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创世记生命读经 · 第13篇

两棵树（一）

THE TWO TREES (1)
1在前面几篇信息里，我们已经看过神永远的目的，以及神达成祂目的的方法。神达成祂目的的方法，首先是造人为器皿盛装祂自己作生命，然后是将人安置在园中生命树跟前，指明神的用意是要人吃这树的果子。然而，同著生命树的，还有创世记二章九节和十七节所题的善恶知识树。所以，我们需要仔细来看这两棵树的意义。
1In the foregoing messages, we have covered God’s eternal purpose and some of the points regarding God’sway of fulfilling His purpose. God’sway of accomplishing His purpose was firstly to create man as a vessel to contain Himself as life and then to place him in a garden before the tree of life, indicating that God’sin tent i on was for man to partake of the fruit of this tree. However, along with the tree of life, Genesis 2:9, 17 mention the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, we need to consider very carefully the significance of these two trees
让人自由选择 二16～17
b. Allowing Man to Have Free Choice—2:16-17
2神虽然要人吃生命树，却没有强迫人，也没有把生命树放到人里面。反之，神给人自由的意志，让人有选择的自由。母亲𫗪婴孩的时候，似乎是强迫他们吃，其实他们仍有自由意志，因为他们往往拒绝已经送到嘴里的食物。母亲要小孩子吃，但她必须了解孩子有自由的意志。
2Although God wanted man to eat of the tree of life, He did not force him to do it. Neither did God put the tree of life into him. Instead, God gave man free will. He gave him freedom of choice. When mothers feed their infant children, they seem to force the children to take the food. Nevertheless, the baby still has free will, for often he refuses the food that has been put in his mouth. The mother wants her child to eat, but she must recognize that he has a free will
3神创造人，给人有选择的自由。为甚么？因为神是大的，不是小的。只有小的人才强迫别人接受他的意见。你若强迫别人接受你的方法，就证明你是小的人。你若是大的，就绝不会强迫别人接受，你总会给人选择，说，『你若爱我，就接受我；若不喜欢我，可以把我忘了。』没有一个大的或尊贵的人会强制人。同样，神是大的，祂这位荣耀的神是这样吸引人，祂不是无所谓的把人安置在祂面前，强迫人选择祂。祂乃是把人安置在两棵树跟前，使人面对选择。
3God created man with freedom of choice. Why did God do this? God is great. He is not small. Only a small man forces people to accept his opinion. If you compel others to take your way, it proves that you are a small person. If you are a great man, you will never force people to accept you. You will always give them a choice, saying, “If you love me, you may take me. If you do not care for me, you are free to forget about me.” No man who is great or honorable will coerce people. Likewise, God is great. He is so attractive as the God of glory. God did not place man in front of Him exclusively, thus compelling man to choose Him. He placed man before two trees, confronting him with a choice
4当我还是年轻的基督徒时，很受这事的搅扰。我想：『神为甚么把人放在这么危险的情况里？我若是神，我一定把善恶知识树挪走，只留下生命树，然后把人安置在生命树跟前，还要砌一堵高墙保护人的安全。神为甚么不这么作？神为甚么要把善恶知识树留在园里试诱人？一切的麻烦都是从这源头来的。神为甚么不把牠挪走？神若把这棵树挪走，我们会省了不少麻烦。』不只我一个人有这些问题，很多年轻人都问过我同样的问题。然而，神若不给人选择，那祂就是强迫人接受生命树了。神太大了，祂不作这样的事。神是尊贵且满有吸引的。为著显示祂的伟大，并且证明祂的吸引力，祂需要第二棵树。
4When I was a young Christian, I was bothered by this. I said, “Why did God put man into such a dangerous situation? If I had been God, I would have removed the tree of knowledge of good and evil. I would have left the tree of life, placed man in front of it, and built a high protective wall to keep him safe. Why didn’t God do this? Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden as a temptation? Every problem comes from this source. Why didn’t God take it away? If He had removed this tree, it would have saved us a great deal of trouble.” I was not the only one who had these questions. Many young people asked me the same thing. However, if God had not given man a choice, He would have forced him to take the tree of life. God is too great to do such a thing. God is honorable and attractive. In order to display His greatness and prove His attractiveness, He needs the second tree.
