October 06, 2020 omanba
THOMAS SCOTT COMMENTARY
Verses 16-17. Man, created in the image of God, doubtless had the moral law written in his heart as the law of His holy nature, and was both bound and inclined to that love of God and His creatures, which constitute it’s substance and fulfillment. But the prohibition, here imposed, was an additional instituted test of obedience; and, being accompanied with the liberal allowance which precedes it, formed a proper trial of his love, and of the submission of his inclinations to the will of his beneficent Benefactor. It likewise intimated to him, that the favour of God, and most animal gratification, was the proper felicity of his nature; and taught him not to consider himself to the summit of his happiness in a state where self-denial was required.—The annexed denunciation, “thou shalt surely die,” or, dying thou shalt die, as explained by the event, evidently implied, that by transgression he would totally forfeit his Maker’s favour, and incur His displeasure, with all its awful effects; that immediately he would become liable to pain and disease, which, as a tedious execution, would not cease but in the dissolution of the body; and that he would lose the holy image of God and the comfort of His favour;: and experience the torment of sinful passions, and the terror of his Creator’s vengeance, which, according to their covenant, must endure coeval with the existence of his immortal soul. The same evidence proves, that the whole human race, then in the loins of their common father, and represented by him as their federal head, were interested in the transaction. To argue against this, is to combat stubborn facts, as well as divine revelation; unless some more satisfactory account of the present condition ad character of man can be assigned, which has never yet been done. For man is evidently a sinful creature, and shows his natural tendencies by his first actions and continual conduct. He is under undeniable tokens of divine displeasure, and exposed to sufferings and death; a dark cloud, impenetrable except by the light of revelation, rests upon his state beyond the grave; the Scriptures always address him as in this miserable situation, and as bearing this sinful character; and these things have been universally true in all ages and nations. If men find fault with that which God hath evidently done, let them answer it to him. He deigns not to apologize for his own conduct; and, with our dark and imperfect views, we shall probably be deemed too officious if we attempt it—“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” seems the proper answer to objectors; and to wait for a world of clearer divine conduct, only when we can perceive them, savours neither of humility nor of faith; for the same approbation is due to an equal or an enemy: but it becomes us, and is honourable to God, when we adore the depths which we cannot fathom, and believe, that while “clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the basis of His throne.” Could we divest ourselves of partiality, we might discern, in some degree, the reasonableness of the prohibition; the peculiar meetness of Adam, as the common father of the human race, to be their representative; and the divine goodness in selecting, as the condition of this covenant, so easy a test of obedience, and in the implied restipulation, that if he did not eat he should not die. Many things have been copiously and plausibly argued upon these topics; but it is readily granted, that great difficulties remain; and that they, who will give their Creator credit for justice and goodness no farther than they can perceive them, must stumble at this stumbling-stone, after all that can be done to remove it. Man’s mortality and depravity, as well as universal history, coincide with, and confirm, the scriptural account of this transaction; and, as collateral evidences, prove that it is the testimony of God, and that we do not mistake its meaning. On this ground faith receives it, and humbled reason submits to her teacher, God, and allows His righteousness, though she cannot fully comprehend it.
THOMAS HAWEIS COMMENTARY
Verse 16: God who placeth man in this Eden, gives him directions how to hold the grant, and under what conditions he would continue the enjoyment of it to him and his posterity. –As he was their fountain head, respecting life, he is appointed their representative and covenant head also. By his obedience, or disobedience, they stand or fall. Note, They who presume to find fault with this disposition, had they been by, would never have hesitated at the proposal.
1. God hath an absolute right over his creatures, and he can command them nothing but what is holy, just and good. Happy are they who yield themselves up to his government, and make his will the rule of all their conduct; without limitation, exception, or hesitation.
2. The particular exertion of that authority over Adam, prescribing the terms on which his bliss should endure
(1.) An assurance to him of the perpetuity of his present happiness on his obedience. The whole garden is his and his heirs for ever, under the sacramental seal of the tree of life.
(2.) The proof of this obedience stated, in the abstinence from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Death is denounced on the offence, and life implied therein on obedience. This observe, and live for ever; this transgress, and dying thou shalt die; so the original; intimating the dreadfulness of the punishment, and the certainty of its execution. Not only he should be excluded from the tree of life, and all the blessings therein sealed to him, but also suffer the pains of death; whether spiritual, in the loss of God’s image; or temporal, in the return of his body to the dust; or eternal, in the banishment of body and soul from God’s presence for ever, and their sufferings in everlasting torment; and this to commence from the day of his transgression, in the day thou eatest thereof, &c. That very hour the image of God should depart, he should become a condemned criminal, dead in law, and no obnoxious to God’s wrath to all eternity.
God fenced his commands with dire threatenings to man in innocence. Doth fallen man then less need them? Yet how do men hate to hear of the wages of sin, and to be persuaded by the terrors of the Lord?
3. The prohibition enjoined, was of most easy compliance; could admit of no doubt, being positive and clear, and served withal to give a proof of submission, both of body and soul to God, in the denial of appetite, and the restraint of vain curiosity.
God had fully provided for man’s happiness and the restraints so trivial, it was a new instance of his kindness; for what less could have been contrived: how gracious all his dealings and designs? And what an aggravation to man’s guilt, should he after all prove false and faithless, and wantonly transgress a covenant so easy in its terms, so glorious in its promises, so terrible in its threatenings.
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