; this olive oil is expelled from the flesh. According to the Word of יהוה, the rebellious people were full of arrogance and pride and are referred to as “waxen fat, shiny”, “enclosed in fat”, “hearts as fat as grease” [click for verses]. This conveys the imagery of flesh that is full of oil or grease. In creation, trees can be pollinated by the wind or by bees and insects. (Remember the Hebrew word for “bee” is "deborah" [H1682] which is associated with “command” or “word” [H1696].) Metaphorically speaking, Paul describes someone who is pollinated by the wind as being “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” [Eph 4:14]. These bitter and rebellious people with hearts as hard as stone and waxen fat were carried away by falsehood, lies, traditions and doctrines of men. They would NOT receive the Word of יהוה. In other words, they were pollinated by the winds of doctrine as opposed to the Word or “debar” of יהוה.
In contrast, Messiah was not rebellious. He was not bitter. Rather the Righteous Branch from the stump of Jesse was the faithful, sweet, Seed of the Word of יהוה. He was not proud or arrogant. In fact, He did nothing of His own fleshly desire. His heart yielded to the desires of His Father. He was pollinated by the commands (“debar”) of His Father. He spoke nothing of His own accord but only what His Father commanded Him. There were no falsehood or lies in Him. He guarded or watched over His Father’s Words. Perfectly. As a result, He was stricken, beaten, shaken, crushed. But He wasn’t destroyed. He was the Firstfruit of the resurrection, the first to “awaken” from death or sleep. He was clothed in garments of righteousness and justice; He was called the “Just One” and the Righteous Branch. It is written that He had no form or comeliness, no beauty that we should desire Him.
In contrast, Messiah was not rebellious. He was not bitter. Rather the Righteous Branch from the stump of Jesse was the faithful, sweet, Seed of the Word of יהוה. He was not proud or arrogant. In fact, He did nothing of His own fleshly desire. His heart yielded to the desires of His Father. He was pollinated by the commands (“debar”) of His Father. He spoke nothing of His own accord but only what His Father commanded Him. There were no falsehood or lies in Him. He guarded or watched over His Father’s Words. Perfectly. As a result, He was stricken, beaten, shaken, crushed. But He wasn’t destroyed. He was the Firstfruit of the resurrection, the first to “awaken” from death or sleep. He was clothed in garments of righteousness and justice; He was called the “Just One” and the Righteous Branch. It is written that He had no form or comeliness, no beauty that we should desire Him.
The Tree That Testifies of Messiah
Is there a tree that serves as an accurate witness testifying to these things?
Is there a tree that serves as an accurate witness testifying to these things?
- watchful
- first to resurrect or awaken
- white garments of righteousness
- pollinated by the Word or “debar”
- firstfruits
- flesh withering in the heat
- stricken…beaten…shaken…crushed but not destroyed
- sweet, single, edible seed
YES there is such a tree! There is a tree known as the watchful tree. It was created to be the first of the fruit trees to awaken from its winter slumber as the heat and light noticeably increase at the dawn of a new cycle. Upon awakening or “resurrecting” from a state of dormancy or sleep, this tree clothes its naked branches in white blossoms. Bees are critical to pollination. Upon pollination, firstfruits resembling flames of fire begin to emerge from the calyx and hastily or rapidly grow. Within six to eight weeks of pollination, these firstfruits are harvested, but only a few; these firstfruits are hand-picked before the intensity of the heat arrives. The other fruits remain on the branches to mature in the heat so the inner core may grow firm. The flesh of the fruit splits open and withers in the summer heat so that all that remains is a sweet, single, edible seed. No flesh remains. In the seventh month following blossoming - in the “light” portion of the year at the intensity of the summer heat [see Heat, Harvest & Tribulation] - its branches are ready for harvest…the second and final harvest for this tree. Harvesters strike, beat and shake the seed from the tree. This tree is renowned for its seed, a seed known as one of the world’s healthiest foods. When this seed is crushed, it yields a remarkable, golden oil as well as a choice meal or fine flour. What is this tree? This tree serves as the pattern for the lampstand in the holy place – producing the fruit of light. A branch from this tree serves as a sign to the rebellious and was chosen to represent the High Priest and the house of Levi…the earthly priesthood…the servants of יהוה. Our Heavenly Father showed this tree to Jeremiah in a vision to communicate that He was watching over His Word to perform it. The seed of this tree is shaped like an eye (hint, hint – the very thing a person uses to be “watchful”). This tree that testifies of Messiah – the Righteous Branch – is the sweet ALMOND TREE!
What Happened to the Witness?
