Genesis 3:6 commentary
THOMAS SCOTT COMMENTARY
Verse 6. “The lust of the eye” made way for the “lust of the flesh;” when the woman looked on the fruit, till she fancied there must be some very extraordinary pleasure in the taste of it. As her ear, formed to receive the truth of God, had just before been opened to admit Satan’s lies; so now, the eye, formed to behold His works, became an inlet to concupiscence. Now first the members became, as they have ever since continued in converted men, “instruments of unrighteousness unto sin” (Ro 6:13-19). Eve had no testimony, except that of Satan concealed in the serpent, that “it was a tree to be desired to make one wise;” yet she neither hesitated, nor suspected any delusion; but, at his insistance, “she took of the fruit, and did eat,” without consulting Adam, or allowing herself leisure for consideration! Thus she listened to the tempter; till, entangled in unbelief, she suspected the divine veracity and goodness, conceived hopes of impunity in transgression, and expected a vast gratification both of ambition and of the sensual appetite; and at length, with confident presumption, she took the forbidden fruit, and ate. In this manner was “lust at first conceived, then sin brought forth; and sin being finished, brought forth death.”—But Satan’s success was yet incomplete; or had Adam refused to eat, the woman’s transgression would have remained with herself. It was, indeed, a great point gained, to prevail whither whom Adam loved so tenderly, and none who would employ her fascinating influence to prevail on him to follow her example. But whether Adam sinned in presumption, as not seeing death immediately inflicted on Eve; or in despair, as giving up all for lost; or as overcome by Eve’s persuasions and reasonings, it does not clearly appear. But the apostle intimates, that he was not deceived in the same manner and degree as the woman (1Ti 2:14).—Considering this offence in all its circumstances, and with all its aggravations, we may term it to the prolific parent, and grant exemplar, of all the transgressions committed ever since. Whatever there hath been in any sin, of unbelief, ingratitude, apostasy, rebellion, robbery, contempt, defiance of God, hard thoughts of Him, and enmity against Him; whatever of idolatry, as comprehending faith in Satan, “the god” and “prince of this world,” worship of him, and obedience to him; or exorbitant pride, self-love, and self-will, in affecting that independency, exaltation, and homage, which belong only to God; and of an inordinate love to the creatures, in seeking our happiness in the possession and enjoyment of them; whatever discontent, sensual lust, covetousness, murder, and mischief, were ever yet contained in any one sin, or in all which have been committed upon earth. The whole were concentred in this one transaction. Nor have they been wide of the truth, who have laboured to prove, that all the ten commandments, extensively and spiritually expounded, were at once violated; while, in proportion as the offence was the more aggravated.—In this manner sin entered, and Satan triumphed in establishing his usurped authority: “for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” thus man apostatized, God was provoked, the Holy Sprit forsook His polluted temple, the unclean spirit took possession, the divine image was defaced, and Satan’s image impressed in its place: hence the wickedness and misery of man. “A lamentation it is,” and should be: yet, “Righteous art thou in all thy judgments, O Lord;” Let not them enemy further prevail against us, we beseech thee, by taking hence occasions to produce in our minds one hard thought of thee, or of thy mysterious judgments!
THOMAS HAWEIS COMMENTARY
Verse 6: Unhappy souls! Thus to give ear to a lying and seducing spirit rather than to the God of truth. 1. She looked, and because she saw the fruit as beautiful to the eye, she concluded the serpent in the right, and that there could be no more harm in this, than in any other tree. It is bad judging by the eye: the most pleasing fruit contains often the deadliest poison. 2. She not only promised herself pleasure for the taste, but wisdom for her mind. This tree herein excelled all the rest, and was more desirable, perhaps, too, still more because forbidden. Sin begins in the desire, and restraint only whets the appetite: so perverse are we become. 3. She boldly plucked the fruit, perhaps for a nearer view, or by the touch first to assay, whether any ill consequence really would accrue. 4. She did eat; eager to make the last experiment: and it may be the hoping surprise her husband with the transforming change she had experienced, and the superior knowledge she had attained. Note, As woman was first in the transgression, she should remember it to her shame. 5. She gave him also; came to him with the tempter’s power, and either out of love, wished him to make the trial with her, and enjoy the pleasure, or out of malice, lost herself, resolves not to sink alone. 6. Vanquished by her importunity, or seduced by the same pleasing hopes which deluded her, he joined in the transgression. Note, Though it was the first time, it is not the last time that man hath listened to the siren tongue of women, to his ruin.
Behold here the usual process of temptation. 1. An outward object presented by the devil, promising us much pleasure and advantage in the pursuit. 2. The eye caught with it, and led to gaze upon it; the eye is the great inlet of temptation: those who would guard their heart, must often veil their eyes. To look upon a woman’s beauty, is the road to lust after her; and to fix the greedy eye on gold, is the prelude to covet it. 3. Desire after it; when temptation has got so far, lust hath conceived and sin will be the birth. Note, Though we should never seize the forbidden fruit, if the desire be towards it, the sin is already committed. 4. The gratification of the desire. There is no stopping, if once the unbridled appetite is let loose; when we first gazed, we thought it should rest there: we then drew nearer, but resolved to stop. The hand was stretched out to touch, but never take; till like the revolving stone on a declivity, each revolution accelerated its motion, and sin no longer could be resisted. 5. We cannot be content to sin alone; those who themselves hearken to the devil’s wiles, quickly turn tempters for him. How little does many a sinner think of the dreadful charges against him from those souls, to whose sin and ruin he may have, by his solicitations, some way contributed!
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