Tree of Knowledge and Tree of Life

Two trees stood at the heart of Eden – the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. What happened when our first parents chose between them still shapes every human life, and the same choice confronts each of us today.

Two Trees in the Garden

In the Garden of Eden, God placed two special trees: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (or conscience) and the Tree of Life (Gen 2:9). He gave strict instructions to Adam and Eve, “Don't eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge”, though there may not have been the same prohibition about eating of the Tree of Life (Gen 2:16-17). Rather than providing a physical barrier to prevent the fruit being sampled, God gave them a choice – to obey Him or disregard His commands.

Choices ultimately have consequences

Satan tempted the couple, they ate of the Tree of Knowledge, and, true to God's Word, ‘their eyes were opened’ and they were aware of things they did not previously know. God stated, “They have become like one of Us, knowing good and evil”, and they were quickly banished from the Garden while the Tree of Life was guarded so they would not be able to eat its fruit (Gen 3:7-11,22,24). If, in their fallen state, they had eaten of it, they would have lived forever in a sinful condition, separated from God without any hope of redemption. Being the ‘first parents’, none of their subsequent ‘children’ would have had any prospect of receiving the forgiveness and salvation which is now available through Jesus Christ for those who repent of sin and turn to Him (1 Cor 15:22).

The Nature of Disobedience

Humanity's original sin was disobeying the explicit command of God, rather than merely tasting the fruit. The fruit (whatever type it was) was merely the means by which their disobedience was outworked. Every day we are confronted with the same choice – to live and act as Jesus would wish us to, or to follow our own selfish desires (Rom 8:13; Gal 5:25). The decisions we make determine whether we are rewarded by God for obedience, or suffer the consequences of disobedience.

Knowledge without divine life is futile

The consequences of this primary sin are still being experienced today (Gen 3:15-19). The perverse nature of rebellious humanity is such that when told ‘don't touch the paint – it's wet’ we often touch it – either to verify whether the statement is true or in defiance of a specific instruction. Knowledge multiplied, yet life withered, for knowing good and evil without living in obedience to God only sharpened humanity's capacity to do wrong.

The Tree of Life Restored

John saw the curse of Eden reversed: in the New Jerusalem the Tree of Life bears fruit every month, and its leaves are “for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22:2). Those who wash their robes in the Lamb's blood are granted the right to the Tree of Life and may enter the city (Rev 22:14). What Adam forfeited by disobedience, the last Adam secures by obedience (Rom 5:19; 1 Cor 15:45).

The Tree of Life is within reach again

In the New Jerusalem we will be free of sin and at liberty to eat freely of the continually-fruiting Tree of Life (Rev 22:2,14,19). Humanity's bias hasn't changed: we still prize knowledge and cater to inner desires rather than seek eternal life. What was lost in Eden is not lost forever, however – the Tree of Life stands within reach through the redeeming work of Christ.

Humanity's unchanged bias shows in how Eden's story is treated today: the forbidden knowledge is prized, the offer of life left untouched. The conscience is educated, but the heart remains in rebellion (Rom 1:21-22). Many will seek to enter the kingdom and not be able, not because the gate is too narrow, but because they will not come to Christ for life (Lk 13:24; Jn 5:40).

Yet God in Christ has not left humanity in the condition Adam's fall produced. At immense cost the barrier of sin has been taken away (Heb 10:19-20), and the way to the Tree of Life, closed by a flaming sword in Eden (Gen 3:24), is opened by a risen Saviour who is “the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6; Jn 1:12). Eternal life is not earned by gathering knowledge but received by faith: “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3).

The invitation, however, is for today. Christ grants to the one who conquers the right to eat of the Tree of Life (Rev 2:7), but warns that His coming is soon and each one's opportunity to respond is limited (Rev 22:12,20). To eat of the Tree, then, we must receive the life of Christ now – repenting of sin, believing the gospel and walking in obedience – so that the choice first made in Eden is answered rightly in us.

The invitation, and the warning

Reflection and Application

Obedience, not appetite, was the real issue in Eden – and it still is.
Knowledge pursued apart from God puffs up; life received from God transforms.
Every temptation re-presents the same choice between our way and God's way.
What was forfeited in Eden is freely offered again through Christ (Rev 22:14).