The Knowledge of Good and Evil in the New Testament

You will find the phrase, “good and evil,” in Hebrews 5:14, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

The context of that verse speaks of the solid food of the word of God as compared to the milk of the word. The writer of Hebrews compares a little child who is unskilled in the word of righteousness and only feeds on milk to a mature believer who is strengthened on the solid food of the word and is trained through spiritual development to distinguish good from evil.

The Greek word diakrisis, translated “distinguish,” means to cut and separate. Its companion is the Hebrew word bayin. It means to clearly see and make a true and right judgment call. This wisdom is the result of spiritual growth and development, which comes through the constant training of spiritual disciplines. The Greek word gumnadzo, is translated “trained.” We get our English word “gymnasium” from this Greek word.

Faithful study and obedience to God’s word and developing a lifestyle of spiritual disciplines leads to spiritual growth and maturity. The mature are recognized by their hunger for God’s word, their life of obedience and spiritual exercising, and by their ability to distinguish between good and evil.

In John 4:34, Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” Desiring God’s will and choosing it to be done on earth as it is in heaven is the mark of the spiritually mature. This statement by Jesus is in context of His teaching on true worship.

The knowledge of good and evil is one of the main characteristics of a mature believer. Armed with this wisdom, the mature follower of Christ desires the will of God, chooses it, and carries it out in joyful obedience. This fruit grows and develops from the inside, out. It is not something you pick and eat.

Today, eat this word from Hebrews 5:14 by reading it, studying it, hearing it, meditating on it, receiving it, and praying it. Then join God in doing it!

Tomorrow we will see what this looks like in the Church, the Bride of Christ.