The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
I have never told my children that if they play around my car or the stove I am going to kill them. I have lovingly warned them that the car or stove could harm them. It could even kill them! They needed to grow to a certain level of maturity or “of full age” before I could let them experience the full benefit of these wonderful tools without my loving supervision. I believe that is similar to the tree of knowledge of good and evil!
But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14
Discern: 5. To discover by the intellect; to distinguish; hence, to have knowledge of; to judge.
King James Bible Dictionary
I had read Hebrews 5:14 numerous times. Only after I asked God why He put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden did I see this answer. I have heard and said that He had to give us a choice in order for us to have free will. But that does not imply that God intentionally put it there as a stumbling block or temptation for Adam and Eve. That doesn’t fit His character or His Word (James 1:13-16).
I have also heard my mentors compare the tree of the knowledge of good and evil with the law and the tree of life with Jesus.
And, the law isn’t bad. It is meant to reveal mankind’s need for a savior and complete inability to be righteous apart from Jesus. The law is not for the righteous in Christ to live by unto righteousness!
It is Good
The law is good.
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1 Timothy 1:8
The tree of knowledge of good and evil is good. In fact, everything God made is “very good” in God’s eyes once He brought man into it.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31
God intentionally made those trees pleasant to the sight and good for food!
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:9
A loving warning from a good Father
God never said that the tree was bad or forbidden!
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die.
Genesis 2:17
The Snake is Still in the Garden!
One of the few weapons in the enemy’s bag of tricks is convincing us to have an unholy dissatisfaction with what we have instead of allowing ourselves to just enjoy God’s goodness. My experience with God is that it just keeps getting better! God always saves the best for last. No matter how good it gets, the best is yet to come! Hallelujah!
Notice the devil didn’t say, “Look at all of this awesome goodness God has created for you to enjoy! It is paradise! But why can’t you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?” He got Eve to take her eyes off of God’s goodness and lavish provision and focus on the one thing that would bring death (John 10:10). Then the devil told her that eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would give her something that God had already given her.
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Genesis 3:5
The fact that God created mankind a little lower than Himself is hard for man to grasp. It is so difficult that even the KJV translators translated Elohim as “angels” in this one verse in the Bible. I had to use the NASB20 version for the correct translation.
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty.
Psalm 8:5 (NASB20)
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
In this fallen world, we must grow and mature into being able to discern between good and evil, but it takes time and intimacy with God. He never wanted us to taste sin, sickness, death, and disease and be separated from Him.
[Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Romans 12:9 KJV)
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21 KJV)
For your obedience is come abroad unto all [men]. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19 KJV)
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV)
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (3 John 1:11 KJV)
She Believed the Lie
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis 3:6
God wants us to fellowship with Him and let Him guide us into all understanding, knowledge, and wisdom (John 17:3).
Enjoy the Journey
Paul describes our walk with God as a marathon. It is not a destination to be reached but a journey to be enjoyed. God has already fully equipped us through Jesus to enjoy the journey and to be more than conquerors! The more you get to know God and His infinite knowledge and grow in the discernment of good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), the more YouWillWantTo!