What do you think happened to cause many people to think of the olive tree when they think of Messiah? What do you think happened to cause many to think of the olive tree as the tree that believers will be grafted to? What do you think happened to cause many to regard the bitterness of the olive as sweet and good? Consider the olive tree throughout history. In Roman and Greek mythology, the olive tree was considered a sacred tree. Its leafy olive branches, or olive wreaths, were used to crown the victors of friendly games and bloody wars. Olive branches were ritually offered to deities and powerful figures as emblems of blessings and purification.
What do you think happened to cause many people to think of the olive tree when they think of Messiah? What do you think happened to cause many to think of the olive tree as the tree that believers will be grafted to? What do you think happened to cause many to regard the bitterness of the olive as sweet and good? Consider the olive tree throughout history. In Roman and Greek mythology, the olive tree was considered a sacred tree. Its leafy olive branches, or olive wreaths, were used to crown the victors of friendly games and bloody wars. Olive branches were ritually offered to deities and powerful figures as emblems of blessings and purification.
The oil from the olive was used to anoint kings; it was burnt in the sacred lamps of Greek temples. The olive tree was associated with athletic competitions held throughout Greece in ancient times. It served as the "eternal flame" of the original Olympic Games. Athletes were anointed with olive oil. Contrast this with the system of our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father chose a budding and blossoming almond branch yielding ripening almonds (firstfruits) to represent His chosen servants. Not an olive branch. Our Heavenly Father chose budding and blossoming almond branches to serve as the pattern for the source of light in the holy place of the tabernacle in the wilderness. Not an olive branch. Our Heavenly Father chose to show Jeremiah a branch of an almond tree to communicate that He was watching over His Word to perform it. Not an olive tree.
Consider what occurred during the reign of Antiochus IV. As Antiochus IV invaded and conquered other nations, he introduced Greek customs and culture into their way of life. During his reign, a gymnasium was built in Jerusalem to introduce the children of Israel to the Greek mode of educating young people. Gymnasiums, a word derived from gymnos meaning naked, were of great significance to the Greeks. There men trained for public games, offering their naked bodies as a tribute to their gods. The Olympic games were dedicated to their god Zeus. Olive oil and olive wreaths played a major role in these competitions. Also, according to historical accounts, an altar of Zeus Olympios was erected in the temple of God. This brought about a mingling of attributes of the Greek culture into the holy and pure temple of God. As these customs and religious ceremonies including olive branches and olive oil were mingled into the temple of God, perhaps later generations eventually adopted the sacred olive tree of the Greeks into the ways of יהוה. Thus the significance of the almond tree was eventually replaced with the olive tree. Has anyone questioned the concept of mingling elements from two different trees in a holy and pure place? The oil from the fruit of an olive tree into a lamp that is patterned after an almond tree? As we become more familiar with our Heavenly Father and His ways, it becomes clear that He does not condone mingling:
Paul and the book of Revelation also address the subject of mingling:
In 1841, a man named John Kitto even questioned the type of oil used in the holy place. He wrote:
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The drupe of the almond has a leathery covering, not pulpy or edible, like that of the peach. Its productive value lies in the well-known and much-valued sweet kernel of the stone, or nut. These kernels yield on expression one-half their weight of oil, the well-known oil of the almonds, which is more agreeable than the common expressed oils. It is remarkable that this oil is not once mentioned in the Scriptures. Indeed even olive oil is not very often mentioned by name; and we think that in many of the cases in which "oil," simply, is mentioned without the specification of its quality, it is wrong to suppose that olive-oil is always intended; for it is incredible that the oil of almonds could be unknown to, or unvalued by, a people who sought after and employed vegetable oils so largely as the Hebrews. (p. ccxii)
(Kitto, John. Palestine: The Physical Geography and Natural History of the Holy Land. London: Charles Knight & Co., 1841.) |
Conclusion
Creation testifies that the parable of the olive tree is one of bitterness and rebellion. Figuratively, the olive tree represents a bitter and rebellious people with plump flesh that is full of grease and a heart as hard as stone. The olive tree does NOT accurately testify of Messiah, the Righteous Branch, the Firstfruit of the resurrection, the faithful Seed of the Word of יהוה, the Light of the world. The olive tree does NOT accurately testify of the One who guarded or watched over His Father’s commands to protect them from doctrines, traditions and lies of men. Neither do the branches of a tree which produce bitter fruit accurately testify of believers who are producing the fruit of repentance, receiving the Word of יהוה, producing the fruit of light, firstfruits of the resurrection. Our Heavenly Father created the sweet almond tree to serve as such a witness.
