It is common knowledge that Adam allowed Eve to persuade him into taking the bite out of the fruit [1]. However, long before the serpent beguiled Eve, Adam and Eve’s own hunger for what they couldn’t have had already induced them to partake. Although the Bible does not tell us these things, I believe that Adam and Eve developed a real craving for the fruit of the tree and they lusted after what they couldn’t have. If lust hadn’t drawn them to the tree, why were they standing there? Lust doesn’t just happen in an instant. Lust is first born as a thought. In other words, sin begins in the mind as a thought [2].

How many times have we thought about something that we knew was probably not the right thing to do but did it anyway? On the other hand, how many times have we wanted to do something that was the right, but neglected to do that thing? Well, we are in pretty good company. Paul, who expositors credit with the transcription of 2/3’s of the New Testament, had the same thoughts and worries.

v19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
v20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [Romans 7:19, 20 KJV (Romans 7:15-20)].

Thoughts grow to temptation and that is where we need to fight it off…in the mind, Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ [3]. It would follow that if we continue to sin, God’s grace would that much more abound.

v20 But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound [Romans 5:20b KJV].
v1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
v2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein [Romans 6:1, 2 KJV]?

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new [4]. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you [5].

Thought created lust in Adam and Eve’s mind and it drew them to the tree. At that point, they’d already made up their minds to partake of the fruit, long before the tree. The serpent tried to destroy God’s plan at the tree but instead fell into God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ [6]. The beautiful fruit had ensnared Adam and he ignored the commandment of God and listened to Eve’s manipulation.
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[1] Genesis 3:6
[2] James 1:15
[3] 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV
[4] 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
[5] James 4:7 KJV
[6] Acts 4:11, 12