The Tree of Knowledge: God's Wisdom, Not Ours

Solid Food for the Mature: Understanding the Tree of Knowledge

"Solid food is for the mature—for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." (Heb. 5:14)

Most of us know that in the Garden of Eden, God placed two significant trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We easily recognize that the Tree of Life represents Christ, but we often assume that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil must be evil. However, as I sought deeper understanding, I discovered something surprising—knowledge itself is rarely spoken of negatively in Scripture. In fact, God declares, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6), and we are encouraged to pursue it (Prov. 2:1-6).

This raised a question: Was the problem really the tree, or was it something deeper?

The Tree of Knowledge: God's Wisdom, Not Ours

Everything God created was "very good" (Gen. 1:31), including the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This means the tree itself wasn’t evil! Instead, the issue was how and when humanity accessed what it represented.

After Adam and Eve ate, God said, "The man has now become like one of Us, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:22). This implies that the knowledge of good and evil belonged to God first. Even the serpent admitted, "God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:5). So, was the tree truly about human knowledge, or was it about partaking in God's wisdom prematurely, apart from His Life?

We don’t need to eat fruit to rely on our own understanding—that comes naturally. But the Tree of Knowledge wasn’t about human reasoning. It represented God’s perfect discernment. Could it be that Adam and Eve were meant to receive this knowledge eventually, but only after first choosing Life?

The Tree and the Law: A Striking Connection

Think about it: what is another term for knowing right from wrong? The Law. Paul tells us, "Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). Could this be why eating from the tree brought death? Before receiving God’s knowledge of right and wrong, they needed to be sustained by His Life. Instead, they chose to discern apart from Him, making them subject to the Law without the Spirit. And "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor. 3:6).

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and bring Life. He didn’t abolish the Law (Matt. 5:17), but without His Life, even perfect knowledge of right and wrong leads to death. Knowledge apart from God leads to self-righteousness, but true discernment flows from intimacy with Him. This is why Jesus, the fulfillment of the Law, repeatedly emphasized relationship over rules. His actions—healing on the Sabbath, touching the unclean, dining with sinners—demonstrated perfect obedience to God’s heart rather than rigid legalism.

GODS CHOICE TO EAT OR NOT

The Real Issue: Trust and Relationship

Why did God prohibit Adam and Eve from eating from this tree? It wasn’t because the knowledge was terrible; it was because they needed first to trust Him. They chose knowledge before the relationship, the law before life, and self-reliance over faith. This same issue kept Israel from entering the Promised Land: "They were not able to enter because of unbelief" (Heb. 3:19).

Unbelief is the root of disobedience. Adam and Eve didn’t eat the fruit because they were hungry—they ate because they doubted God’s Word. Instead of trusting His wisdom, they relied on their own. That was the actual offense.

This pattern repeats throughout Scripture. The Pharisees had immense knowledge of the Law, yet they missed the very Life standing before them—Jesus. They trusted their interpretation of the Living Word. But those who truly walked with God, like Abraham, Moses, and David, sought His presence above mere rules. Trust in Him always precedes true wisdom.

The Two Trees: A Divine Pattern

The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge go together! When we receive the Life of Christ, we also gain His discernment. Without Christ’s Life, we misunderstand right and wrong. Jesus, who IS the Law fulfilled, did things that seemed to contradict it—healing on the Sabbath, touching the unclean, and dining with sinners. Yet He moved in perfect obedience to God.

Many reject judgment altogether, saying, "Don’t eat from the Tree of Knowledge," as if all discernment is terrible. But failing to discern is dangerous! God's holiness inherently distinguishes between good and evil. Scripture warns, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). Without divine discernment, we mix truth with error, good with evil.

Discernment requires intimacy with Christ. Jesus didn’t reveal everything to everyone. Only those closest to Him received more profound revelation. Even today, God does not entrust His knowledge to just anyone—it comes through relationships, not mere study. You cannot fully know what pleases God until you know Him personally!

Light to See: The Ultimate Revelation

After God revealed these truths to me, I came across these powerful words from T. Austin-Sparks:

"Who can fail to see that this garden is a type of Christ! Is He not the Tree of Life? Is He not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Is not such knowledge in a secret way bound up with Him, to the end that through Him it should be known? Are not the deepest secrets of God concerning good and evil bound up in the mystery of the person of Christ?"

Christ is the fullness of both Life and Knowledge! We must pursue Him, not mere principles. When we abide in Him, we see clearly—not with our reasoning, but with His discernment. We no longer live by rigid laws but by the Spirit, who enables us to know and do what is right in God’s sight.

This is my prayer: "That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ" (Phil. 1:9-10). May we hunger not just for knowledge but for the Living Christ, who IS our Life and Wisdom! Only in Him do we find both truth and transformation.

Join the Conversation!

What are your thoughts on the Tree of Knowledge? Have you ever considered its connection to trust, the Law, and Christ? Share your insights in the comments below—I’d love to hear your perspective!