Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 2:16-17

"And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." — Genesis 2:16-17 (ASV)

Let us never set up our own will against the holy will of God. Not only was liberty allowed to man in taking the fruits of paradise, but everlasting life was also assured to him based on his obedience. A trial of his obedience was appointed. By transgression, he would forfeit his Maker's favour and deserve his displeasure, with all its dreadful effects, so that he would become liable to pain, disease, and death.

Worse than that, he would lose the holy image of God and all the comfort of his favour; and feel the torment of sinful passions and the terror of his Maker's vengeance, which must endure forever with his immortal soul. The prohibition against eating the fruit of a particular tree was wisely suited to the state of our first parents. In their state of innocence, and separated from any others, what opportunity or temptation did they have to break any of the Ten Commandments?

The event proves that the whole human race was implicated in the trial and fall of our first parents. To argue against these things is to contend against stubborn facts as well as Divine revelation; for humankind is sinful and shows by its first actions and subsequent conduct that it is prone to do evil. Humankind is under the Divine displeasure, exposed to sufferings and death.

The Scriptures always speak of humankind as having this sinful character and as being in this miserable state; and these things are true of people in all ages and of all nations.