The tree of the knowledge of good and evil?

[VictoryinJesus]

Matthew 7:17-19
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Genesis 2:9
[9] 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 3:5-6
[5] 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. [6] 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.

Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ....a good tree or an evil tree? The tree grew fruit because Adam and Eve ate of it. Was the fruit from the tree...evil fruit or good fruit?

 

[bbyrd009]

Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ....a good tree or an evil tree? The tree grew fruit because Adam and Eve ate of it. Was the fruit from the tree...evil fruit or good fruit?

ok, just so i am not misunderstood, what i am about to say is not truth or facts or anything, ok, it is just another way to perceive the passage, that being that "tree" has a symbolic meaning that is defined elsewhere in Scripture, right, you already know what "tree" means even, basically, so contemplate that there was no literal tree, and the same thing with "fruit," there was no literal fruit, and you already know what fruit means too, so ID "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" and what its "fruit" is imo, and the answer to your Q maybe becomes a little clearer, that being imo "yes," which doesn't help much i guess right.

and this is a particularly...poignant example, bc we are literally being asked to eat the fruit from the tree in replying to your Q imo, not sure if this is clear yet tho. If i answer "good" or "evil" i have just "eaten" from the tree, imo. Well i prolly already ate in my heart in that case but nevermind

 

[Episkopos]

Matthew 7:17-19
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Genesis 2:9
[9] 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 3:5-6
[5] 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. [6] 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.

Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ....a good tree or an evil tree? The tree grew fruit because Adam and Eve ate of it. Was the fruit from the tree...evil fruit or good fruit?

If we look at the other tree in comparison....the tree of life...we see that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a tree of death. Even the good is death. Men have been trying to sort out the fruit of the same tree of death ever since. We have been trying to go it alone without God. We try to do good, not realizing that we are handling death.

How many are still not convinced that the best we can do is still death....because it is not wrought IN God?

The Pharisees made that mistake. They judged people who didn't take the care to sort out the good from the evil, as they did, not realizing that it was all from the same source. Jesus called them hypocrites...since they were doing worse than the ones they were condemning. Not only were they producing death themselves....they were judging others who were doing it differently.

But the ways of the Lord are life. We have come out of spiritual darkness to embrace His light....so that the works we do are both pleasing to God and eternal. For us, the light of God IS life. It is eternal life.

 

[bbyrd009]

They judged people who didn't take the care to sort out the good from the evil, as they did, not realizing that it was all from the same source.

could you rephrase this part for me E? ty

 

[VictoryinJesus]

If we look at the other tree in comparison....the tree of life...we see that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a tree of death. Even the good is death. Men have been trying to sort out the fruit of the same tree of death ever since. We have been trying to go it alone without God. We try to do good, not realizing that we are handling death.

How many are still not convinced that the best we can do is still death....because it is not wrought IN God?

Is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the tree He was crucified on so that:
Romans 5:19 “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Galatians 3:13
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Romans 6:4
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Raised into the tree of life: moving from death into life. Consider: The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the only tree that has two sides, two perspectives: it is good (fruit of) to die with Christ that we may live with Christ. (Fruit of)Death without Christ is to perish without life.

Revelation 2:7
[7] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 22:14
[14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 

[Helen]

ok, just so i am not misunderstood, what i am about to say is not truth or facts or anything, ok, it is just another way to perceive the passage, that being that "tree" has a symbolic meaning that is defined elsewhere in Scripture, right, you already know what "tree" means even, basically, so contemplate that there was no literal tree, and the same thing with "fruit," there was no literal fruit, and you already know what fruit means too, so ID "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" and what its "fruit" is imo, and the answer to your Q maybe becomes a little clearer, that being imo "yes," which doesn't help much i guess right.

and this is a particularly...poignant example, bc we are literally being asked to eat the fruit from the tree in replying to your Q imo, not sure if this is clear yet tho. If i answer "good" or "evil" i have just "eaten" from the tree, imo. Well i prolly already ate in my heart in that case but nevermind

Yes Amen Good word.

Agree. We have the choice of LIFE or "good and evil."
Man today waves banners for what they believe to be "good" causes.
Mr Ordinary will always choose good and right and wrong over Life.

 

[Episkopos]

could you rephrase this part for me E? ty

IOW All that we do that originates in the flesh comes from our own strength...apart from God. Everything we do that is not in harmony with God's Spirit... from what we consider good...and may even have some merit...but it is outside of God...so there is no life in it.

So we could say the evil is death...but even our best efforts have no life in them. We are not, of ourselves, eternally in synch with God. We do things from ourselves.

But when we let go of our own choices and turn to God...we enter into His life.

