Defining the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.

[unobtrusive]

Defining the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.

Using God’s original creation to form/construct tools deemed as necessary and useful is defined as “tree” in Genesis 2:17. Jesus was a carpenter, and divine, righteously knowing right and wrong, equipped perfectly unlike any other. Good and evil judgments are His, NOT ours.

וּמֵעֵץ, הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע--לֹא תֹאכַל = And a tree, a good and bad knowledge - do not eat ( Genesis 2:17a)

Tree = עֵץ ʻêts, ates; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks):— carpenter, gallows, helve, pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. From עָצָה atsah to firmly close (the eyes):--shut.
“A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
He shutteth (עָצָה) his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.” (Proverbs 16:29-30)

Good = טוֹב ṭôwb, tobe; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, and also as an adverb (well). From טוֹב ṭôwb, tobe; a primitive root, to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense:—be (do) better, cheer, be (do, seem) good, (make) goodly, × please, (be, do, go, play) well.
“And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do (יָטַב) unto us, the same will we do (טוֹב) unto thee.” (Numbers 10:32)

The difference between our Lord doing what He does and humans doing what they do is our Lord Jesus Christ causes (יָ) goodness and then us being secured (וֹ) through this divine cause. Goodness is from God, and that goodness is securing to us, not by us being secure within our own capabilities.

“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is nonegood but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)

Evil/bad = רַעraʻ, rah; “bad” or (as noun) evil (natural or moral). From רָעַע râʻaʻ, raw-ah'; a primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces). By sheer coincidence, the Hebrew word רָעָה raʿa “evil” is the name of the Egyptian sun-god Ra, the head of the pantheon.

And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord. And he (Pharaoh) said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil (רַע = Ra) is before you. (Exodus 10:9-10)

Knowledge = דַּעַת daʻath, dah'-ath; knowledge:—cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly). Fromיָדַעyâdaʻ, yaw-dah'; a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); “For God doth know (יָדַע) that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing (יָדַע) good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)

So the knowledge of good is knowing where our security comes from. At least, that’s the way it should be. That knowledge was never meant to think we are secure within ourselves as Adam and Eve had determined after their fall. We are not gods within ourselves as Satan would want us to believe, such as his subtle seduction in Eden, leading us to a mindset defined as the “New Age Spirituality.”

 

[unobtrusive]

Satan's approach is quite simple: mix a little bad with the good, and, in time the bad will corrupt the good. Satan applied this twisted philosophy to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when he told Eve that eating of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil", which in effect meant taking to herself the right to decide what was good or evil, would make her like God. This certainly seemed like a good thing to Adam and Eve, so they both ate of the tree. (Satan even implied that God was unfairly denying them this right, making them appear as victims.)

The devil appeared as the good guy, an angel of light, coming along just in time to help poor, oppressed Adam and Eve. Of course, God wanted them to learn to discern between good and evil by living his way, according to his laws and commandments. By usurping God's prerogative to decide or define good and evil was, in effect, rejecting him as Law-giver and Lord. Many religions today teach the same philosophy, saying, we are led by the Spirit, but by rejecting the Law-giver and his words, we have no idea what spirit is actually leading because there is nothing to compare it with.

 

[stonesoffire]

Not sure if this fits here, but I see the tree of knowledge of good and evil to be just "head" knowledge and not touching the heart or the inner man. The tree of life can only do that.

 

[unobtrusive]

Not sure if this fits here, but I see the tree of knowledge of good and evil to be just "head" knowledge and not touching the heart or the inner man. The tree of life can only do that.

I think if the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not appealing to Adam and Eve, they wouldn't have given it a second thought. The heart's motivation (not to exclude the mind) causes a desire to want something. The Bible calls this "temptation." Just sayin'.

Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

[FONT=&quot]

We are fighting a spiritual battle what you can not see, but the effects of it you can see. We have entered a time when level one problems will not be able to be solve with level one thinking (the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”). The only answer to sin, deliverance, problems, and solutions is faith exclusively in Jesus Christ and the Cross. If you are living any other way you will not have Sanctifying Peace. This is called Spiritual Adultery. Many are walking in the vanity of their minds Eph. 4:17. You have left your first love Rev. 2:4 NKJV. You will be shaken. This is the only way to solve this chaos, get answers and for the Lord to rebuke the devourer. This is victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil.​

God will continue to make the wisdom of the world look foolish.
​

[/FONT]

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Anything and everything that is not Faith exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work, i.e., The Cross, i.e., The Blood of Jesus, voids the Cross of Christ (the power of God - which is help from the Holy Spirit). 1 Cor. 1:18-31

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

[Grandpa]

Not sure if this fits here, but I see the tree of knowledge of good and evil to be just "head" knowledge and not touching the heart or the inner man. The tree of life can only do that.

Hebrews 7:16 [FONT=&quot]Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.[/FONT]

 

[Grace777x70]

I believe that the Law is a manifestation of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fruit of "knowing good" is on the same tree as in the "knowing of evil". This is the Law.

