Ever think what the purpose of this tree was? I mean why put it there in the garden? The bible says God does not tempt anyone, so God did not put the tree there as a temptation.

God told them not to eat from that tree.

“The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17)

With some temptation from the serpent(the devil) we know where it went.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)

But then they received knowledge after eating.

“Then the LORD God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.’” (Genesis 3:22b-24)

Note that they didn’t receive knowledge that was not of God, since God has the same knowing of what is good and evil, I mean He created the tree. The tree itself was not evil, it was the temptation that came with the lie that they trusted in that was evil.

“But they were already like God” you might think, yes, but not in knowledge. They were made in His image, in innocence and purity.

But see also where knowledge of good and evil pops up in the bible.

“And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!” (2 Samuel 14:17)

“He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.” (Isaiah 7:15)

Many preachers today try to steer their message to a place so that people should live free from the knowledge of good and evil. But it seems to contradict the other verses in the word that seem to encourage that knowledge.

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

I believe God put that tree in the garden so that men & women could learn instead of partake. They ate from the tree while not being mature, so in that state its consequence was death. There is wisdom in knowing who we are and at the same time knowing who we are not.

But the serpent(devil) tempts men and women to know evil before they can stand against it with truth within themselves. The lair will always start the temptation with something personal, about you, what you haven’t attained, how you fall short and how to fix it yourself.

God invites you to stand on His word, drink from the living water He put inside you, eat from the tree of life(Jesus) and grow in Him. Let Him show you and train you to know the difference between good and evil, you don’t need to partake in everything before you know if it is evil or not. Trust Him enough to show you, what He attained for you is enough, that we can personally identify with.

He is not here to tempt you, instead He wants to walk with you in the kingdom. Partaking means trust.