 

[Episkopos]

Yes Amen Good word.

Agree. We have the choice of LIFE or "good and evil."
Man today waves banners for what they believe to be "good" causes.
Mr Ordinary will always choose good and right and wrong over Life.

And many believers too. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. "Here God, let me help you with some ideas I've been having...."

 

[Episkopos]

Is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the tree He was crucified on so that:
Romans 5:19 “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Galatians 3:13
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Romans 6:4
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Raised into the tree of life: moving from death into life. Consider: The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the only tree that has two sides, two perspectives: it is good (fruit of) to die with Christ that we may live with Christ. (Fruit of)Death without Christ is to perish without life.

Revelation 2:7
[7] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 22:14
[14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

True. What seems evil to us could in fact work for good...and what seems good to us could very well work out for evil. That's what happens when you work in spiritual darkness.

 

[bbyrd009]

Mr Ordinary will always choose good and right and wrong over Life.

or at least claim the knowledge of them, ya

 

[bbyrd009]

True. What seems evil to us could in fact work for good...and what seems good to us could very well work out for evil. That's what happens when you work in spiritual darkness.

so again i am hearing about how it is this knowledge that is the prob, not necessarily whether things are good or evil per se

 

[Episkopos]

so again i am hearing about how it is this knowledge that is the prob, not necessarily whether things are good or evil per se

If we act from a carnal knowledge we do what we think is right in our own eyes. Every man's ways are good in his own eyes. We are just so limited in knowledge and understanding. But connection with God makes us as wise, in a sense, as God is. When we take on His life we can be exactly as He is in judgment. Anything He can do...we can do with Him. :)

So it is about abandoning our own ways and learn God's ways. We need to learn to be guided by His Spirit....not trusting in our own understandings, opinions and POV's. We need to stop eating from the tree of what we think is right to eating from the tree of life....where the fruit is everlasting life.

 

[aspen]

I think the Tree was simply a normal tree in the garden that was misused - it was not magic, nor did it teach us anything. I think it got it’s reputation as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil after A&E misused it.

The curse was dualism - after A&E ate from it humanity was cursed to run around labelling God’s good creation ‘good’ or ‘evil’ based on how it served us.

 

[Enoch111]

Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ....a good tree or an evil tree? The tree grew fruit because Adam and Eve ate of it. Was the fruit from the tree...evil fruit or good fruit?

Whatever the fruit may have been (and it definitely was not apples) the act of eating the fruit IN VIOLATION OF GOD'S COMMANDMENT was the evil deed. That tree was "a tree of testing". And both Adam and Eve failed the test.

The knowledge of good and evil became a reality as soon as there was disobedience.

DISOBEDIENCE = KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL
OBEDIENCE = KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD

And because Adam and Eve experienced the knowledge of evil, they did three things:

1. They hid themselves from God
2. They covered their nakedness with aprons of fig leaves
3. They blamed others for their own sins.

 

[Episkopos]

Whatever the fruit may have been (and it definitely was not apples) the act of eating the fruit IN VIOLATION OF GOD'S COMMANDMENT was the evil deed. That tree was "a tree of testing". And both Adam and Eve failed the test.

The knowledge of good and evil became a reality as soon as there was disobedience.

DISOBEDIENCE = KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL
OBEDIENCE = KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD

And because Adam and Eve experienced the knowledge of evil, they did three things:

1. They hid themselves from God
2. They covered their nakedness with aprons of fig leaves
3. They blamed others for their own sins.

Actually the knowledge of good....came by disobedience. We aren't supposed to judge the goodness of something, as if we were qualified to judge anything, but rather rely on God.

 

[quietthinker]

Whatever the fruit may have been (and it definitely was not apples) the act of eating the fruit IN VIOLATION OF GOD'S COMMANDMENT was the evil deed. That tree was "a tree of testing". And both Adam and Eve failed the test.

The knowledge of good and evil became a reality as soon as there was disobedience.

DISOBEDIENCE = KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL
OBEDIENCE = KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD

And because Adam and Eve experienced the knowledge of evil, they did three things:

1. They hid themselves from God
2. They covered their nakedness with aprons of fig leaves
3. They blamed others for their own sins.

When Moses came down from the mountain his face shone. The people couldn't endure it.
Stephan's face shone as he beheld Jesus standing at Gods right hand.
From the Creators hand Adam and Eve were clothed in light, the result of being in harmony with God and life.
Transgression of Gods Commandment left them naked resulting in no light and an attempt to cover themselves by means of their own making.

