善恶知识树指明撒但并神以外的一切事物
这树是和生命树相反的。注意这棵树是属于善恶的知识，而不仅是属于恶的知识。善的知识和恶的知识都出自同一棵树。不管知识是善的或是恶的，只要是知识就不属于生命树，而属于知识树。
虽然善恶知识树指明撒但，但不是直接指明。这树首先指明神以外的一切事物，然后间接指明撒但，因为撒但躲藏在一切神以外的事物背后。撒但喜欢隐藏自己。因此，知识树间接代表撒但。
撒但不像神那么坦率，神总是坦率的，且从正面而来。然而，撒但是狡猾的，总是躲在背后。撒但若要找你麻烦，他不会公开的、老实的作，乃是狡猾的藉着你的妻子，或世界的一部分，譬如百货公司，来烦扰你。有的时候他甚至利用圣经，藉着其中的字句困扰你。不要忘了犹太宗教徒，就是那些法利赛人和经学家，他们怎样用圣经把主耶稣定了死罪。因为撒但是狡猾的，知识树并不直接指明他，乃是指明神以外的一切事物，包括美好的事、合乎圣经的事、以及宗教的事。
知识树首先是指明被撒但利用的一切事物，不管这些事物是好是坏。它不是直接指明撒但，因为撒但喜欢躲藏。当撒但第一次进到人里面的时候，他不是公然而来，乃是取了蛇的形状而来。当夏娃和蛇交谈时，她不知道撒但在蛇里面。在这事上含着撒但出现的原则：他永不公然的出现，乃是诡秘的出现。
从福音书中彼得的事例，我们看到撒但诡秘出现的另一个例子。彼得是个诚实、忠信的门徒。当主说祂要去钉十字架时，彼得说，“主阿，神眷怜你，这事绝不会临到你。”主耶稣却转过身来，对彼得说，“撒但，退我后面去罢！”（太十六21～23）。表面上说话的人是彼得，事实上是在彼得里面的撒但。当犹大出卖主的时候，撒但也在他里面。犹大被撒但充满，所以被称为“魔鬼”（约十三2，27,六70）。
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The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (1) – Gen. 2:16-17
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Indicates Satan and All Things Apart from God
This tree is the opposite of the tree of life. Notice that this tree pertains to the knowledge of good and evil, not just to evil. The knowledge of good and the knowledge of evil both come from the same tree. Whether the knowledge is good or evil, as long as it is knowledge, it does not belong to the tree of life — it belongs to the tree of knowledge.
Although the tree of the knowledge of good and evil points to Satan, it does so indirectly. This tree primarily indicates everything apart from God, and then indirectly indicates Satan, because Satan hides behind all things that are outside of God. Satan likes to conceal himself. Therefore, the tree of knowledge indirectly represents Satan.
Satan is not as open as God. God is always straightforward and comes in an open way. But Satan is cunning and always hides in the background. If Satan wants to trouble you, he won’t come openly and honestly; instead, he will slyly use your wife, or some part of the world — such as a department store — to disturb you. Sometimes he even uses the Bible, through its literal words, to trouble you. Don’t forget how the Jewish religionists — the Pharisees and scribes — used the Scriptures to condemn the Lord Jesus to death. Because Satan is cunning, the tree of knowledge does not directly point to him but instead to all things apart from God, including good things, scriptural things and religious things.
The tree of knowledge primarily represents all things used by Satan, regardless of whether those things are good or bad. It does not directly point to Satan because he likes to remain hidden. When Satan first entered into man, he did not come openly, but took the form of a serpent. When Eve conversed with the serpent, she didn’t know that Satan was in it. This illustrates a principle of Satan’s manifestation: he never appears openly, but always comes secretly.
Another example of Satan’s hidden appearance can be seen in Peter’s story in the Gospels. Peter was an honest and faithful disciple. When the Lord said He would go to the cross, Peter said, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But the Lord Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matt. 16:21–23). Outwardly, Peter was the one speaking, but inwardly it was Satan. When Judas betrayed the Lord, Satan was also within him. Judas was filled with Satan, so he was called “a devil” (John 13:2, 27; 6:70).