The Allegory of the Olive Tree (Jacob 5)
The use of the olive tree as a symbol for the house of Israel is an excellent Example of how God uses symbolism to teach his children gospel laws and principles. An allegory or a parable should not be pushed too far in an attempt to correlate every item precisely with some outside reality. However, certain major elements need to be defined if the allegory itself is to be understood. The following items seem important to Zenos’s Allegory.
The use of the olive tree as a symbol for the house of Israel is an excellent Example of how God uses symbolism to teach his children gospel laws and principles. An allegory or a parable should not be pushed too far in an attempt to correlate every item precisely with some outside reality. However, certain major elements need to be defined if the allegory itself is to be understood. The following items seem important to Zenos’s Allegory.
Item
1. The Vineyard
2. Master of the Vineyard
3. The Servant
4. Tame Olive Tree
5. Wild Olive Tree
6. Branches
7. The roots of the tame olive tree
8. Fruit of the Tree
9. Digging, Pruning, Fertilizing
10. Transplanting the branches
11. Grafting
12. Decaying branches
13. Casting the branches into the fire
1. The Vineyard
2. Master of the Vineyard
3. The Servant
4. Tame Olive Tree
5. Wild Olive Tree
6. Branches
7. The roots of the tame olive tree
8. Fruit of the Tree
9. Digging, Pruning, Fertilizing
10. Transplanting the branches
11. Grafting
12. Decaying branches
13. Casting the branches into the fire
Interpretation
1. The World
2. Jesus Christ
3. The Lord’s Prophets
4. The house of Israel, the Lord’s Covenant people
5. Gentiles, or non-Israel (later Apostate)
6. Groups of People
7. The Gospel Covenant and promises made by God that constantly give life and sustenance to the tree
8. The lives or works of men
9. The Lord’s work with his children, which seeks to persuade them to be obedient and produce good fruit
10. Scattering of Groups throughout the world or restoring them to their original position
11. The process of spiritual rebirth wherein one is joined to the covenant
12. Wickedness and Apostasy
13. The judgment of God
2. Jesus Christ
3. The Lord’s Prophets
4. The house of Israel, the Lord’s Covenant people
5. Gentiles, or non-Israel (later Apostate)
6. Groups of People
7. The Gospel Covenant and promises made by God that constantly give life and sustenance to the tree
8. The lives or works of men
9. The Lord’s work with his children, which seeks to persuade them to be obedient and produce good fruit
10. Scattering of Groups throughout the world or restoring them to their original position
11. The process of spiritual rebirth wherein one is joined to the covenant
12. Wickedness and Apostasy
13. The judgment of God
2 comments:
The allegory of the Olive Tree became one of my favorite chapters in all of scripture when I was on my mission. There is a lot of symbolism in it that can be a bit hard to understand.
I especially love the end. Through scripture, we come to understand how involved the Lord is in this work.
Jacob 5:71-72
"And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. [...] and if ye labor with your might WITH ME ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard LABORED ALSO WITH THEM;and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all thing."
What a beautiful reassurance that the Lord is in this work. He is not a spectator watching and taking notes of what is going on. He is fully engaged in the building of His Kingdom.
Agreed. I love it!
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