Distinguishing between Good and Evil

Genesis 2:17 But you shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because on the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die.

It is sometimes taught that God forbade Adam from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because God does not want people to distinguish between good and evil.

However, there is a big problem with this idea: If God does not want people to distinguish between good and evil, then why did he give Adam a command in the first place? By giving Adam a command, “You shall not eat from the tree,” God had defined that it is wrong (evil) for Adam to eat from the tree. Thus, this idea is actually self-defeating.

Moreover, the Bible teaches that God wants people to distinguish between good and evil.

• In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon asked God for wisdom “to discern between good and evil.” God was pleased with Solomon’s request (v. 10).
• In Romans 12:9, the Apostle Paul instructed his readers, “Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”
• In 1 Peter 3:11, Apostle Peter instructed his readers, “Let him turn away from evil and do good.”
• According to Hebrews 5:14, mature people are “those who, because of habitual use, have their senses exercised for the purpose of discerning between good and evil”.

God intended for Adam to learn good and evil through a relationship with him. Yet, when Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it was a rebellious declaration that he wanted to attain to this knowledge in his own way, at his own time, and by his own strength.