Every fall has a pattern. Every failure has a beginning. Genesis 3:1–6 is not just a story of Adam and Eve — it is the story of humanity. It is the first temptation and the first sin. But hidden in these verses is a deeper lesson about how the enemy works, how deception takes root, and how sin leads to separation.

Scripture Text: Genesis 3:1-6

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"
"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:"
"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."
"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:"
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."

So, let us examine this passage under three points:

1. The Deception of the Serpent

2. The Distortion of God’s Word

3. The Desire That Leads to Disobedience

1. The Deception of the Serpent (v.1–4)

The serpent is described as “more subtil” — cunning, crafty, and manipulative. He doesn’t come with force, he comes with a question:
“Hath God said…?”
This is how deception begins — not with a blatant lie, but with a seed of doubt.

Satan questions what God said. He wants Eve to second-guess the Word of God. He does the same thing today. He doesn’t have to destroy your faith — just dilute it. He wants you to wonder if God really said what He said.

• Did God really say you’re forgiven?

• Did God really say you’re loved?

• Did God really say you can’t do this or that?

Deception always starts with distortion.

2. The Distortion of God’s Word (v.2–3)

Eve responds, but she adds something God never said:

“God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it…”

God never said not to touch it. When we start adding to God’s Word or subtracting from it, we become vulnerable. Legalism or liberty taken out of context both lead us away from truth.

This is where spiritual error enters:

• We minimize His commands.

• We magnify our opinion.

• We make God’s Word more burdensome or less serious.

Eve misquotes God, and that’s all the serpent needed to twist the narrative.

3. The Desire That Leads to Disobedience (v.5–6)

The serpent promises knowledge, power, and freedom:

“Ye shall be as gods…”

Now Eve sees the tree differently.

• It’s good for food (physical desire)

• Pleasant to the eyes (emotional desire)

• Desired to make one wise (intellectual desire)

Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life — the same pattern repeated throughout human history (1 John 2:16).

Eve takes the fruit. Then Adam, who was with her, eats as well. The enemy's goal was never just to tempt — it was to separate man from God.

Application:

1. Guard Your Mind. Don’t entertain conversations with the enemy. Not every question deserves your answer.

2. Know God’s Word. Misunderstanding what God has said opens the door to deception.

3. Check Your Desires. Just because something looks good doesn’t mean it’s God’s will.

Closing:

The tragedy of Genesis 3 is that humanity fell — but the triumph of the gospel is that God came looking for them in the garden.

Even in sin, God’s love pursues.
Even in failure, God’s plan redeems.

And though the first Adam failed in a garden, the second Adam — Jesus Christ — would win in a garden (Gethsemane) and redeem us through a tree, not of disobedience, but of sacrifice — the cross.

Let us not fall for the same tricks. Let us stand on the truth, walk in obedience, and cling to the Savior.

Amen.