It seems the church as a whole has a difficult time actually talking about spiritual things. Why? Why do we have a stigma as the Church in talking about spiritual things? I’m not talking about spiritual things as in salvation. Rather, I am talking about other spiritual things that we can not see with our physical eyes. Things like spiritual trees. Today we are going to start the discussion on spiritual trees. 

Why do many people have a difficult time talking about spiritual things? I believe it goes back to the verse in 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV):

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 

Those in the Church who are operating in the natural and not in the Holy Spirit will not accept the things of the Spirit of God, considering them foolish and not able to understand them. 

Then it says that the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned. The Greek word for discerned means a forensic investigation. So the Lord desires us to conduct a forensic-style investigation of spiritual things. 

This requires time, study, prayer, and seeking God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. A forensic investigation does not take place over the span of a day. It is a multi-week exhaustive search and asking questions, of being curious and creating theories and testing those theories. This is one of the things we do as children of God.

Spiritual Trees Introduction

One of the Biblical conversations throughout the Good Book is about trees. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible mentions interesting trees, and trees being representative of various people, nations, and things.

We’re going to dive in deep on this topic, because it is very valuable for us personally and corporately.

Jesus talks about trees. Here’s one example.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-20 (ESV)

Let’s read the parallel passage in Luke, as it provides some extra details.

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:43-45 (ESV)

Is Jesus talking about the trees in your backyard? Is He talking about physical trees? No, he’s talking about people.

So we see that trees represent people. How mysterious! But you all know this already.

Trees Represent People

The first 3 verses of the entire book of Psalms talks about trees and people. Let’s read:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV)

Being fruitful in your season and being planted by streams of living water are very important. The Psalmist equates this as prospering.

This isn’t just a great analogy. This is actually a spiritual truth. And here’s where we make the leap of faith.

In the spiritual realm, people are trees, and people have spiritual trees.

People like trees walking

Here are a few examples in Scripture of this truth:

“And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”” Mark 8:22-26 (ESV)

Does anyone else find this healing testimony of Jesus peculiar? Did Jesus miss it on the first try? Like, sorry Jesus, you need to try harder. I’ve actually heard that preached as an encouragement to keep trying, especially when you don’t see everything you expect to see when praying for something. And there is truth in that.

But I don’t think Jesus failed on his first attempt. My theory is that Jesus enabled the man’s spiritual vision first. Then He asked him what he was seeing… in the spiritual realm!

The man said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”

I believe this blind man was given spiritual eyes first, and he saw people as trees walking. People were trees; trees were people. He saw it. 

Then Jesus restored his natural vision, and he saw everything clearly. This is a lesson for us: there is spiritual vision and there is natural vision. We need Jesus to open both sets of eyes.

Wild olive shoot

In another reference, the Apostle Paul writes to the Roman church about the nation of Israel and the Gentile believers. 

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” Romans 11:17-24 (ESV)

We, as Gentile believers (not Jewish), are considered as a wild olive shoot, or a branch of a wild olive tree. The Jewish believers, and by extension, the nation of Israel were considered as the cultivated olive tree.

We see that trees not only represent people but also nations, or groups of people.

David write in the Psalms:

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.” Psalm 52:8 (ESV)

In Marriage

In the Book of the Song of Solomon, the husband and wife are referred to as trees.

“[She] As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” Song of Songs 2:3 (ESV)

“[He] Your stature is like a palm tree…” Song of Songs 7:7a (ESV)

In marriage, you can have good fruit in your tree for your husband or wife to enjoy. You can also have bad fruit, but as Jesus says, “Every healthy tree bears good fruit.” Seek to be healthy relationally with your spouse, so that they get to enjoy good fruit.

Fruit of the Tree

Speaking of fruit from the trees, let’s talk about what spiritual tree fruit looks like.

In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon gives us some interesting nuggets of wisdom concerning the fruit of spiritual trees, and he equates these to “trees of life” or “life-giving trees.” We definitely want to be people with life-giving trees!

“She [Wisdom] is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” Proverbs 3:18 (ESV)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 (ESV)

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 (ESV)

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 (ESV)

What are some of the fruits of these trees that Solomon spoke about?

• Wisdom
• A righteous life
• Winning souls, or bringing souls into the Kingdom of God
• Fulfilling God-given desires
• Speaking with gentle or healing words

Jesus says, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Our speech is important, and it can show us the condition of our hearts. Our speech can also show us the condition of our spiritual trees. Is the fruit of our trees good fruit, used for healing? Or is it bad fruit, making people’s hearts sick or breaking their spirits, as Solomon pointed out?

We are going to pause here for this week. I hope you will join me next week when we discuss trees representing nations. This is a fascinating topic. I hope you will join me!