Genesis 3:12
Verse
Context
Sermons
Chuck Smith
Jack Hyles
R. Edward Miller
Phil Beach Jr.
A.W. TozerSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And the man said, etc. - We have here some farther proofs of the fallen state of man, and that the consequences of that state extend to his remotest posterity. 1. On the question, Hast thou eaten of the tree? Adam is obliged to acknowledge his transgression; but he does this in such a way as to shift off the blame from himself, and lay it upon God and upon the woman! This woman whom Thou didst give to be with me, עמדי immadi, to be my companion, (for so the word is repeatedly used), she gave me, and I did eat. I have no farther blame in this transgression; I did not pluck the fruit; she took it and gave it to me. 2. When the woman is questioned she lays the blame upon God and the serpent, (nachash). The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Thou didst make him much wiser than thou didst make me, and therefore my simplicity and ignorance were overcome by his superior wisdom and subtlety; I can have no fault here, the fault is his, and his who made him so wise and me so ignorant. Thus we find that, while the eyes of their body were opened to see their degraded state, the eyes of their understanding were closed, so that they could not see the sinfulness of sin; and at the same time their hearts were hardened through its deceitfulness. In this also their posterity copy their example. How few ingenuously confess their own sin! They see not their guilt. They are continually making excuses for their crimes; the strength and subtlety of the tempter, the natural weakness of their own minds, the unfavorable circumstances in which they were placed, etc., etc., are all pleaded as excuses for their sins, and thus the possibility of repentance is precluded; for till a man take his sin to himself, till he acknowledge that he alone is guilty, he cannot be humbled, and consequently cannot be saved. Reader, till thou accuse thyself, and thyself only, and feel that thou alone art responsible for all thy iniquities, there is no hope of thy salvation.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
The woman . . . gave me--He blames God [CALVIN]. As the woman had been given him for his companion and help, he had eaten of the tree from love to her; and perceiving she was ruined, was determined not to survive her [M'KNIGHT].
John Gill Bible Commentary
And the man said,.... Not being able any longer to conceal the truth, though he shifts off the blame as much as possible from himself: the woman whom thou gavest to be with me: to be his wife and his companion, to be an help meet unto him, and share with him in the blessings of paradise, to assist in civil and domestic affairs, and join with him in acts of religion and devotion: she gave me of the tree, and I did eat; she first ate of it herself, through the solicitations of the serpent, and then she persuaded me to eat of it; and accordingly I did, I own it. By this answer Adam endeavours to cast the blame partly upon his wife, and partly upon God; though in what he said he told the truth, and what was matter of fact, yet it carries this innuendo, that if it had not been for his wife he had never ate of it, which was a foolish excuse; for he, being her head and husband, should have taught her better, and been more careful to have prevented her eating of this fruit, and should have dissuaded her from it, and have reproved her for it, instead of following her example, and taking it from her hands: and more than this he tacitly reflects upon God, that he had given him a woman, who, instead of being an help meet to him, had helped to ruin him; and that if he had not given him this woman, he had never done what he had: but at this rate a man may find fault with God for the greatest blessings and mercies of life bestowed on him, which are abused by him, and so aggravate his condemnation.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:12 It was the woman you gave me: Rather than confessing, the man became evasive. He blamed the woman for giving him the fruit and God for giving him the woman.
Genesis 3:12
God Arraigns Adam and Eve
11“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”12And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5
By Chuck Smith1.8K1:23:21ExpositionalGEN 50:26EXO 2:15EXO 4:1EXO 4:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God is not just a passive observer of our struggles and suffering. He takes action to deliver His people from their hardships. The preacher also highlights the importance of not getting too attached to material possessions, as they can easily be taken away. Instead, our focus should be on the things of the Spirit and God's eternal kingdom. The sermon references the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, where they faced oppression and hardship, but ultimately God delivered them.
Am I My Brother's Keeper?