The Law was brought into the hearts of all people because of Adam's sin. Even those that knew not the Law of Moses - still had the Law in them. The mystery of iniquity is in the blood of all people born ( except for our Lord of course )

Romans 2:14-15 (NASB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

[SUP]15 [/SUP] in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

We were not made to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - that is for God alone - but we are to eat from the tree of Life which is Christ Himself.

It is not the "knowledge" of life as in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil but we live from the tree of life which is Christ Himself. John 1:4 & John 11:25

We feed from Him as He is the bread of life John 6:48

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
("Wisdom" without God only brings "griefs." "Knowledge" without God only brings "sorrow."
This is not to say that these attributes are disapproved of by the Lord. The meaning is that even these lofty ideals will bring no satisfaction without Christ.)

The "Tree of Life" (Psalm 1:3) / The Way Of The Spirit
Focus: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Object Of Faith: The Cross of Christ (Romans 6:1-14)
Power Source: The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 11)
Results: Victory (Romans 6:14)

The "Tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17) / Man's Way
Focus: Works.
Object Of Faith: Performance.
Power Source: Self.
Results: Defeat!

Everything that mans does dies; everything Jesus does lives forever and is blessed. Psalm 1:3

 

[unobtrusive]

I believe that the Law is a manifestation of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

I think the law (commandments, not just the ten) is a manifestation of God, and the tree of the "knowledge of good and evil" is a manifestation of the human race. After all, the law given to Israel clearly makes this separation. That tree contained forbidden fruit which can clearly be seen in the "New Age" philosophy that says we are gods within ourselves and can make our own decisions outside of God's directives.

"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)

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25)

It cannot be true that Satan wants us to see things correctly such as God's good, and the exposing of real evil such as the law of God does. If that were the case, he would be his own worst enemy.

"Now the serpent was more subtil (deceptive) than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made." (Genesis 3:1)

We should be looking at the law of God and the Edenic tree in a parable form.

Matthew 7:17-18[SUP]
17 [/SUP]Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.[SUP]
18 [/SUP]A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

God wanted Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of life so they would follow His directives and not their own. We aren't capable to be righteous within ourselves.

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 2:7)

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the flesh which leaves God out the equation. John 15:5, Matthew 4:4

Due to the fall, the flesh always wants to go beyond Gods way (Romans 8:1-2). The tree of the knowledge of good and evil does have good in it that Satan uses to deceive the Saints. The Apostle Paul said, "the good he had done deceived him (despite all of his efforts to live for the Lord by means of Law-keeping, he failed - for what the law could not do") Romans 8:3-4

The Law says do - Grace says done! He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

The Apostle Paul makes it very clear in Romans 8:10 that the physical body, mind / intellect, and the heart (which is evil - Jeremiah 17:9) has been rendered helpless because of the original sin; consequently, the Believer trying to overcome by willpower presents a fruitless task. Only the Holy Spirit can mortify the deeds of the flesh and make us what we ought to be (Romans 8:13). This means we cannot do it ourselves. Once again, He performs all that He does within the confines of the Finished Work of Christ (Romans 8:2).

If a Christian will and their efforts to live for God is in anything except Christ and the Cross, i.e., Finished Work, The Blood of Jesus (Romans 8:2), Satan can override your will and force you to do things you don't want to do and trying not to do (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus said deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow me (Luke 9:23).

Remember our bodies are dead and useless to God. The heart is prone to wander away from God's love and eat from "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil." The reason why the body is dead is because of the effects of the fall has made us totally incapable of yielding spiritual obedience on a regular basis (Jeremiah 13:23). So there must be a source outside of myself that helps me to enter into sanctification which is the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13).
​

 

[unobtrusive]

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the flesh which leaves God out the equation. John 15:5, Matthew 4:4

Due to the fall, the flesh always wants to go beyond Gods way (Romans 8:1-2). The tree of the knowledge of good and evil does have good in it that Satan uses to deceive the Saints. The Apostle Paul said, "the good he had done deceived him (despite all of his efforts to live for the Lord by means of Law-keeping, he failed - for what the law could not do") Romans 8:3-4

The Law says do - Grace says done! He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

The Apostle Paul makes it very clear in Romans 8:10 that the physical body, mind / intellect, and the heart (which is evil - Jeremiah 17:9) has been rendered helpless because of the original sin; consequently, the Believer trying to overcome by willpower presents a fruitless task. Only the Holy Spirit can mortify the deeds of the flesh and make us what we ought to be (Romans 8:13). This means we cannot do it ourselves. Once again, He performs all that He does within the confines of the Finished Work of Christ (Romans 8:2).

If a Christian will and their efforts to live for God is in anything except Christ and the Cross, i.e., Finished Work, The Blood of Jesus (Romans 8:2), Satan can override your will and force you to do things you don't want to do and trying not to do (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus said deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow me (Luke 9:23).

Remember our bodies are dead and useless to God. The heart is prone to wander away from God's love and eat from "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil." The reason why the body is dead is because of the effects of the fall has made us totally incapable of yielding spiritual obedience on a regular basis (Jeremiah 13:23). So there must be a source outside of myself that helps me to enter into sanctification which is the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13).
​

Very good IMO!!! That's "the way, the truth, and the life."