Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 3:1-5

"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: 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 God, knowing good and evil." — Genesis 3:1-5 (ASV)

Satan assaulted our first parents to draw them to sin, and the temptation proved fatal to them. The tempter was the devil, in the shape and likeness of a serpent. Satan's plan was to draw our first parents to sin, and so separate them from their God. Thus the devil was from the beginning a murderer, and the great mischief-maker. The person tempted was the woman: it was Satan's policy to speak with her when she was alone.

There are many temptations to which being alone gives great advantage; but the communion of saints greatly contributes to their strength and safety. Satan took advantage by finding her near the forbidden tree. Those who would not eat the forbidden fruit must not come near the forbidden tree. Satan tempted Eve, so that through her he might tempt Adam. It is his policy to send temptations through those we do not suspect, and by those who have most influence on us.

Satan questioned whether it was a sin or not to eat of this tree. He did not disclose his design at first, but he asked a question that seemed innocent. Those who would be safe need to be cautious about speaking with the tempter. He quoted the command wrong. He spoke in a taunting way.

The devil, as he is a liar, so he is a scoffer from the beginning; and scoffers are his children. It is the craft of Satan to speak of the Divine law as uncertain or unreasonable, and so to draw people to sin; it is our wisdom to maintain a firm belief in God's command, and a high respect for it. Has God said, You shall not lie, nor take His name in vain, nor be drunk, etc.? Yes, I am sure He has, and it is well said; and by His grace I will abide by it.

It was Eve's weakness to engage in this conversation with the serpent; she might have perceived from his question that he had no good design and should therefore have drawn back. Satan teaches people first to doubt, and then to deny. He promises advantage from their eating this fruit. He aims to make them discontented with their present state, as if it were not so good as it might be, and should be.

No condition will of itself bring content, unless the mind is brought to it. He tempts them to seek advancement, as if they were fit to be gods. Satan ruined himself by desiring to be like the Most High; therefore, he sought to infect our first parents with the same desire, so that he might ruin them too. And still the devil draws people into his schemes by suggesting to them negative thoughts about God and false hopes of advantage from sin.

Let us, therefore, always think well of God as the best good, and think ill of sin as the worst evil: thus let us resist the devil, and he will flee from us.