Satan tempted Eve by appealing to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.
Satan used the forbidden fruit to entice Eve through her physical appetite (good for food), her visual desire (pleasant to the eyes), and her pride (desiring to be wise like God). These three aspects align with the biblical categories of temptation.
Genesis 3:6 — This verse directly describes Eve's perception of the tree and the threefold nature of the temptation.
Genesis 3:6 records that '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.' This indicates that the temptation appealed to her physical senses, her visual appreciation, and her desire for wisdom. First John 2:15-16 later categorizes such temptations as 'the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.'
Les Feldick emphasizes that Satan tempted Eve by appealing to the same three areas of temptation that all humans face: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. He points out that Eve lived in a perfect environment with every provision, but Satan used the forbidden tree to offer her something she didn't have—the ability to be like God. Les highlights that this temptation was not about dissatisfaction with her circumstances but about the opportunity for greater status and power.
According to Les, the first part of Satan's appeal was to the eye, as he said, 'Look at the fruit. It was appealing to the eye.' This is supported by Genesis 3:6 where the woman saw that the tree was 'pleasant to the eyes.'
Les explains that the 'lust of the flesh' in the context of Eve was hunger. He says, 'In Eve's case it was what? Hunger.' This is based on the phrase 'good for food' in Genesis 3:6, indicating that the fruit appealed to her physical appetite.
Les teaches that the 'pride of life' appealed to Eve's desire to be like God. He notes, 'if she ate she could be like God. She would really be somebody.' This is rooted in the phrase 'a tree to be desired to make one wise' in Genesis 3:6.
The Three Temptations Everyone Faces — Eve to Jesus Explained
the things in it, then the love of the Father is not in him." In other words, our priorities are upside down. Verse 16, "...for all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, the pride of life, that's not of the Father, but is of the world." And here's why we shouldn't get taken up in it. The next verse, "...for the world," this whole world system, "...
The Appeal to the Eye
Les points out that the first part of Satan's appeal was to the eye, as Satan said 'Look at the fruit,' which was the lust of the eye.
Glamorizing the Forbidden
Les explains that Satan glamorizes things to make them seem desirable, just as he did with the forbidden tree in the garden.
Three Areas of Temptation
Les directly connects Eve's temptation to the three categories in 1 John 2:16: lust of the flesh (hunger), lust of the eye (fruit looked delicious), and pride of life (being like God).
The Basis of Temptation: Power
Les reveals that the basis of Eve's temptation was the desire to be like God, which would give her power, and this same principle applies to all temptations.
The Choice to Be Like God
Les explains that because Adam and Eve had everything, Satan used the only thing they didn't have—the ability to be like God—as the temptation.
The Lust of the Flesh and Pride
Les emphasizes that lust of the flesh includes any appetite, such as hunger, and that pride is a major area of temptation, even hindering salvation.
Satan's Same Ploy
Les shows that Satan brought the same ploy to Adam and Eve as he did to himself, tempting them with the desire to be like God and have His power.
Genesis 3:6: 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.
This verse is the core passage describing how Eve's temptation had three distinct appeals.
1 John 2:15-16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
These verses categorize the three areas of temptation that mirror Eve's experience.
Satan tempted Eve to make her choose to disobey God, activating the free will that God had given to mankind. Since Eve had everything she needed, Satan used the only thing she didn't have—the ability to be like God—as the temptation.
Eve faced the lust of the flesh (the fruit was good for food), the lust of the eye (the fruit was pleasant to look at), and the pride of life (the tree was desired to make one wise, like God).
Yes, Les teaches that the same three areas of temptation—lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and pride of life—are common to all people today, as noted in 1 John 2:16.
Watch the Teaching: The Three Temptations Everyone Faces — Eve to Jesus Explained