enesis 2:9 introduces these two trees:
“And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
The tree of life provided eternal life and fellowship with God. By granting access to this tree, God provided a way for humanity to live forever in His presence. After the fall, access to it was denied so that man would not live eternally in a state of sin (Genesis 3:22–24). In Revelation 22:2, the tree of life reappears in the New Jerusalem, showing that eternal life is restored through Christ.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented moral responsibility and the freedom to obey or disobey God. God commanded:
“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 2:17)
This command gave Adam and Eve an opportunity to trust God’s word and live under His authority. Eating from this tree was not simply about gaining knowledge but about rejecting God’s rule and asserting independence. The choice to eat brought sin, death, and separation from God into the world.
These trees teach profound truths: eternal life is God’s gift, and true wisdom begins with obedience. Sin entered when humanity chose self-rule over God’s command, but redemption restores access to the life that was lost. Through Christ, the promise of the tree of life is fulfilled, and believers will again enjoy unbroken fellowship with God forever.
