Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

God gave the command regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil to Adam, prior to the creation of Eve (Genesis 2:17), so Eve may have only received it second-hand from Adam. Perhaps she misunderstood the instruction, or perhaps Adam transmitted it to her incorrectly, leading her in Genesis 3:3 to insert the prohibition against touching the fruit or the tree (which God had not mentioned to Adam).

In any event, I think that the Bible makes it clear (not only in Genesis 2:17, but also in Genesis 3:11 and Genesis 3:17) that it was the eating of the fruit that constituted the actual sin, rather than touching it, or being tempted to eat it because of its appearance or because of the desire to "be like God". Being tempted to eat it, or adding other restrictions to God's original command (as Eve did), did not constitute sin.

April 29 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

JD Abshire

I cannot say Eve's personal "exposition" of what God said was sin but for whatever reason, misquoting and rationalizing what God actually said didn't go well for humanity, did it? "
"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (Galatians 5:9)

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:13-15)

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John 2:16)

When the Lord was tempted by Satan He responded in Matthew 4:4 "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." He didn't say add a little, remove a little to God's Word but every word. I believe this speaks volumes concerning how intent we should be on believing what God actually said rather than trying to interpret what God means.

Christ stated in Matthew 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

According to scripture Eve's sin was committed at the point she conceived in her heart and purposed to do so. The actual act was fulfillment of that purpose.

April 29 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report