The Purpose of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

“. . . but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” Genesis 2:17.

We are told in this passage that Adam and Eve were not allowed to eat from the tree of knowledge or good and evil (or wisdom).

The Rewards of Wisdom

The fruit of this tree would bring long life, wealth, honor, health and deliverance. This must be true because these are some of the rewards of wisdom:

“for she [wisdom] is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
 She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed” Proverbs 3: 14-18.

You can read the Genesis passage for context here.

Solomon’s Prayer

But you may ask why I believe that the knowledge of good and evil is the same as wisdom. King Solomon’s prayer for wisdom in 1 Kings sheds some light on this:

“So, give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between good and evil. . . The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So, God said to him. . . I will give you a wise and discerning heart. . . Moreover, I will give you. . . both wealth and honor. . . And if you walk in obedience to me. . . I will give you a long life”1 Kings 3: 9-14 selected. 

This passage gives us two important clues as to the connection between the knowledge of good and evil and wisdom.

First, notice that when Solomon asked to be able to distinguish between good and evil, God gave him wisdom. This seems to imply they are the same thing.

Second, why does God tell Solomon that in addition to wisdom, He will also give him wealth, honor and long life? Because these are the rewards of wisdom (Proverbs 3:16). It’s a package deal. You get these with wisdom.

There are other places in the Bible where these terms are used interchangeably as well, but I think you get the idea.

You Can Only Be Tempted Where You’re Weak

Being denied access to this tree was a trial for Adam and Eve. In fact, we know it was a weakness, at least for Eve. Because you can only be tempted in areas where you’re weak. (You’re probably not tempted to rob a bank because extreme greed and recklessness is not your weakness).

This trial, which was a test of their faith, was designed to make them mature.

They were to “learn obedience from the things they suffered and be made perfect” (Hebrews 5:8), just as Jesus did later.

In fact, according to Proverbs 3:14 above “she [wisdom, the tree] is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. . . “

I believe they would’ve been allowed to partake of the tree of wisdom with all its fruit had they learned it. Here’s why: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” Proverbs 9:10.

Like Jesus, Adam and Eve were sinless before the fall. But according to Hebrews 5: 8,9, sinless isn’t the same thing as mature.

Even Jesus Learned Obedience Through Suffering

Even Jesus had to become mature through obedience: “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and once made perfect [mature], he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” Hebrews 5: 8, 9.

God’s plan for Adam and Eve was that they become mature through obedience, just like Jesus.

Adam and Eve were to learn it by the suffering brought about from having something attractive and desirable in their midst they couldn’t have.

So, to be denied the fruit of this glorious tree had to be a trial for them. It was hard. I believe it was the suffering by which they would’ve learned obedience.

I don’t think God intended to keep wisdom from Adam and Eve forever. This is His desire and goal for His children. But according to Hebrews 5:14 “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil [wisdom]”.

Jesus, because of the human instinct to preserve life, wanted to live and not die. And yet, like Adam and Eve, He was denied something very precious and valuable.

I believe this is at least part of the suffering that taught Him obedience. And ultimately perfected or matured Him.

The Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil Had a Specific Purpose

God had a very specific and valuable purpose for that tree of wisdom which was withheld from Adam and Eve. And it wasn’t to taunt them. It was supposed to make them mature. And it would do this as they denied themselves and chose obedience.

This would’ve involved suffering. Like Jesus, they would’ve “learned obedience from what they suffered and become mature”.

But how do we know they weren’t mature to begin with? At least one proof we have, at least for Eve is that she stumbled in her words.

She added to God’s word when she said, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die’” Genesis 3:3.

Although it does make sense that God would’ve told them not to touch the forbidden fruit, there is no evidence of this in the passage. He told them simply not to eat it.

And according to James 3:2 “Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check”.

God didn’t put that tree in the garden just to taunt Adam and Eve. Far from it. That tree was intended to be their ticket to maturity, blessings and eternal life. All they had to do was obey.

To read a post that looks at this idea from a slightly different angle, check out Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: Green Apple. Or you may be interested in The Testing of Your Faith and Freedom: The Link.

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