MAN WITHOUT MISSION
Key verse: 17
NIV
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’(A)
“Cursed(B) is the ground(C) because of you;
through painful toil(D) you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.(E)
18 It will produce thorns and thistles(F) for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.(G)
19 By the sweat of your brow(H)
you will eat your food(I)
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”(J)
Cross references
- Genesis 3:17 : S Ge 2:17
- Genesis 3:17 : Ge 5:29; Nu 35:33; Ps 106:39; Isa 24:5; Jer 3:1; Ro 8:20-22
- Genesis 3:17 : Ge 6:13; 8:21; Isa 54:9
- Genesis 3:17 : Ge 29:32; 31:42; Ex 3:7; Ps 66:11; 127:2; Ecc 1:13
- Genesis 3:17 : Ge 47:9; Job 5:7; 7:1; 14:1; Ecc 2:23; Jer 20:18
- Genesis 3:18 : Job 31:40; Isa 5:6; Heb 6:8
- Genesis 3:18 : Ps 104:14
- Genesis 3:19 : Ps 104:23
- Genesis 3:19 : Ge 14:18; Dt 8:3, 9; 23:4; Ru 1:6; 2:14; 2Th 3:10
- Genesis 3:19 : S Ge 2:7; S Job 7:21; S Ps 146:4; 1Co 15:47; Heb 9:27
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
17 And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
(A)of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
(B)cursed is the ground because of you;
(C)in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
(D)for you are dust,
and (E)to dust you shall return.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Because you listened to your wife (17a)
When God rebuked him, Adam blamed his wife, and even hinted that his predicament was God's fault. But Adam could not avoid responsibility. He had God's clear command. He should obey God, no matter who suggested that he do otherwise. God's word must always have priority over every other word or idea. And God must be first in our affections.
2. Cursed is the ground (17b)
God cursed the ground because of man's disobedience. He did so in hope that men would repent. All creation suffers because of man's sin. So all creation waits for mankind's redemption.
3. Life without mission (18-19)
Man must now wrest three meals a day from the soil; he must labor for his own survival--then, in the end, die. Man without a mission from God must live a meaningless existence. Only Jesus can restore meaning and mission.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for restoring meaning and mission through your gospel.
One Word: Life without mission = misery
