I LOVE OLIVES AND OLIVE OIL! Someday I hope I have the opportunity to taste freshly squeezed olive oil in Israel. These trees are fascinating to me. It is crazy to think that many of these trees are over 1,000 years old!
Have you ever noticed that the olive tree, the olive branch and olive oil are symbols consistently used throughout scriptures. So what is God trying to convey through this repetition?
The Hebrew word for “olive tree” is es shemen, which literally means ‘tree of oil.”
It is from a primitive root meaning “to shine.” It means “richness, anointing, fat, fruitful, oil, ointment, olive.” It is related to the word shemesh, “to be brilliant,” and which also is the Hebrew word for the “sun,”.
Another Hebrew word for “olive” is zayith, meaning “an olive,” as “yielding illuminating oil.”
It’s related to the word ziv, meaning “to be prominent,” or “brightness.” Ziv is the month of flowers, corresponding to Iyar, which is our April-May.
Isn’t that amazing!! There’s more to it than meets the eye right?
As I’ve mentioned in my previous posts, God is a God of symbols and patterns. He uses the physical to teach the spiritual.
Here are a few examples of how the olive tree, its branches and oil are represented throughout scripture:
- It’s one of the seven species with which the land was blessed.
- It’s become a consistent symbol of peace over the years, thanks to the story of Noah’s Ark and the dove that brings back an olive branch as a way to inform Noah that the rain had subsided.
- Olive branches were used to make wreaths for the heads of young people on their wedding days, and used during the biblical festivals. (Isaiah 61:10, Nehemiah 8:15)
- Throughout the Bible there are consistent references to olive trees as symbols of life and vitality. For example, the people of Israel are referred to as “a green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit” in the book of Jeremiah (11:16).
- The wood of an olive tree is very strong. It was used to furnish the inner sanctuary of the temple (1 Kings 6:23, 31-33).
- It produces good fruit; the olives and it’s oil were used to light the Temple and the homes of the Israelites. Only the purest olive oil is used for the Menorah and its seven lamps. In the vision of Zechariah (Chp 4) we see the two olive trees giving golden oil to the Menorah.
- Olive oil was used to anoint the priests and the Kings of Israel.
- Cakes of bread “anointed with oil” were among the sanctified offerings Israel made to God (Lev.8:26). The leaders of Israel offered to God in addition to rams and lambs and goats, “fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering” (Numbers 7:19, 25.)
- The log of oil used in the ceremony of cleansing the leper was the largest amount of oil called for in any religious rite. The rite symbolized the return to favor of the one healed, and the return of honor and joy. It is also symbolic of his restoration to life! Even James indicated it was to be used to help heal the sick. (James 5:14-16)
- Olive oil also symbolized gladness and joy. David wrote of the Messiah, “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions” (Psalm 45:7).
- The olive tree is a symbol of the righteous man. David said, “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever” (Psalm 52:8).
As we can see the green olive tree, its branches and oil are symbols of God and His people; His holy nation, His chosen ones- Israel who came from the promised seed Abraham. The blessing, peace, life, strength, light, favor, goodness, healing, joy, and righteousness are all interwoven beautifully. Sounds similar to the fruits of God’s spirit doesn’t it? All of these attributes stem from the root of the tree which is the source of all nourishment.
The big question is, who is the root that supports the branches?
“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (Romans 11:16)
Who makes the firstfruit holy? Who makes the lump holy? It is the same one who makes the branches holy.
“Therefore be holy for I AM holy” (Lev 11:44,45; 19:22, 1 Peter 1:16)
The root has always been God almighty and always will be forever and ever.
Paul being a Jew and a Pharisee understood this and was conveying the good news for all of the Gentiles that they too could be grafted into the same olive tree; to receive the same richness, blessings and nourishment from God almighty forever and ever.
“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
“I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles/Nations has come in.” (Romans 11:17-25)
As mentioned above, Paul talks about two different olive trees. One being a “wild olive tree” and the other a “cultivated olive tree”. These two trees were found throughout the region and can still be found there today.
I am not sure if this was coincidentally or intentionally used by Paul, but the wild olive tree was a big part of Greek culture. In fact, the sacred wild olive tree of Olympia stood near the Temple of Zeus, patron of the games.
“Olea oleaster, the wild-olive, has been considered by various botanists a valid species and a subspecies of the cultivated olive tree, Olea europea, which is a tree of multiple origins that was domesticated, it now appears, at various places during the fourth and third millennia BCE, in selections drawn from varying local populations. The wild-olive (Ancient Greek κότινος/kótinos), which ancient Greeks distinguished from the cultivated olive tree (Ancient Greek ἐλαία/ἐλἀα), was used to fashion the olive wreath awarded victors at the ancient Olympic games.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olea_oleaster
The “wild” olive tree and its branches in Paul’s message represent the Gentiles aka, Nations. The “cultivated” olive tree and its natural branches are Israel, the promised seed of Abraham and the root of the “cultivated” tree is God almighty.