5照约伯记看，神的对头撒但曾向神控告约伯。他似乎对神说，『约伯为甚么敬拜你？他敬拜你只是因为你祝福他。你若收回一切的祝福，约伯必定抛弃你，当面弃绝你。』（伯一9～11。）换句话说，撒但告诉耶和华，祂是贿赂约伯来敬拜祂；若是祂不贿赂约伯，约伯必定弃绝祂。因此，撒但毁谤神，如同毁谤约伯一样。神似乎这样回答撒但：『照你所能的去作罢，我只吩咐你存留他的性命。我要证明给你看，约伯不是受贿赂，乃是被我吸引。约伯敬拜我是出于他自己自由的意志。』
5According to the book of Job, Satan, the adversary of God, accused Job to God. He seemed to say, “Why does Job worship You? He worships You only because You bless him. If You take away all these blessings, Job will forsake You and renounce You to Your face” (Job 1:9-11). In other words, Satan told the Lord that He was bribing Job to worship Him and that if He did not bribe him, Job would forsake Him. Thus, Satan was slandering God as well as Job. God seemed to answer Satan, “Do as much as you can. I only command you to spare his life. I will prove to you that Job has not been bribed, but that he has been attracted by Me. Job worships Me out of his own free will
6神今天仍是一样，祂从来不强制任何人接受祂。当主耶稣来的时候，祂不强制人跟从祂。祂将自己摆在人前，总是尊重人选择的自由。主似乎说，『你若喜欢我，就接受我；若不喜欢我，可以把我忘了。』也许有人觉得，我们是被主的怜悯所迫才相信祂的。在某种程度内我也这么觉得；祂的怜悯征服了我们，劝服我们来接受祂。然而，我能很强的见证，你若强迫我拒绝祂，我仍会要祂，我绝不弃绝祂。历代以来，为甚么会有那么多的殉道者？主神站在远处，让祂的子民选择，好将实际的情况证实给祂的仇敌看。神似乎说，『撒但，尽你所能的作罢，我的子民仍要拣选我。』我们的倪柝声弟兄被监禁二十年之久，从一九五二年一直到一九七二年去世，在监里受尽试炼和试诱。他从来没有改变他的拣选，因为他的主是那么可爱、那么吸引人。我们已经接受了主耶稣，不是因为受到强迫或压力，乃是因为被祂的荣耀所呼召，并受祂的美德所吸引。（彼后一3。）我们都能承认，不管人给我们甚么，我们绝不弃绝主耶稣。我们的主是太可爱、太宝贵、也太吸引人了。祂是我们独一拣选的对象。
6God is the same today. He never forces anyone to accept Him. When the Lord Jesus came, He did not coerce people into following Him. He presented Himself to people, but always respected their freedom of choice. The Lord seemed to say, “If you like Me, you may take Me. If you don’t like Me, you may forget about Me.” Some of us may feel that we have been compelled by the Lord’s mercy to believe in Him. To a certain extent, I feel the same way. His mercy has conquered us, persuading us to receive Him. Nevertheless, I can testify strongly that if you force me to reject Him, I will still take Him. I will never give Him up. Why have there been so many martyrs throughout the centuries? The Lord God stayed away, allowing His people to make a choice, that the actual situation might be proved to His enemy. God seemed to say, “Do your best, Satan. My people still choose Me.” Our brother Watchman Nee was imprisoned for twenty years, from 1952 until his death in 1972, where he was tested and tempted. He never changed his choice because his Lord was too lovely and too attractive. We have received the Lord Jesus, not because we have been forced or pressed, but because we have been called by His glory and attracted by His virtue (2 Pet. 1:3). We all can confess that regardless of what people might offer us, we would never renounce the Lord Jesus. Our Lord is too dear, too precious, and too attractive. We have made Him our unique choice
7神在伊甸园中，也是照著同样的原则，将亚当安置在指明两个源头的两棵树跟前。神要人选择作生命树的祂。
7The same principle operated in the garden of Eden when God placed Adam before the two trees, which denoted two sources. God wanted man to choose Him as the tree of life.