By Jack Hyles1.5K56:52GEN 3:12GEN 4:3MAT 6:33MAT 7:21MAT 25:35ROM 10:17HEB 11:4In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of thinking of others rather than oneself. He shares personal anecdotes about growing up in adverse circumstances and how he learned the value of helping others. The preacher encourages the congregation to feed, clothe, and visit those in need, as it is equivalent to doing it for Jesus himself. He also emphasizes personal responsibility for one's actions, stating that individuals will have to answer to God and pay for their own sins.
(Secret of Paul's Authority) 2. Paul Kept His Conscience Clean
By Zac Poonen1.2K44:49AuthorityGEN 3:12ISA 52:11MAT 28:18ACT 24:16ROM 6:221JN 1:7In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a godly cobbler who refused to compromise his work for the sake of making more money. The cobbler's assistant suggests using old leather to repair shoes, knowing that they would quickly wear out and bring more business. However, the cobbler refuses, fearing the judgment of God. He believes that when he stands before the judgment seat of Christ, he will be held accountable for his actions. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the authority of Jesus Christ and how it is the foundation for fulfilling the great commission to preach the gospel to all nations.
Jesus the Great Amen
By R. Edward Miller55955:57JesusGEN 3:12MAT 6:24ROM 2:13EPH 6:12JAS 1:221JN 1:9In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of not allowing our feelings and will to govern our lives. He emphasizes that those who are controlled by their emotions and will often struggle to accomplish much in life, both spiritually and naturally. The speaker also highlights the need for emotional and willful breakthroughs, where we can freely express ourselves and cooperate with God in delivering us from our locked-up emotions. Lastly, the sermon focuses on the breaking of the will, explaining that it does not mean destroying it, but rather making it useful and aligned with God's purposes. The speaker references Romans 12:1 to support the idea of surrendering our will to God.
Victory Over Sin
By Phil Beach Jr.3058:15Victory Over SinVictoryResponsibilityGEN 3:12EXO 16:2Phil Beach Jr. preaches on 'Victory Over Sin,' emphasizing the human tendency to blame others for our sins instead of taking personal responsibility. He illustrates this with the example of Adam in the Garden of Eden and the Israelites blaming Moses for their troubles, highlighting that such blame leads to self-deception and a hardened heart. Beach asserts that while Christians are new creations, the old sinful nature remains, and true victory over sin comes from recognizing this and choosing to live in the power of Christ rather than yielding to the flesh. He encourages believers to actively put off the old man and embrace their identity in Christ to experience true liberation from sin.
(Knowing God's Way) 12. Do You Accuse or Do You Intercede?
By Zac Poonen0GEN 3:12ZEC 3:1LUK 11:24JHN 8:12CO 5:17PHP 2:12COL 3:15HEB 7:251JN 5:16REV 12:10Zac Poonen preaches about the importance of being co-workers with the Lord Jesus in His ministry of intercession and salvation, contrasting it with Satan's ministry of accusation and condemnation. He emphasizes the need for believers to cooperate with God in working out their salvation, changing their attitudes towards others to reflect Jesus' love and compassion. Poonen warns against being co-workers with Satan by engaging in the spirit of accusation, highlighting the detrimental effects it can have on believers' lives and health. He urges believers to replace the spirit of accusation with the spirit of intercession, following the example of Jesus in saving and interceding for others.
Blame Someone Else
By A.W. Tozer0Sin and ResponsibilityAccountabilityGEN 3:12A.W. Tozer addresses the tendency of humanity to shift blame for personal failures, tracing this behavior back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He highlights how Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, illustrating the human inclination to avoid personal responsibility for sin. Tozer emphasizes that this blame-shifting is a significant sign of sin's presence in our lives, as we often point fingers at others instead of acknowledging our own shortcomings. He calls for self-reflection and accountability, urging individuals to confront their own guilt rather than deflecting it onto others. Ultimately, Tozer's message is a reminder that true growth and healing come from accepting responsibility for our actions.
