Are there any Bible verses about Christmas trees? That is a popular question around the holiday season. Other questions include:
- What does the Bible say about Christmas trees?
- Is is a sin to put up a Christmas tree?
All across the planet, both Christians and non-Christians embark on the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in preparation for the Christmas holiday season.
For Christians, however, we want to ensure we are honoring God in all that we do and may wander about the biblical significance of the Christmas tree. So, let’s dive in and find out!
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Bible Verses About Christmas Trees
If you are wondering what the Bible says about Christmas trees, don’t hold your breath! Although we find many references to trees, there is no actual mention of a Christmas tree.
Yes, we celebrate Christmas as a way of celebrating the birth of our Saviour. And yes, many Christmas tree ornaments may have a biblical theme to them. But the actual Christmas tree itself has no biblical relevance.
Isaiah 60:13
The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir, and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet. Isaiah 60:13 NIV
Luke 23:31
For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Luke 23:31
Isaiah 41:19
I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together Isaiah 41:19
Isaiah 60:13
“The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet. Isaiah 60:13
Christmas Trees in the Bible Pagan
Many Christians feel that the Christmas tree is something of Pagan origins and should not be a part of any celebration of Christ. The truth is that many holidays that Christians do have Pagan origins. (Halloween is one in particular.)
But even if the Christmas tree was of Pagan origins, we know that anything the enemy creates for evil – God will use for good!
And, from a biblical perspective, a tree symbolizes life. Jesus died on a wooden cross (made from a tree) to give us life!
Is It a Sin to Put Up a Christmas Tree
Some Christians believe that putting up a Christmas tree is a sinful act. Why? Because of a few lines from Jeremiah:
For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Jeremiah 10:3-4 NIV
If you just read those 2 verses, it may seem like God is saying that the act of chopping down a tree and decorating it is, in fact, a sin. But, as with most things in the Bible, you need to keep reading in order to understand it in the full context:
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” Jeremiah 10:5
After reading the rest of it, it is quite clear that these verses are not actually referring to Christmas trees but, instead, are referring to the act of idolatry. The act of putting up a Christmas tree is not a sin unless the intention is to later worship said tree.
So, whether you go for the simple “traditional” holiday theme of red and green, or you spruce it up with a different color scheme that matches your home decor, let the Christmas tree in your home bring about a festive and joyous spirit as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!
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Related: 10 Festive Christmas Bible verses