（一） 生命树
1) The Tree of Life
（1） 指明神
a) Signifying God
8生命树是一个表号，指明神是那正确的源头。（参诗三六9，约一4，十10下，十一25，十四6，约壹五12，西三4。）我们若只读创世记第二章，就不会领会生命树的意义。然而约翰福音却把生命树所表明的生命，具体的启示出来。约翰一章四节说，『生命在祂里面。』十五章五节告诉我们，主耶稣是葡萄树。我们把这两节摆在一起，就领会基督是生命树。主耶稣，神的具体表现，乃是生命树。因此，创世记二章的生命树，乃是神这生命源头的表号。
8The tree of life was a symbol, signifying God as the proper source (cf. Psa. 36:9; John 1:4; 10:10b; 11:25; 14:6; 1 John 5:12; Col. 3:4). If we only read Genesis 2, we will be unable to understand the meaning of the tree of life. However, the Gospel of John reveals the life denoted by the tree of life in a concrete way. John 1:4 says, “In Him was life,” and John 15:5 tells us that the Lord Jesus is a vine tree. If we put these two verses together, we will realize that Christ is the tree of life. Jesus, the embodiment of God, is the tree of life. Therefore, the tree of life in Genesis 2 is a symbol of God as the source of life
9除了这源头，在宇宙中还有另一棵树，另一个源头－死亡。然而，这树不叫死亡树，而叫善恶知识树。在宇宙中有这样一棵树。这两棵树彼此对抗，生命树指明神这生命的源头；知识树指明撒但这死亡的源头。正如神是生命的源头，撒但乃是死亡的源头。因此，在创世记二章我们看到由两棵树所指明的两个源头。
9Besides this source, there is another tree, another source in the universe—death. However, this tree is not called the tree of death; it is called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There is such a tree in this universe. These two trees oppose one another, the tree of life denoting God as the source of life, and the tree of knowledge signifying Satan as the source of death. As God is the source of life, Satan is the source of death. Therefore, in Genesis 2 we find two sources signified by two trees
10在研读这卷书的过程中，我们多次指1出，在创世记一、二章里，几乎每件事都是神圣启示的种子。这两棵树也是这样的种子，也和别的撒在创世记一、二章的种子一样，在圣经接下来的各卷中逐渐长大，并且在启示录里成熟收割。在启示录二十章十节和十四节，我们看到死亡被扔在火湖里；在二十二章二节，我们看见生命在新耶路撒冷里。在圣经起头我们看到死亡和生命，到了结尾再次看到死亡和生命。在圣经首尾之间有两条线－死亡线与生命线。这两条线都是始于创世记而终于启示录。死亡始于善恶知识树，终于火湖；生命始于生命树，终于新耶路撒泠。我们得救之前是在死亡线上，得救以后就被摆在生命线上。
10Throughout the course of this life-study, we have pointed out several times that nearly everything in Genesis and 2 is a seed of the divine revelation. The two trees are such seeds. Along with all the other seeds sown in Genesis 1 and 2, these seeds grow in the following books of the Bible and are reaped as a harvest in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 20:10, 14 we see that death is cast into the lake of fire. In Revelation 22:2 we see that life abides in the New Jerusalem. At the beginning of the Bible we find death and life, and at the end of the Bible we again see death and life. Between the two ends of the Bible two lines are set forth—the line of death and the line of life. Both lines begin in the book of Genesis and end in the book of Revelation. Death begins with the tree of knowledge of good and evil and ends with the lake of fire. Life begins with the tree of life and ends at the New Jerusalem. Before we were saved, we were on the line of death. After we were saved, we were put on the line of life.
（2） 内容、性质和结果
b) Its Contents, Nature, and Result
11第一个选择是生命树，这树指明神自己是生命。生命树的内容是生命，单单、纯粹、绝对是生命。这树的性质和结果也是生命。生命是内容、性质和结果。一切都是生命。
11The first of these two choices was the tree of life, which denoted God Himself as life. The content of the tree of life is life. It is life, simply, purely, and absolutely. The nature of this tree and the result of this tree are also life. Life is the content, nature, and result. Everything is life.
