Genesis 2:8-9 “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow . . . the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
[This is the first time the word “knowledge” is used.]
1) Prior to 3:6, Adam and Eve have no knowledge of “good and evil:” they are innocent (and naive). [They are children.]
2) They do not NEED “knowledge of evil” because they are protected from it by the Lord.
a) Lions, bears, alligators, sharks, tigers, etc. all eat herbs. (See 1:30)
b) Satan can not touch them without permission from the Lord (see Job) and Satan wouldn’t get permission.
3) If they desire “knowledge of good” they can ask of the Lord and he will teach them. (Matthew 7:7-11)
4) There is only one thing that they may not do: eat of that tree.
5) There is only one thing that Satan wanted them to do: eat of that tree.
Genesis 3:1-5 “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof . . . ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
[This was NOT a co-operative “quest for knowledge.” This was rebellion and a quest for POWER.]
QUESTION: Can we go back to square one by giving up knowledge, and intentionally remaining ignorant?
[Let’s answer a question with questions.]
1) Genesis 1:29 “. . . Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed . . . to you it shall be for meat.”
[QUESTION: Can we get back to the garden (or innocence) by returning to vegetarianism?]
1st Timothy 4:1-6 “doctrines of devils . . . commanding to abstain from meats”
9:1-3 “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you: even as the green herb. . . .”
[ANSWER: No!]
2) Genesis 2:25 “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
[QUESTION: Can we get back to innocence by all getting naked?]
Exodus 32:25 “. . . Aaron had made them naked unto their shame. . . .”
1st Timothy 2:8-9 “I will . . . that women adorn themselves in modest apparel. . . .”
3:16-21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
[ANSWER: No!]
3) [QUESTION: Can we get into Israel by hiring priests in black robes and tithing like Israel?]
Hebrews 7:5,12,18 “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
vs. 22-25 “Jesus . . . an unchangeable priesthood”
[ANSWER: No!] (That is history. It is gone!)
QUESTION : So, should we reject knowledge so we might become as we were in the garden?
Proverbs 1:20-33 “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? . . . and fools hate knowledge?”
Isaiah 28:9 “Whom shall he teach knowledge? . . . them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”
(1st Corinthians 14:20 “Brethren, be not children in understanding: . . . be men.”)
Proverbs 2:1-11 “When . . . knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee. . . .”
1st Samuel 2:3 “Talk no more so exceeding proudly . . . for the Lord is a God of knowledge. . . .”
Psalm 53:1-5 “Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? . . . God hath despised them.”
Proverbs 11:9 “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth . . . but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.”
18:15 “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”
20:15 “There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”
Jeremiah 3:14-15 “. . . And I will give you pastors . . . which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Romans 10:1-3 “. . . they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge . . . they being ignorant. . . .”
15:14 “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are . . . filled with all knowledge. . . .”
1st Corinthians 1:4-8 “I thank my God . . . That in every thing ye are enriched by him . . . in all knowledge. . . .”
Philippians 1:9-10 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge. . . .”
2nd Peter 1:1-9 “. . . add to . . . virtue knowledge . . . But he that lacketh these things is blind. . . .”
Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge. . . .”