Does Everyone Know Right From Wrong?

—Wally Grant

From the beginning of human history God has explained very clearly the difference between right and wrong. He told Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden not to eat from the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Adam and Eve knew right from wrong but still chose to sin. Since that time people have been born able to learn right from wrong. Babies and young children learn as they grow enough to understand (Isa. 7:16).

How do people learn right from wrong? One way is through God’s law. God sent His laws to Moses and these commandments were the first set of rules to show us how to live (Rom. 7:7). Your parents teach you how to behave too (Eph. 6:1-4). Governments also have laws. But sometimes people’s rules do not line up with God’s. God sent messengers called prophets to tell kings and governments how to rule. God even gave King Solomon special wisdom to judge right from wrong (1 Kings 3). Later Jesus taught more about how to live. Today everything we need to know about right and wrong is in the Bible (Ps. 119:105; Prov. 6:23; 2 Tim. 3:16).

Sometimes our hearts trick us. We might think wrong is right and right is wrong (Jer. 17:9). Sometimes we believe the lies we tell ourselves and do whatever we want (Judges 17:6). But God’s Word shows us the truth. Obey it—and use it to teach others!