（3） 原则－倚靠
c) Its Principle—to Be Dependent
12生命树的原则是倚靠。你们许多人也许不太清楚这倚靠的原则，我可以用毕业为例来说明。读这篇信息的人，差不多都已从某种学校毕业；或是小学，或是中学，或是专科、大学。虽然我们可以从这些学校毕业，却绝不能从餐厅毕业；我们念书有毕业的时候，却绝不可从吃毕业，也不能从喝水或呼吸毕业。我鼓励你好好念书，早点从学校毕业，却绝不鼓励你从呼吸毕业，因为这样你就会死亡。这是甚么意思？这意思是说，知识造成独立，生命要求倚靠。我们学了某种知识，就可以毕业，并且独立行动。比方说，我可能不懂得烹饪，但是等我在烹饪专家指点下有了学习，最终我就富有知识，可以独立，不必教师帮助，自己就会烹饪了。然而，关于生命的事，我们绝不能独立，我们需要不断的倚靠生命。我一生下来就开始呼吸，并且一天二十四小时不断的呼吸，绝不会有毕业的时候。我绝不能不倚靠呼吸而活。我绝不能说，『我呼吸得已经彀久了，现在成为专家了；我能教你怎么呼吸，但我自己不用呼吸了。』不管我们有多大年纪，仍然倚靠呼吸，因为呼吸是生命的事。
12The principle of the tree of life is dependence. Perhaps many of you are not clear about this principle of dependence. Allow me to use the illustration of graduation. Nearly everyone reading this message has graduated from some kind of school, either elementary school, high school, college, or university. Although we may graduate from such schools, we can never graduate from a restaurant. We may graduate from studying, but we should never graduate from eating. Furthermore, we cannot graduate from drinking water or from breathing air. I encourage you to study well and to graduate from school as soon as possible. However, I would never encourage you to graduate from breathing, for if you do that you will die. What is the meaning of this? It means that knowledge creates independence and that life demands dependence. Obtaining a certain body of knowledge permits us to graduate and to act independently. For example, I may not know how to cook. After studying the art of cooking under an expert chef, I will eventually become knowledgeable, independent, and able to cook without the aid of my instructor. However, in the things pertaining to life we can never be independent. We are dependent upon life constantly. I have been breathing since the day I was born, and I continue to breathe twenty-four hours a day. I have never graduated from breathing. I can never be independent of breathing and stay alive. I should not say, “I have practiced enough breathing. Now I am an expert. I can teach you to breathe, but I don’t need to breathe myself.” Regardless how old we are, we remain dependent upon breathing because breathing is a matter of life
13当神呼召亚伯拉罕离开迦勒底吾珥的时侯，并没有给他一张地图。神没有说，『亚伯拉罕，这里是你的旅程图。我要领你出迦勒底的吾珥，进入美地，这张地图很清楚，你只要准确的照著路线走，就会到达目的地。』神只告诉亚伯拉罕离开他的本地、亲族和父家，并没有告诉他该往那里去。神为甚么这样对待亚伯拉罕？神这样带领他，是因为在呼召亚伯拉罕以前，人类已经堕落远离了神，弃绝了神的面，完全照著知识而活，没有照著作生命的神而活。所以神进来呼召亚伯拉罕从这种光景中出来，把他带回归祂自己。神并没有给亚伯拉罕地图或指示，因为神要亚伯拉罕不断的在祂面前生活行动。神的同在就是地图，神的同在就是方向、带领和指引。亚伯拉罕若是问神：『主阿，告诉我明天该往那里去，』神一定回答说，『孩子，好好的睡，放心罢，明天我就作你的指导，作你的活地图。』
13When God called Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldees, He did not give him a map. God did not say, “Abraham, here is a map for your journey. I want to bring you out of Ur of the Chaldees and into the good land. This map is very clear. If you follow every turn accurately, you will arrive at your destination.” God simply told Abraham to leave his country, kinsmen, and father’sho use. God did not tell Abraham where he should go. Why did God deal with Abraham in this way? God led him in this manner because, prior to the call of Abraham, the human race had fallen far away from God. Man had forsaken the presence of God and was living absolutely according to knowledge, not according to God as life. God intervened to call Abraham out of that situation and bring him back to Himself. God did not give Abraham a map or directions, because His intention was that Abraham had to live and move continually in His presence. God’s presence was the map. God’s presence was the direction, the leading, and the guidance. If Abraham had asked God, “Lord, tell me where I should go tomorrow,” He would have replied, “My child, sleep well and be at peace. Do not be troubled. Tomorrow I will be your guidance. I will be your living map.”
