Just as there are “types of Christ” represented in the Bible, there are “types of the knowledge of good and evil.” Simon Peter’s questions and proclamations are glimpses into how our knowledge of good and evil exerts itself. It is always there, stretching and flexing its muscles, trying to look as wise as God even in the presence of the Tree of Life. The following are characteristics of the knowledge of good and evil as expressed through Peter.
Shame – Peter is exposed:
But when Peter saw {that} he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:8
Just as with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Peter’s inherent shame made him feel exposed. His knowledge of good and evil made the presence of perfection painful because it revealed his nakedness.
Independence – Peter thinks he has good ideas:
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Matt 17:4
Our knowledge of good and evil produces many ideas.Many good ideas lead to many actions that have no place in His will.
Now another “good” but really bad idea:
Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Matt. 14:28
Our desire to do the works of Christ must come with the faith to finish the work. If Christ walks on the water should we assume we should do it too? No, this is our knowledge of good and evil informing us toward independence and self-centeredness. Only the works Christ initiates will be anointed with the faith to perform and to accomplish. If we find ourselves sinking and then drowning in the midst of a good work, we should ask, “Was this my idea?”
One more:
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, {then wash} not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” John 13:9
Oh, the pride of the independent follower who assumes he has better ideas than Christ! Peter’s knowledge of good and evil nags Him, “Do it this way, Lord. I have a better plan!”
Pride– Peter thinks he’s pretty great:
Then answered Peter and said unto him, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” Mark 19:27
Exposure to Christ is confusing for Peter’s knowledge of good and evil. The more exposure his knowledge of good and evil has to the King of Kings the more it takes pride in it and the more pride it takes in it, the more self-centered it becomes. A tug of war develops between the humility that such exposure should produce and the pride that such exposure is sure to produce. “What do we get from you Lord? We have done so much for you!” Oh, how kind Christ is to us. He even yet rewards us when all is His and He does all.
Spiritual Blindness – Peter disrespects Christ:
And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” Matt 8:4
Peter’s knowledge of good and evil judges Jesus when He seems unreasonable. Christ’s ways are not our ways. If, like Peter, we find ourselves impatient with His ways or words, let us remember who Christ is! Humility is of great gain here; it leads us to go deeper. In humility we ask Him, “How can I help find who touched you, Lord?”
From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid {it,} Lord! This shall never happen to You. But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s. Matt 16:21-23
Again, Peter finds he’s in the dark. Suffering is foreign to the self-love that results from Peter’s knowledge of good and evil.
Overconfidence – Peter forgets who he is:
So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, {then wash} not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” John 13:6-9
Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” Matt. 26:35
Peter was warned. In his overconfidence, he couldn’t fathom failure. Beware of feeling powerful. Beware of feeling more spiritual than your brothers and sisters. Satan cloaks the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in many attractive ways to deceive you. Spiritual pride is self-confident, self-centered, and self-willed. Even with all this concentration on self, it is blind to self. Such is the state that commonly leads to surprising failure. God is faithful; eventually, the rooster will crow.
In the end, Peter unlearns his affection for the knowledge of good and evil. In Acts chapters 10 and 11, Peter’s obedience in spite of his knowledge of good and evil allowed God’s will to be accomplished in a groundbreaking way!