Two Trees of the Garden

Here is a saying of Jesus according to the Gospel of Thomas. Even though it isn't in our Bibles, it is an ancient writing from Biblical times which shows thought from that time concerning the two trees of the garden.

(43) His disciples said to him, "Who are you, that you should say these things to us?" 

Jesus said to them, "You do not realize who I am from what I say to you, but you have become like the Jews, for they (either) love the tree and hate its fruit (or) love the fruit and hate the tree."

Jesus is likening himself to a tree and his words to the fruit. As a tree, he would be the Tree of Life. On the other hand, Satan in the form of a serpent offered fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. That fruit, representing words, would be his words. That tree would represent Satan, just as the Tree of Life represents Jesus.

The purpose of this saying is to show that there is confusion concerning the two trees. The disciples expected Jesus' words to be as those from the other tree. Remember, Adam and Eve ate from the other tree. They chose Satan's message. Jesus' message no longer makes sense to them, so they are put out of the garden. Satan's message has been passed down ever since.