What Does the Bible Say About Christmas Trees?

What Does the Bible Say About Christmas Trees?

Surprisingly, absolutely nothing! The Bible doesn’t mention Christmas Trees or whether you should have one. However, it does say quite a lot about trees.

Let’s take a closer look at Jeremiah 10:2-5, a passage often cited in discussions about Christmas Trees:

Thus says the Lord:
“Learn not the way of the nations,
nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens
because the nations are dismayed at them,
for the customs of the peoples are vanity.

A tree from the forest is cut down
and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

They decorate it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so that it cannot move.

Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,
and they cannot speak;
they have to be carried,
for they cannot walk.

Do not be afraid of them,
for they cannot do evil,
neither is it in them to do good.”

At first glance, it might seem like this passage condemns the practice of decorating trees. After all, it mentions cutting down a tree, decorating it with silver and gold, and securing it with nails. But this passage isn’t about Christmas Trees at all—it’s about idol worship.

The Real Issue: Idolatry

The tree in Jeremiah isn’t a festive decoration; it’s an idol crafted by human hands, worshiped as if it had power. God isn’t condemning trees or decorations; He’s condemning the idea that anything or anyone other than Him can provide for our needs or save us.

God gave us trees for practical purposes—building homes, tools, and fires—but humans often misuse God’s gifts. In our pursuit of more, we sometimes turn blessings into idols that distract us from God.

Examining Our Hearts

So, while Jeremiah 10 isn’t about Christmas Trees, it does challenge us to examine our hearts during the holiday season:

• Do you see yourself as the ultimate provider of gifts and wealth? If so, you may be misplacing your confidence in Christmas instead of in God.
• Does your Christmas Tree bring you a sense of pride or identity? If so, you might be leaning on the tree, rather than on God, to make your life and family beautiful.

A Deeper Meaning Behind the Tree

A Christmas Tree can be a joyful way to celebrate Jesus’s birthday (the Bible is full of celebrations!), but if we turn our attention away from Jesus and toward the celebration itself, we miss the deeper meaning.

The Bible says, “Cursed is he that hangs from a tree” (Galatians 3:13). The curse isn’t the tree itself but the humiliation and shame associated with it. Jesus hung from a tree—not held by a rope, but by nails. The true Christmas Tree is the cross that Jesus carried and died upon.

That tree is why we celebrate Christmas. That tree is what opened the door to new life for all who believe and receive the truth of Jesus Christ.

As 2 Corinthians 5:21 reminds us:

“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Celebrating the True Christmas Tree

So, as you gather with friends and family this holiday season, enjoy your Christmas Tree adorned with garland, shiny bulbs, and cherished ornaments. But don’t stop there. Share the story of the other Christmas Tree—the one that set you free. Let your tree be a reminder to tell those around it about the love of Jesus Christ.