Acts 5:30

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

Acts 10:39

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

1 Peter 2:24

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed

Trees – used for fruit, lumber, warmth.  In the Bible there are 29 kinds of trees listed – hazel, chestnut, poplar, olive, palm, fig, pomegranate, cedar, fir, juniper, almond, apple, oak, pine, box thorn, brier, willow, sycamore, wild olive, bramble, mulberry, frankincense.  Besides these there is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life.

Tree of life

Genesis 3:24 – So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Revelation 2:7 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Revelation 22:1-2 – And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Tree of righteousness

Isaiah 61:3 – To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Matthew 5:13-16 – You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We understand the light of the world, the salt of the earth, but why trees?  What is the significance of trees?  Trees have fruit, but besides this:  Trees have leaves which give off oxygen and take in carbon monoxide.  Oxygen means life for us.  Carbon monoxide means death to us, but not to trees. 

We are to give off life (oxygen) and absorb the death – the hurt, the pain the suffering (carbon monoxide).

Psalm 52:8 – But^t I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

Good tree – young, pliable; symbol of Israel, symbol of righteousness.