2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety… I. THE SIMPLICITY. The word signifies "one-foldness." It has manifold applications. It is opposed to what is difficult, double, compound, cunning, deceitful; it is simple, easy, elementary, guileless, open. Now, in Christ we have — 1. Intellectual simplicity. The gospel is intended and adapted for the poor, and for the children. 2. Moral simplicity. The principles and duties which it enjoins are simple; and, if they appear complex, they may be reduced to simple elements. All the details of gospel morality grow from "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God," etc. 3. Spiritual simplicity. The motives and the means of holiness are simple; and, whether the individual or the community concerned be learned or ignorant, the same truths and facts supply spiritual nourishment. This simplicity appears in — (1) The Saviour's teaching. The parables and discourses of Jesus are clear and intelligible. (2) The way of salvation is plain. (3) The gospel call is clear, distinct, unwavering. (4) The life of faith to which the believer is called is composed of many stems and branches, but they all draw their nourishment from one common root. "Looking unto Jesus." II. CORRUPTION OF THIS SIMPLICITY. 1. Scientific, philosophical, metaphysical speculations imported into the gospel tend to corrupt the mind from its simplicity. 2. The moral simplicity that is in Christ may be corrupted by casuistical questionings and scrupulosities of conscience. The single eye may become distorted; the spirit of inquiry may be hypocritical. 3. The plan of salvation may be lost sight of. Another gospel, another Jesus, may be substituted. III. THE COMPARISON. As the serpent beguiled Eve. 1. The position of our first parents was simple, and easy to understand. "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat," etc. What could be plainer? Yet they were beguiled. (1) Their minds were diverted from the one simple command. (2) Doubts were started as to its meaning and purport. (3) The Divine goodness was called in question if the command was rightly understood. (4) Fair promises were made of something better. (5) All this was done by gradual steps, cunningly and skilfully. 2. The same elements of temptation which beguiled them are at work to beguile us. As the law was misinterpreted, so the gospel is mystified, and souls are ruined thereby. 3. It is Satan's subtilty — cunning — that we have most to fear. His mode of attack. He works ruin in such a way as to appear to be doing the reverse. He undermines our position while professedly raising us higher, "He deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). 4. This cunning on his part is not to be met by counter cunning on ours. We are no match for him with such weapons. We must fall back upon the simplicity that is in Christ. Gospel truths are true still. We have not followed cunningly devised fables. (James Smith, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. |
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