You can follow the dots through...clothes of skin given by God, a covering....The lamb slain and blood on the door posts in Egypt, a covering....etc etc, all typical of God's provision in Jesus.

 

[Episkopos]

When Moses came down from the mountain his face shone. The people couldn't endure it.
Stephan's face shone as he beheld Jesus standing at Gods right hand.
From the Creators hand Adam and Eve were clothed in light, the result of being in harmony with God and life.
Transgression of Gods Commandment left them naked resulting in no light and an attempt to cover themselves by means of their own making.

You can follow the dots through...clothes of skin given by God, a covering....The lamb slain and blood on the door posts in Egypt, a covering....etc etc, all typical of God's provision in Jesus.

The word for skin in Hebrew is "or" written like this... עור It is written with a silent letter at the beginning...the ayin...which means "to see"

The word for light in Hebrew is also "or" written like this... אור It is written with the other silent letter at the beginning...the aleph.

So then there is a play on words going on in the text.

God "made" for Adam and Eve clothing of "or"...meaning God had clothed them in light...until they fell away from His anointing. Then they needed a material clothing outside of God's presence....in our present world of spiritual darkness.

 

[APAK]

Matthew 7:17-19
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Genesis 2:9
[9] 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 3:5-6
[5] 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. [6] 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.

Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ....a good tree or an evil tree? The tree grew fruit because Adam and Eve ate of it. Was the fruit from the tree...evil fruit or good fruit?

VictoryinJesus: I believe your last couple of lines are a little 'off-course.' Let me explain a bit..

The ‘tree’ of knowledge (good and evil) is not evil in itself. It is a tree or spirit for use in discernment or justice (judging). It is not a spirit or power to gain knowledge per se as many folks believe.

Scripture records this spirit of God that provides the power of judging in 2 Sam 14:16-17; I Kings 3:9 and Heb 5:12-14. It is designed to be given to mature persons in God’s sight and timing - not of our own timing.

Adam was forbidden to take this power for himself as he was then too immature in spirit to know of its consequences. It’s consequences of overriding God’s guidance and discernment into his own hands ‘at that time’ proved fatal. Allowing Adam to then take the spirit of life would make him permanently separated from the will of God. He would be definitely his own god.

The power of this knowledge dangled in front of Adam revealed that he desired his own moral autonomy over the lead of his master’s morality. He took the power of judgement very carelessly and improperly as an incapable child and became ‘like’ God and the angels in this knowledge and use of this power of discernment. Gen 3:22

(Gen 3:22) Yahweh God said, Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…(NEV)

Disobedience thus led to sin and then to submission to God through Christ as we know. We now as believers obtain this power of discernment and judgement as God desires us to have it, in his timing, as a precious gift.

Bless you,


APAK

 

[Enoch111]

Actually the knowledge of good....came by disobedience.

If you wish to look at it in reverse. So here is how Adam and Eve could have been thinking.

1. Had we obeyed God we would not be hiding from Him.
2. Had we obeyed God we would not be ashamed of our nakedness.
3. Had we obeyed God we would not be assigning blame for our disobedience to others.

We aren't supposed to judge the goodness of something, as if we were qualified to judge anything, but rather rely on God.

Actually God makes us responsible for judging the goodness or the evil of everything that surrounds us, as well as what is within us.

GOD SAYS: Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? (Ps 94:16)

EPHESIANS 5
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 

[Episkopos]

VictoryinJesus: I believe your last couple of lines are a little 'off-course.' Let me explain a bit..

The ‘tree’ of knowledge (good and evil) is not evil in itself. It is a tree or spirit for use in discernment or justice (judging). It is not a spirit or power to gain knowledge per se as many folks believe.

Scripture records this spirit of God that provides the power of judging in 2 Sam 14:16-17; I Kings 3:9 and Heb 5:12-14. It is designed to be given to mature persons in God’s sight and timing - not of our own timing.

Adam was forbidden to take this power for himself as he was then too immature in spirit to know of its consequences. It’s consequences of overriding God’s guidance and discernment into his own hands ‘at that time’ proved fatal. Allowing Adam to then take the spirit of life would make him permanently separated from the will of God. He would be definitely his own god.

The power of this knowledge dangled in front of Adam revealed that he desired his own moral autonomy over the lead of his master’s morality. He took the power of judgement very carelessly and improperly as an incapable child and became ‘like’ God and the angels in this knowledge and use of this power of discernment. Gen 3:22

(Gen 3:22) Yahweh God said, Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…(NEV)

Disobedience thus led to sin and then to submission to God through Christ as we know. We now as believers obtain this power of discernment and judgement as God desires us to have it, in his timing, as a precious gift.

Bless you,


APAK