14驾驶汽车的人都不喜欢人在后座指点他。然而，你若是属天汽车的驾驶人，你就需要一位一同驾驶的。你若有这位活神和你一同驾驶，就可以不用地图。祂就是你的活地图，也是你的活向导。你甚至可以停下来让祂驾驶。你可以靠近祂坐著，享受祂的驾驶，并且说，『我何必劳苦挂心怎样转弯？主耶稣，你来作。主阿，你替我开车，我只要享受你的驾驶。』这就是倚靠生命的意思。
14No automobile driver likes a back-seat driver. However, if you are the driver of a heavenly automobile, you need a co-driver. If you have the living God as your co-driver, you will not need a map. He will be your living map and your living guide. Actually, you will even cease being the driver and let Him drive. You may sit near Him and enjoy His driving saying, “Why must I labor and take care of all the turns? Lord Jesus, You do it. Lord, You drive in my place. Let me simply enjoy Your driving.” This is what it means to be dependent on life
15反之，假设我学会了每一种道理，也熟悉圣经中的每一卷书，并且写了成百篇的信息，可供我一生传道之用；我若是这样，就只能给你们知识树。知识不要求我们倚靠。当你得到知识，牢牢记住或写在笔记本上，你就可以远离神的面，而仍然为祂工作。你有了知识，就不需要倚靠主耶稣了。主在三层天上，你在地上远处，你仍然可以供职。
15Suppose, on the contrary, that I learn every doctrine, every book of the Bible, and compose hundreds of messages to supply me for a whole lifetime of ministry. If I were such a person, I could only give you the tree of knowledge. Knowledge does not require our dependence. Once you have acquired knowledge, recording it in your memory or in your notebooks, you may stay far away from the Lord’s presence and still work for Him. When you have knowledge, you do not need to depend on the Lord Jesus. The Lord could be in the third heavens and you in a remote region of the earth and you could still conduct your ministry
16生命的路绝不是这样。许多次我对要来的聚会该说甚么而负担沉重。比如，有一次我祷告了整个下午和傍晚，说，『主阿，赐给我话。哦，主阿！你的负担是甚么？』虽然我有负担，却不清楚这负担的内容。那晚我必须说话。当我进入会所，里面仍然没有话；会众已经唱诗祷告了，我里面满了负担，却仍然没有话。我继续祷告：『主阿，你的负担是甚么？你的信息是甚么？主阿，你要我说甚么？』到了我该传信息的时候，我还是不知道该说甚么；甚至上了讲台，并且说，『请打开圣经…』那时仍不晓得读那一卷书。然后我说，『…读创世记，』我还不知道要读那一章，接著我说『第三章』的时候，还不知道读第几节。直到读创世记三章十五节，女人的后裔要伤蛇的头，我才清楚开始讲信息了；于是就有了一篇活的信息，从头到末了都是倚靠主。我没有知识，所能作的只是倚靠这位活的主。这就是生命树的原则。
16The way of life is absolutely different from this. Many times I have been burdened about what I should speak in a forthcoming meeting. For example, once I prayed the entire afternoon and evening saying, “Lord, give me a word. O Lord, what is Your burden?” Although I had a burden, I had no clear guidance relating to the content of the burden. I had to speak that night. As I entered the meeting hall, I had no word. As the congregation was singing and praying, I was burdened, but still had no word. I continued to pray, “Lord, what is Your burden? What is Your message? O Lord, what do You want me to say?” Although it was time for me to deliver the message, I still did not know what to speak. I stepped up to the platform and said, “Let us open the Bible....” Even at that very moment I did not know what book. Then I said, “ ...and read the book of Genesis,” although I did not know what chapter. Then I said, “Chapter three,” yet I did not know which verse. Only then was I clear to begin a message on Genesis 3:15, which says that the seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent. A living message came forth. From the beginning to the end I was dependent. I had no knowledge. All I could do was depend upon the living Lord. This is the principle of the tree of life
17我们可以把这原则应用在以弗所五章婚姻的教训上。所有作妻子的基督徒都晓得，以弗所五章告诉她们要服从自己的丈夫。所有作丈夫的基督徒也知道，那处经节告诉他们当爱自己的妻子。然而，妻子和丈夫都达不到这些经文的要求，因为他们把以弗所五章当作知识树，而不当作生命树。你们作丈夫和作妻子的，不能照著知识树而活，应当凭生命树而活。妻子要说，『主阿，我不晓得当怎样服从我的丈夫，即使知道，我也作不来。主阿，算了！我不靠自己的努力或力量来达到这要求。主耶稣，我只停留在你的同在里，我要住在你里面，一天二十四小时享受你。』如果这样，服从就自然的从你里面流出来。这就是你享受基督作你里面生命而有的涌流，这就是倚靠生命树。