It is time for us to awaken and consider that traditions and doctrines surrounding the olive tree may be one of the lies that we have inherited. Considering the witnesses of our Heavenly Father’s creation, we are without excuse. Whether due to Hellenization, the lying pen of the scribes, or inherited lies [Jer 8:8, Jer 16:19, Amo 2:4], it appears that the truth has been suppressed. We may be guilty of calling something that stands for evil as good, darkness as light, bitter as sweet. We need to think about what we proclaim in saying that we are grafted into an olive tree: the proclamation of a rebellious people with hearts as hard as stone, not receiving the commands or “debar” of יהוה, not walking in His ways, receiving lies, traditions and doctrines of men, a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of יהוה. The attributes of the sweet almond tree bear witness to a faithful people, a faithful Israel, trees of righteousness, a people who are grafted into the Righteous Branch, a people who are walking in the ways of יהוה. Which tree best describes you?
As we continue in His Word, may we know His Truth and may His Truth set us free!
~ Followers of the Righteous Branch
Creation testifies that the parable of the olive tree is one of bitterness and rebellion. Figuratively, the olive tree represents a bitter and rebellious people with plump flesh that is full of grease and a heart as hard as stone. The olive tree does NOT accurately testify of Messiah, the Righteous Branch, the Firstfruit of the resurrection, the faithful Seed of the Word of יהוה, the Light of the world. The olive tree does NOT accurately testify of the One who guarded or watched over His Father’s commands to protect them from doctrines, traditions and lies of men. Neither do the branches of a tree which produce bitter fruit accurately testify of believers who are producing the fruit of repentance, receiving the Word of יהוה, producing the fruit of light, firstfruits of the resurrection. Our Heavenly Father created the sweet almond tree to serve as such a witness.
It is time for us to awaken and consider that traditions and doctrines surrounding the olive tree may be one of the lies that we have inherited. Considering the witnesses of our Heavenly Father’s creation, we are without excuse. Whether due to Hellenization, the lying pen of the scribes, or inherited lies [Jer 8:8, Jer 16:19, Amo 2:4], it appears that the truth has been suppressed. We may be guilty of calling something that stands for evil as good, darkness as light, bitter as sweet. We need to think about what we proclaim in saying that we are grafted into an olive tree: the proclamation of a rebellious people with hearts as hard as stone, not receiving the commands or “debar” of יהוה, not walking in His ways, receiving lies, traditions and doctrines of men, a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of יהוה. The attributes of the sweet almond tree bear witness to a faithful people, a faithful Israel, trees of righteousness, a people who are grafted into the Righteous Branch, a people who are walking in the ways of יהוה. Which tree best describes you?
As we continue in His Word, may we know His Truth and may His Truth set us free!
~ Followers of the Righteous Branch
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[1] Campbell, Malcolm. "Fact Sheet: Olives - Weeds." Gardening Australia. N.p., 10 Oct. 2003. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. <http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s963141.htm>.
Thompson, F. Neal. Assessing Individual Managerial Performance. Atlanta: Pub. Services Division, School of Business Administration, Georgia State U, 1967. TreesforLife.org. Feb. 2012. Web. 12 October 2015.<https://www.treesforlife.org.au/sites/default/files/BFL/Fact_Sheets
/Drill_and_Fill_fact_sheet_Feb2012.pdf>.
"Common Olive Olea Europaea Subsp. Europaea." Factsheet. The University of Queensland. Special Edition of Environmental Weeds of Australia for Biosecurity Queensland., 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. <http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/080c0106-040c-4508-8300-0b0a06060e01/media/html/Olea_europaea_subsp._europaea.htm>.
Thompson, F. Neal. Assessing Individual Managerial Performance. Atlanta: Pub. Services Division, School of Business Administration, Georgia State U, 1967. TreesforLife.org. Feb. 2012. Web. 12 October 2015.<https://www.treesforlife.org.au/sites/default/files/BFL/Fact_Sheets
/Drill_and_Fill_fact_sheet_Feb2012.pdf>.
"Common Olive Olea Europaea Subsp. Europaea." Factsheet. The University of Queensland. Special Edition of Environmental Weeds of Australia for Biosecurity Queensland., 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. <http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/080c0106-040c-4508-8300-0b0a06060e01/media/html/Olea_europaea_subsp._europaea.htm>.
Verses – Bitterness, Rebellion [H4805, H4784] return to article
Verses – Hearts as Hard as Stone, Rebellious return to article
Verses – Plump and Oily, Proud and Arrogant return to article
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