The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is forbidden by God to Adam and Eve. On the day they eat of it, God says they will die.
Knowledge in this passage has a connotation of intimacy and possession. It is a neutral word. It often connotes sexuality, as in to KNOW in the BIBLICAL sense. In this case, it likely refers to a sovereignty of self, where one possesses for themselves the right to choose what they believe is good or evil, and the right to judge others on that merit. Such judgment is the realm of God alone.
The Tree of Life is not forbidden to Adam and Eve. Since we can assume that Adam and Eve did eat from it, we conclude that it did not offer immortality at one bite, but eternal youth as long as one has access and continues to eat from it. This interpretation is supported by the frequency of this motif of trees, lakes, and fountains of perpetual youth that work this way in other literature from the Ancient Near East.
Therefore, by being banished from the garden so that they cannot eat of the Tree of Life, God confirms his promise of the consequences of eating of the other tree. This means that for eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Mankind becomes mortal without possibility of eternal youth in God’s presence.
Adam and Eve seek independence from God by eating the fruit, but they do not attain it. Whether we become dependent on God in different maturing ways as we grow in Christ, or are entirely rebellious against him, or do not believe he exists, we are still dependant.
Neo can leave the Matrix and become autonomous in a “real” world. God offers us a “real” world right from the beginning. To seek autonomy from God, which is impossible, leads us to slavery in sin and deception. In Christ, we see the world as it is. God is pleased to share creation and truth with us. He gave Adam the garden to tend. He had Adam name the animals. We need not fight for freedom.
God is sovereign. He need not manipulate or deceive to remain in authority. He condescends to co-create with us. He listens to our intercessions because he loves us, not because we control him.
“You shall be like God” - the serpent misrepresents God. God wants us to be like him. We are made in God’s image, and we are to emulate him.
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