So what does this truly mean for the Gentiles who have faith? The wild branches are broken off of the wild tree and grafted into the already established cultivated tree that’s nourished by the holy root.
Did you catch that? The Gentiles, who are outsiders, are taken out of the world (the wild tree) and put into the cultivated tree which is the nation of Israel, God’s royal priesthood, His holy nation.
Some of the natural branches (Israel) were broken off the cultivated tree (His people). This is due to rebellion and lack of faith as the prophets and Paul repeat over and over.
“The LORD called your name Green Olive Tree and of Good fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it AND ITS BRANCHES ARE BROKEN.” (Jeremiah 11:16)
The unbelievers were broken off but they can be grafted back in again if they believe. This is why Paul says “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,” (Romans 9:6)
The point is……. you don’t belong to Israel by birth or blood, it is by faith!
“Therefore remember that you, formerly Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” (Ephesians 2:11-13, 19)
“I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.” (Psalms 52:8)
You were formerly Gentiles in the flesh, meaning you are no longer on the outside, part of the other nations….but through Messiah you are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel. Yes, you are Israel!! Identity crisis solved! You are no longer a stranger to God’s holy covenants. You are no longer a gentile/foreigner/stranger you are part of the “cultivated” olive tree in the house of God. Your DNA doesn’t matter. It’s not a flesh thing.
“If your are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29)
“Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7)
So as you can hopefully see, no one is a son of Abraham or part of Israel because of the fleshly nature, we are sons and daughters of Abraham and Israel because of faith.
So is this grafting into the commonwealth of Israel a new testament concept? Was it only part of the new covenant? Let’s go back to the beginning of the book.
It would seem everything starts with Abraham and continues through the promised seed of Isaac and Jacob.
The very first sign of the covenant between Abraham and God was circumcision. Who would be able to partake in this covenant? Was it only for Abraham, Ishmael and eventually Isaac? Let’s see what scripture has to say:
“He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.” (Genesis 17:12-13)
Everyone in his household was included, no matter their fleshly origin. Let’s see if this pattern continues to reign true with the rest of scripture.
As the Israelites are getting ready to leave Egypt there are many foreigners who want to come with them and join themselves to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How does God treat these Gentiles?
“If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord , let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” (Exodus 12:48-49)
He, the foreigner aka Gentile shall be as a native born, he shall be included in the commonwealth of Israel. Fleshly origins didn’t matter. And did you notice there is only ONE law for ALL?
Per my last post, many would say the first covenant was only for the Jewish people but scripture says:
“You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God:
the heads of your tribes,
your elders, and
your officers,
all the men of Israel,
your little ones,
your wives, and
the sojourner who is in your camp,
from the one who chops your wood to
the one who draws your water, so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is making with you today, that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 29:10-13)
Another one of my favorite stories of grafting-in is the book of Ruth. The Moabite who gave up everything for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Little did she know she would be part of the line that would usher in the Messiah.
God uses Isaiah on many occasions to reiterate the message of how every man no matter your origin of birth, title, etc. are included into the fold of His treasured possession. His chosen nation, Israel.
“This one will say, ‘I am the Lord ’s,’
another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.” (Isaiah 44:5)
“Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord , to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord , and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant…”(Isaiah 56:2-3, 6)
Even during the millennial reign we see the same consistency:
“You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 47:22-23)
By now, I am hoping you are starting to see the consistent breadcrumbs God has given us. His patterns are the witness and testify to His Truth.
We, all of us, no matter where we were born or what blood flows through our veins, are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel, the House of Jacob. We are seen as native-born. We are God’s chosen ones, His treasured possession.
This is how we can reconcile the mystery Paul speaks about towards the end of Romans 11 “And in this way, ALL Israel will be saved..” (Romans 11:26). Israel, the olive tree, is comprised of believers no matter if one is a Jew or a Greek.
I hope this blog has broken down walls of tradition and doctrines taught by many pastors in the church today. Unless we look at all of scripture (and it’s definitely a treasure hunt), your view on a matter may be lacking and may lead to error. It could eventually lead to bad theology if we let it and unfortunately it has.
This is why Yeshua (Jesus) says: “Let them alone, they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Matthew 15:14)
The good news is that we can find most of our answers IF we truly seek it out through His Word. Not by using commentaries or scholars but simply scripture. The more you understand God’s Torah, the Prophets become easier to understand and then the new testament will become even more clearer than before. It takes a lot of studying but it will pay off in the end. You will see the story like you never have before.
I hope and pray this blog has helped you to understand who you truly are. Once you realize it, your life and worship will change dramatically! It is time to lift the veil!!
LIFTING THE VEIL 