17We may apply this principle to the teaching about marriage in Ephesians 5. All Christian wives know the verse in Ephesians 5 which tells them to submit to their own husbands. All Christian husbands know the verse which tells them to love their wives. Nevertheless, wives and husbands fail to fulfill the requirements of these verses because they take Ephesians 5 as the tree of knowledge, not as the tree of life. Husbands and wives, you should not live according to the tree of knowledge. You must live by the tree of life. As a wife you should say, Lord, I don’t know how to submit to my husband. Lord, even if I do know, I cannot do it. I will forget about it, Lord. I won’t use my effort or energy to fulfill this requirement. Lord Jesus, I simply stay in Your presence. I want to abide in You and enjoy You twenty-four hours a day.” If you do this, submission spontaneously will flow out of your inner being. It will be the overflow of your enjoyment of Christ as your inner life. This is dependence on the tree of life
18生命树的原则是甚么？生命树的原则就是倚靠。我们必须倚靠；不要走知识的路，因为那条路的结果乃是死。
18What is the principle of the tree of life? Its principle is dependence. We all must be dependent. Do not take the way of knowledge, for the result of that way is death
（二） 善恶知识树
2) The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
19第二个选择是知识树，（创二，）这树是和生命树相反的。要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。
19The second choice was the tree of knowledge (Gen. 2:17), which was the opposite of the tree of life. Note that this 17 tree was called the tree of knowledge of good and evil, not simply the knowledge of evil. Both the knowledge of good and the knowledge of evil come from the same tree. It does not matter whether knowledge is the knowledge of good or of evil. As long as it is knowledge, it does not belong to the tree of life. It belongs to the tree of knowledge.
（1） 指明撒但并神以外的一切事物
a) Signifying Satan and All Things apart from God
20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。
20Although the tree of the knowledge of good and evil signifies Satan, it does not signify him directly. It firstly signifies everything apart from God and then it signifies Satan indirectly, because Satan is hidden at the back of the things that are apart from God. Satan likes to conceal himself. Thus, the tree of knowledge represents him indirectly
21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，乃是狡猾的藉著你的妻子，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，藉著其中的字句困扰你。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。（约十九7。）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。不管是好是坏，只要不是神自己，都会被撒但利用。
21Satan is not as frank as God. God is very frank and always comes to the front. Satan, however, is subtle, always staying at the rear. If Satan wants to trouble you, he will not do it openly and frankly. He will do it subtly, acting through your wife or through apart of the world, such as a department store. Sometimes, Satan even utilizes the Bible, operating through the letters of the Scripture to harass you. Remember how the Jewish religionists, the Pharisees and the scribes, used the Bible to condemn the Lord Jesus to death (John 19:7). Because Satan is subtle, the tree of knowledge does not signify him directly. It signifies everything apart from God, including good things, scriptural things, and religious things. Regardless of whether a thing is good or evil, as long as it is not God Himself it can be utilized by Satan.
