In the Old and New Testament olive tree and olive oil are two elements that present great significance.
When Jesus went to Jerusalem, the Jewish people welcomed him with olive branches. Before his death Jesus was arrested and taken as a prisoner, while he was praying on the Mount of Olives at the Garden of Gethsemani, in Hebrew meaning “olive press.” At the Mount of Olives, which was a place for prayer Jesus told his disciples the signs of his second coming and the end of the age.
In the early years of Christianity, the Christians were decorating their tombs with olive branches, that identified the victory of life over death.
Olive oil, bread, wine and water, the four most important ingredients of life. According to Apostle Paul, olive oil symbolizes joy, kindness, goodness,faithfulness and long suffering, along with self control. It is the second fruit of the Spirit. The first fruit of the Spirit, Gods Spirit, is love.
The olive tree is associated with the Festival of Joy (the Feast of Tambernacles). The Jewish people called it the festival of our joy, because God commented them to REJOICE. During that time, God’s people should sit outside, as proof of their obedience and faith to God, and as a symbol of walking close to Him.
The strength and heartiness of the olive tree, made a symbol of the righteous man. “I am an olive tree in the house of God and I trust in His mercy forever and ever (Psalm 52:8). The vigorous tree in the house of God represents the vigorous and zealous in righteousness, living close to God in a fruitfull way and in unity. The children of the good people who feared and obeyed the Lord, were described as olive trees.
In the song of Solomon, it is said: “Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth” (Song of Songs 1:2-3). David said: “You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” (Psalm 23:5). He also said: “you give us olive oil to make our face shine, wine to make our heart happy and bread to make our heart strong”. Solomon also wrote: The olive oil is a treasure in the hands of the wise, but not in the hands of the moran, who waists it.
The olive oil was very highly valued in Israel, during the time of David, that special guards were protecting the olive orchards.
In ancient times, olive oil was used externally to anoint wounds. Jesus send his disciples to preach the gospel and heal the sick. “So they went and preached that the people should repend. They cast out many demons and and anointed with extra virgin olive oil many who were sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:13). The good Samaritan, when he found on the side of the road the injured man by the robbers, he put olive oil on his wounds.
Olive leaf extract is also a supplement, which helps the body to fight diseases.
Olive oil also was used as fuel for lamps. The lamp symbolizes the word of God. The olive oil symbolizes the Spirit of God.
In the parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins, the foolish left the oil of their lamps to run out. In David we read: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). In Solomon we read: “For the commanedment is the lamp, and the law a light” (Prov. 6:23).