The Exorcist's Bestiary

God: You may surely eat of every tree of the garden (except one).

Satan: You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?

Satan’s deception of Eve is a simple one. He quoted many of the exact words that God said but sprinkled in a few extra words to cause Eve to reframe it. It’s the same kind of manipulation that Satan used on Jesus when he tempted him in the wilderness by quoting Scripture over and over again. If Jesus had entertained the demonic conversation as Eve had, Satan would have had the ability to continue adding in new words until he had reframed the situation enough for God’s words to be reversed.

Bible scholar Tim Mackie suggests that this is why Jesus tells us to keep our commitments simple. Rather than swear to God when we make oaths, just say “yes” or “no.” According to Jesus, “anything more than this comes from evil.” Once God’s name comes into it, there’s space for manipulation. Once additional words come into it, there’s space for reframing.

There are many spaces where we can apply this to our own lives, but an example we’re all experiencing right now might be American politics. Many egregious things have happened in recent times that do not require additional words, reframing, or discussion. The situations are as wrong as they look. But instead of keeping things simple and calling it what it is, we’re told to reframe these situations until we climb the forbidden trees.