22在神之外，一切的事物可分为知识、善、恶这三类。假设你打算作一件好事，然而在你灵的深处却觉得不要碰，也不要作；你不信服里面禁止的感觉，就去和长老说，『弟兄，请看我心里想作的这件好事。这是件非常好的事，为甚么我去作没有平安？』长老可能说，『不管你里面平安与否，你都该作，因为那是件好事。』长老若是这么回答，他定规是个知识的长老，他不懂生命的原则。正确的长老该说，『弟兄，我们绝不可跟著善恶知识树走，我们的原则不在于好坏或对错，我们的原则乃是生命。』不要应用善恶的原则，乃要与生命的原则合作；你里面若没有平安，就表示生命之灵不赞同你的打算，你必须与祂合作。你若肯，就能得著生命。你过去没有一再重复这样的经历么？甚么时候你照著善行动，你就被杀死，你就经历死。然而，你若照里面的生命行动，你就得著更丰盛的生命。
22The things apart from God fall into three categories: knowledge, good, and evil. Suppose you have the intention of doing a certain good thing. Deep in your spirit, however, you have the sense not to touch it and not to do it. You are not convinced by this inner sense which forbids you to do it and you go to one of the elders saying, “Brother, look at this good thing I have in mind to do. It is very good. Why don’t I have the peace to do it?” The elder may say, “It does not matter whether or not you have the peace. You should do it because it is good.” If the elder gives such a reply, he will certainly be an elder of knowledge, not knowing the principle of life. Every proper elder should say, “Brother, we should never go along with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Our principle is not good and bad, right and wrong. Our principle is life.” Do not employ the principle of good and bad, but cooperate with the principle of life. If you do not have peace within, it means that the Spirit of life does not agree with what you intend to do. You need to cooperate with Him. If you do, you will receive life. Have you not had this kind of experience repeatedly in the past? Whenever you acted according to the good, you were killed. You experienced death. However, when you acted according to the inner life, you received more life
23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。牠不是直接指明撒但，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。在圣经的开头，蛇非常灵巧，在表面上相当吸引人，（创三1，）不像在神咒诅下丑陋的蛇。当夏娃和蛇交谈时，她不知道撒但在蛇里面。在这事上含著撒但出现的原则：他永不公然的出现，乃是诡秘的出现。
23The tree of knowledge firstly signifies everything utilized by Satan, regardless of whether it is good or evil. It does not signify Satan directly, because he likes to hide. When Satan first entered into man, he did not do it in a frank way. He came in the form of a serpent. At the beginning of the Bible, the serpent was very cunning and apparently was quite attractive (Gen. 3:1), unlike the ugly serpents under God’s curse. As Eve conversed with the serpent, she did not realize that Satan was in it. Herein lies the principle of Satan’s appearing: he never appears frankly, but subtly
24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，非常爱主耶稣。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。当犹大出卖主耶稣的时候，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。）
24We find another example of Satan’s subtle appearing in the case of Peter in the Gospels. Peter was an honest, faithful disciple, and he loved the Lord Jesus very much. When the Lord spoke of His coming crucifixion, Peter said, “God be merciful to You, Lord; this shall by no means happen to You!” (Matt. 16:21-23). The Lord Jesus turned to Peter and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Apparently, Peter was the speaker; actually it was Satan in Peter. Satan was also in Judas when he betrayed the Lord Jesus. Judas was filled with Satan and called “a devil” (John 13:2, 27; 6:70).
25从这些例子我们能看见，撒但绝不明明白白的行事，他总是狡猾的，用别的人事物作掩饰。你也许会说，『那不是撒但，那是我的太太，那是我亲爱的丈夫。』然而，妻子和丈夫都会被撒但利用，所以我们必须小心。
25By all these examples we can see that Satan never acts frankly. He is always subtle, using others as a covering. You may say, “That is not Satan. That is my wife. That is my dear husband.” Nevertheless, the wife and the husband have been used by Satan. Therefore, we must be careful
（2） 内容
b) Its Contents
26知识树的内容是神以外一切的事物。甚至连神所默示的圣经，和神所颁赐的律法，都会在字句上被撒但利用，作了知识树。甚至你今天对基督的经历，也会成为明天的知识树。我已经举例说明，那次我怎样完全倚靠主传创世记三章十五节那篇信息的经历。那篇信息很活。然而，假设我应邀到别的城市讲道，我对自己说，『我曾经用创世记三章十五节讲过这么好的一篇信息，我想我可以照样再讲一次。』我若这样作，那篇信息就成了知识树。两个月前这篇信息是生命树，现在按著知识再说一次，就成了知识树。你向主作了一次活的祷告后，可能也有同样的经历。一天晚上，你可能靠著主作了一次活的祷告，因为那个祷告太好了，太活了，你决定下次祷告聚会再逐字重复一次。但出乎意料的，那曾经是生命树的祷告，现在成了知识树。因此，就是活的祷告，也能成为知识树。
