“Now the serpent was more subtle than any of the beasts of the earth which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman: Why hath God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise?”
God suffered Satan to make the serpent his instrument and to speak in him. As Satan can change himself into an Angel of light, so did he abuse the wisdom of the serpent to deceive man.
“But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise, God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we die.”
In doubting of God’s threatenings she yielded to Satan.
“And the serpent said to the woman: No, you shall not die the death.”
This is Satan’s chiefest subtlety, to cause us not to fear God’s threatenings. Cross references: : 2 Cor. 11:3 Hebrew, die the death .
“For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil.”
As though he should say, God doth not forbid you to eat of the fruit, save that he knoweth that if ye should eat thereof, ye should be like to him.
“And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband, who did eat.”
1 Tim. 2:14 Not so much to please his wife, as moved by ambition at her persuasion.
“And the eyes of them both were opened: and when they perceived themselves to be naked, they sewed together fig leaves, and made themselves aprons.”
They began to feel their misery, but they sought not to God for remedy. Hebrew, things to gird about them to hide their privities .
“And when they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in paradise at the afternoon air, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise.”
Or, wind. The sinful conscience fleeth God’s presence.
“And he said: I heard thy voice in paradise; and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
His hypocrisy appeareth in that he hid the cause of his nakedness, which was the transgression of God’s commandment.
“And Adam said: The woman, whom thou gavest me to be my companion, gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
His wickedness and lack of true repentance appeareth in this that he burdeneth God with his fault, because he had given him a wife.
“And the Lord God said to the woman: Why hast thou done this? And she answered: The serpent deceived me, and I did eat.”
Instead of confessing her sin, she increaseth it by accusing the serpent.
“And the Lord God said to the serpent: Because thou hast done this thing, thou art cursed among all cattle, and beasts of the earth: upon thy breast shalt thou go, and earth shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.”
As a vile and contemptible beast, Isa. 65:25 . He asked the reason of Adam and his wife, because he would bring them to repentance, but he asketh not the serpent, because he would show him no mercy.
“I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.”
That is, the power of sin and death. He chiefly meaneth Satan, by whose motion and craft the serpent deceived the woman. Satan shall sting Christ and his members, but not overcome them.
“To the woman also he said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt be under thy husband’s power, and he shall have dominion over thee.”
The Lord comforteth Adam by the promise of the blessed seed, and also punisheth the body for the sin which the soul should have been punished for; that the spirit having conceived hope of forgiveness, might live by faith. 1 Cor. 14:34
“And to Adam he said: Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that thou shouldst not eat, cursed is the earth in thy work: with labour and toil shalt thou eat thereof all the days of thy life.”
The transgression of God’s commandment was the cause that both mankind and all other creatures were subject to the curse.
“Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herbs of the earth.”
These are not the natural fruits of the earth, but proceed of the corruption of sin.
“And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skins, and clothed them.”
Or, gave them knowledge to make themselves coats.
“And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now therefore lest perhaps he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.”
Adam deprived of life, lost also the sign thereof. By this derision he reproacheth Adam’s misery, whereinto he was fallen by ambition.