Trees of Righteousness, the Planting of the Lord

Sermon Text

Isaiah 61:1-3

61 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Title: Trees of Righteousness, the Planting of the Lord
Text: Isaiah 61:1–3
Preacher: Keith Dewell

Main Idea

Through the redemptive work of the Messiah, believers are transformed into “trees of righteousness” planted by the Lord, displaying His glory through their new life in Christ.

Key Points

• 1. The Use and Beauty of Trees in Creation

  • Trees demonstrate God's wisdom and goodness in creation.

  • They provide oxygen, food, shelter, beauty, and stability to the earth.

  • Scripture describes trees as pleasant to the sight and good for food (Genesis 2:9).

  • Their majesty reflects the majesty of their Creator.

• 2. Why the Redeemed Are Called “Trees of Righteousness”

  • Humanity was originally created in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24).

  • Through Adam’s fall, mankind lost that righteousness and became corrupted by sin.

  • Christ, the second Adam, perfectly obeyed God and His righteousness is credited to believers.

  • Those united to Christ are spiritually renewed and made strong like trees firmly planted by God.

  • The phrase “planting of the Lord” emphasizes that salvation is God’s work—He gives new life.

• 3. The Purpose of Redemption: God’s Glory

  • Isaiah 61:3 reveals a purpose statement:
    believers become trees of righteousness “that He may be glorified.”

  • Salvation is not human achievement but God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).

  • Christ’s work produces spiritual fruit in believers that ultimately magnifies Him.

• 4. The Tree of the Cross

  • Scripture sometimes refers to Christ’s cross as a tree (Acts 5:30; Galatians 3:13).

  • Jesus, though sinless, became a curse for sinners by dying on the cross.

  • The Creator of trees was crucified on one of them.

  • Through His sacrifice, believers are redeemed from the curse of the law.

Conclusion

The redeemed are planted by God, sustained by Christ, and designed to bear fruit for His glory. The cross—though an instrument of death—became the means of life and righteousness for God’s people.

• Why does Scripture frequently use tree imagery to describe the righteous?

• What does the phrase “planting of the Lord” teach us about God’s role in salvation?

• How does Christ’s righteousness become ours according to Scripture?

• What kinds of spiritual fruit should appear in someone who is planted in Christ?

• Why is the cross described as a tree, and what theological significance does that carry?

• How can believers actively live for God’s glory in daily life?

• Messiah / Christ – The anointed Savior promised in the Old Testament.

• Righteousness – Right standing before God, fulfilled perfectly in Christ.

• Justification – God declaring sinners righteous through faith in Christ.

• Union with Christ – The spiritual connection between Christ and believers through which salvation benefits flow.

• Imputation – The crediting of Christ’s righteousness to believers.