Many have considered the types of temptation in this verse. They are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, as noted in 1 John 2:16. They are the same things Jesus was tempted with when He resisted. They are of the world, and not of God. They are tools the devil uses to try to get at people.
The sad thing is, all of these things were already present. So many things were good for food – in this Paradise, everything tasted so incredible. God had made it perfect. Fruit from any other tree would have been just as good.
All of these have bothered people since time began. This lust of the flesh is that fleshly nature that we keep, even after we’re saved. As long as we live, we must keep the flesh under control.
However, those who try to live ascetic lives totally miss the point. Life is supposed to be enjoyed. Most things are not evil in themselves; it is the way people use them. The wonderful, warm relationship that exists between a husband and wife, in the marital bedroom, is a thing of beauty that was created to be shared by that couple. This shared intimacy is something which is cheapened when spread around to others. God didn’t make it for that purpose.
Food is another one. Eating food is lots of fun. But, eating it till a normal sized person weighs 500 pounds is unhealthy. Some people need special diets, so only certain foods are right for them. God built all of us in a slightly different way. He wants us to have self control, but we can have lots of fun with in those rules.
The same applies to the sight. The sights were incredible. The landscapes, the setting, were beyond imagination. Adam and Eve had just been created, they had so much to explore. And yet, they chose to look at one fruit because it was pleasing to the eye.
The eye, of course, is the gateway to the heart. Jeremiah, for instance, wrote that his eye – what he’d seen in the destruction of Jerusalem – affected his heart. (Lam. 3:51). David learned with Bathsheba that when we don't' take our eyes off of something quickly, it can start a terrible, downward spiral. He should have turned away and thought of God’s love and grace. He should have done anything but use his power to pressure that lady into sleeping with him.
However, there are so many great things to see. The eye, when it looks on something good, is a wonderful thing to have. Even having limited vision, I still enjoy many things. A person can enjoy the body of their spouse – Urriah could have gazed at Bathsheba’s beauty perfectly well, just as she could gaze at his. It was when that visual image was put out in the open for all to see that problems began.
And, what of wisdom? This was certainly of the devil, because they had access to God through a personal relationship. Why take a fruit to make oneself wise, when God Himself was there to show His love, goodness, and wisdom?
This is just what people have always done, though. That pride of life has led many people to run roughshod over others. They speak, think, or act without regard for others, because they are so enamored with themselves, and their own way of thinking. This is how children are led astry by their parents – fathers are warned never to lead children to wrath, lest they be discouraged. (Eph. 6:4) It’s the way rulers attempt to conquer the world. And, everything in between.
But yet, life is vital. In addition, enjoyment of life is vital. Jesus came so we might have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) The ways one can experience the joy of living, in a way that is pleasing to God, are very numerous. We have great freedom within the rules. The only thing is, we must remember that God gave us all this ability. As Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13) From the most incredible survival stories, to the person who just uses the senses God gave them, everything is by His grace. Even if another person taught someone something, God put them int hat place to teach it. It was just a matter of people listening.
Modern people, just like those all the way back to the beginning, use only those first five words. Whether they mean they to be that they are allowed to do all thing, or that all things are possible, they wish to emphasize the human.
Emphasis should instead be on the divine, just like Eve should have focused on what could be done. Yes, there are many, many other things which can be done, even if one can’t eat the forbidden fruit. Yes, we can overcome any obstacle, including that of extreme temptation, if we just trust in Christ to guide us. Just like she should have done.
This is why this is so sad. They had everything. And yet, Eve took the fruit and ate. Of her own free will, she chose to listen to her own desires, instead of the perfect love of God. But, she also chose not to listen to the perfect leadership of her husband, as to that point he and she had enjoyed a perfect relationship.
Of course, after she ate, so did Adam. But, where was he while all this happened?
We’ve already said that he was probably not present at first; the serpent only spoke to Eve then. A few different ideas have been proposed.
One is that Eve ate, and then went to Adam, and told him the same things the devil had told her. And, that he proceeded to eat. This is possible, but I doubt it. First, one would think that he would have noticed something different about Eve. Remember, they both hid, because they were naked. If Eve recognized that she had to hide from God, wouldn’t she also realize there was a difference between her and Adam? One counter to that, of course, is that we are not always told things in a clear timeline in Biblical narratives. But, it just seems awkward to place these things in a timeline.
Another, which I’ve heard a few times, is that Adam noticed after Eve disobeyed God. And, that he erred in putting her ahead of God, and ate of the fruit, also. In other words, rather than see her destroyed, he sinned by disobeying God. This would give our Lord great reason to warn that one shouldn’t love their spouse more than they love God. However, I don’t think this is possible. Adam blames God in verse 12, and blames the woman. He showed no signs of care or concern for her. In fact, he doesn’t even admit what he did was wrong. To use a modern expression, he “threw her under the bus.” That is not the tone of a person who has just acted so chivalrously.
I believe the answer which most fits with later Bible verses, as well as this timeline, is that Adam was either present for the last part of the dialogue, or arrived just after the devil snuck away. And, that Eve and Adam then ate at the same time.
Consider this, for instance, A person is in a minor car accident. They are telling you about it. They say, “I got in an accident, and broke my ankle; I was in a cast for weeks. And, on top of that, I had to be pay over $1000 in repairs!” Did they have to pay all that in repairs only after their cast came off? No, they are just finishing one part of the story, and then going back and telling something else that happened.
Now, as to why this seems to be most likely, consider the following:
1. The Bible says that the woman, not the man, was deceived. (1 Ti 2:14) Adam, if not for his wife, might or might not have eaten, too. But, she was the one who was tempted first. And, given the context – teaching men in church - it was likely her input that led Adam to eat.
2. Adam is still the one who sinned. It was by him that sin entered into the world, and death by sin. (Romans 5:12) It’s true that, as the leader of the home, Adam was ultimately responsible. However, it’s also true that we each must bear our own sin, unless we trust in the Redeemer to take that sin away.
3. As noted above, Adam was the spiritual head. He should have stopped Eve before she consumed the forbidden fruit.
To those who feel that Eve ate, and then went to Adam, it can be argued that Paul, in his letter to Timothy, is implying that the man knew just what he was doing. However, as noted, it seems that he would have noticed something was wrong. As with all speculation like this, it’s not vital to doctrine. Therefore, it’s important to let it teach, and that we simply do as Paul urged the ladies in the Philippian church, and “be of one mind in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:3)
