Adam couldn't eat the apple (fruit from the Tree of Knowledge) because God prohibited it, foreseeing the detrimental consequences of disobedience.
The Prohibition and Its Implications
God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This wasn't an arbitrary command, but a protective measure:
- God knew that consuming the fruit would:
- Destroy their innocence and purity: They were living in a state of unblemished harmony.
- Introduce shame and guilt: Awareness of good and evil would bring negative emotions they hadn't previously experienced.
- Bring death into their lives: God explicitly warned Adam he would "surely die" if he ate the fruit. This death includes spiritual death (separation from God) and eventual physical death.
Essentially, eating the fruit represented a rejection of God's authority and a desire to define good and evil for themselves. God's prohibition was designed to protect them from the knowledge that would lead to suffering and separation from Him.
| Reason for Prohibition | Consequence of Disobedience |
|---|---|
| Protection from Corruption | Loss of Innocence |
| Maintaining Harmony | Introduction of Shame/Guilt |
| Preventing Death | Spiritual and Physical Death |