Confessing Other People's Sins
By Samuel Logan Brengle0ConfessionPersonal AccountabilityGEN 3:12Samuel Logan Brengle emphasizes the danger of confessing others' sins while neglecting one's own, illustrating this through the biblical accounts of Adam and Saul. He warns that such hypocrisy leads to spiritual blindness and ultimately results in God's displeasure, as seen in the consequences faced by Saul for his disobedience. Brengle encourages believers to humbly confess their own sins, drawing on examples from David and the publican, and highlights the importance of focusing on personal accountability rather than blaming others. He concludes by urging individuals to seek a vision of Jesus, which fosters genuine repentance and transformation, leading to peace and a renewed relationship with God.
Pharisees Justify Themselves
By Zac Poonen0GEN 3:12MAT 23:33LUK 16:15LUK 23:41HEB 12:28Zac Poonen preaches about the danger of justifying ourselves like the Pharisees, emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for our sins and mistakes without blaming others. He contrasts the Pharisee's self-justification with the humility of the thief on the cross who accepted his punishment. Poonen warns that those who justify themselves are on a path to destruction, as Jesus Himself condemned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He encourages believers to serve God with gratitude, holy fear, and brotherly love, seeking to cleanse themselves from Phariseeism and walk in godliness and mercy.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And the man said, etc. - We have here some farther proofs of the fallen state of man, and that the consequences of that state extend to his remotest posterity. 1. On the question, Hast thou eaten of the tree? Adam is obliged to acknowledge his transgression; but he does this in such a way as to shift off the blame from himself, and lay it upon God and upon the woman! This woman whom Thou didst give to be with me, עמדי immadi, to be my companion, (for so the word is repeatedly used), she gave me, and I did eat. I have no farther blame in this transgression; I did not pluck the fruit; she took it and gave it to me. 2. When the woman is questioned she lays the blame upon God and the serpent, (nachash). The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Thou didst make him much wiser than thou didst make me, and therefore my simplicity and ignorance were overcome by his superior wisdom and subtlety; I can have no fault here, the fault is his, and his who made him so wise and me so ignorant. Thus we find that, while the eyes of their body were opened to see their degraded state, the eyes of their understanding were closed, so that they could not see the sinfulness of sin; and at the same time their hearts were hardened through its deceitfulness. In this also their posterity copy their example. How few ingenuously confess their own sin! They see not their guilt. They are continually making excuses for their crimes; the strength and subtlety of the tempter, the natural weakness of their own minds, the unfavorable circumstances in which they were placed, etc., etc., are all pleaded as excuses for their sins, and thus the possibility of repentance is precluded; for till a man take his sin to himself, till he acknowledge that he alone is guilty, he cannot be humbled, and consequently cannot be saved. Reader, till thou accuse thyself, and thyself only, and feel that thou alone art responsible for all thy iniquities, there is no hope of thy salvation.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
The woman . . . gave me--He blames God [CALVIN]. As the woman had been given him for his companion and help, he had eaten of the tree from love to her; and perceiving she was ruined, was determined not to survive her [M'KNIGHT].
John Gill Bible Commentary
And the man said,.... Not being able any longer to conceal the truth, though he shifts off the blame as much as possible from himself: the woman whom thou gavest to be with me: to be his wife and his companion, to be an help meet unto him, and share with him in the blessings of paradise, to assist in civil and domestic affairs, and join with him in acts of religion and devotion: she gave me of the tree, and I did eat; she first ate of it herself, through the solicitations of the serpent, and then she persuaded me to eat of it; and accordingly I did, I own it. By this answer Adam endeavours to cast the blame partly upon his wife, and partly upon God; though in what he said he told the truth, and what was matter of fact, yet it carries this innuendo, that if it had not been for his wife he had never ate of it, which was a foolish excuse; for he, being her head and husband, should have taught her better, and been more careful to have prevented her eating of this fruit, and should have dissuaded her from it, and have reproved her for it, instead of following her example, and taking it from her hands: and more than this he tacitly reflects upon God, that he had given him a woman, who, instead of being an help meet to him, had helped to ruin him; and that if he had not given him this woman, he had never done what he had: but at this rate a man may find fault with God for the greatest blessings and mercies of life bestowed on him, which are abused by him, and so aggravate his condemnation.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:12 It was the woman you gave me: Rather than confessing, the man became evasive. He blamed the woman for giving him the fruit and God for giving him the woman.