26The contents of the tree of knowledge are all things apart from God. Even the Bible inspired by God and the law given by God may be utilized in letters by Satan as the tree of knowledge. Even the experience of Christ that you had today can become the tree of knowledge tomorrow. I have already illustrated the experience of giving a message on Genesis 3:15 in complete dependence upon the Lord. That message was very living. Suppose, however, I am invited to speak in another city, and I think to myself, “I gave such a good message on Genesis 3:15. I think I’ll repeat the same message.” If I do this, that message will become the tree of knowledge. Two months ago that message was the tree of life; now, once it is repeated in the way of knowledge, it becomes the tree of knowledge. You may have a similar experience after offering up a living prayer to the Lord. One night you may be offering up a living prayer in dependence upon the Lord. Because that prayer was excellent and living, you decide to repeat the same prayer, word for word, in the next prayer meeting. To your surprise, the prayer that once was the tree of life becomes the tree of knowledge. Thus, even a living prayer can become the tree of knowledge
27我们从家庭生活中举个例子。作父母亲的常教训孩子们：『你看约翰多好！你为甚么不跟他学？』约翰的行为若是倚靠主而来的，就是生命树；若要另一个孩子效法约翰，他的效法就是知识树。我们需要把这个应用在自己身上。我们若在某方面照著生命行动了，后来照著第一次经历所得到的知识，重复那次的行动，这就成了知识树。
27Let us take an example from our family life. Parents often instruct their children by saying, “Don’ty ou see that John is such a good boy? Why don’ty ou act the way he does?” If John’s behavior comes from a dependence upon the Lord, it is the tree of life. If another child imitates John, his imitation is the tree of knowledge. We need to apply this to ourselves. If we act in a certain way according to life and then repeat that action according to the knowledge derived from our first experience, that repetition becomes the tree of knowledge.
28就是一本圣经，对我们也可能是两棵树。你若倚靠主，运用灵接触神的话，圣经就是生命树；然而，你若运用心思，把圣经当成一本字句的书查考，圣经就成了知识树。我们可以使字句的圣经成为知识树。主耶稣对犹太人说，『你们查考圣经…然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』（约五39～40。）仅仅查考圣经是到知识树那里，藉著神的话接触主是来到生命树这里。绝不要使圣经成为知识树，总要保守牠是生命树；决定的因素就在于你读经时，是否倚靠主。你若不倚靠祂，所得的一切就都是知识树；你若倚靠祂，所得的一切就都是生命树。不要认为创世记二章讲的两棵树是古代的历史。创世记二章不是过时的记载，牠乃是两个神圣原则活的、及时的、属天的启示。
28Even the one Bible can be two trees to us. If you depend on the Lord and exercise your spirit as you touch the Word, the Bible is the tree of life. However, if you exercise your mind and investigate the Bible as a book of letters, it will be the tree of knowledge. We can make the Bible in letters the tree of knowledge. The Lord Jesus told the Jews, “You search the Scriptures...you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39- 40). To merely search the Scriptures is to come to the tree of knowledge; to contact the Lord through the Word is to come to the tree of life. Never make the Bible the tree of knowledge. Always keep it as the tree of life. The determining factor is whether or not you are dependent upon the Lord as you come to the Bible. If you are independent of Him, whatever you may get is the tree of knowledge. If you are dependent upon Him, everything you receive is the tree of life. We should never think that the two trees mentioned in Genesis 2 are ancient history. Genesis 2 is not an antiquated record; it is a living, up-to-date, divine revelation of two principles
（3） 性质和结果
c) Its Nature and Result
29因为生命树是生命的树，所以性质和结果都是生命；因为知识、善和恶都属于死，且带进死，所以善恶知识树的性质和结果都是死。一切不是生命的事物就属于死，结果也是死。实际上，善恶知识树是死亡树；但是牠不叫死亡树，却叫善恶知识树。死亡不仅在恶的背后，也在知识和善的背后。善恶知识树是个诡秘的称呼，因为撒但总是喜欢隐藏自己。撒但是掌死权的。（来二14。）善恶知识树实际上是死亡树，所以这树指明撒但。
29The nature and result of the tree of life are both life because it is a tree of life. But the nature and result of the tree of knowledge of good and evil are both death because knowledge, good, and evil are all of death and bring in death. Anything that is not life is of death and results in death. Actually, the tree of knowledge of good and evil is the tree of death; yet it is not called the tree of death, but the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Death is not only behind evil; it is also behind knowledge and good. The title of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is subtle because Satan always likes to conceal himself. Satan has the power of death (Heb. 2:14). Since the tree of knowledge of good and evil is actually the tree of death, it signifies Satan