Scripture: Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11

In our Genesis readings today, we see God create the first humans (Adam & Eve) and place them in a garden with many trees, two of which are specifically named. Then we see the serpent come and lie to them, cause them to question God’s good word, and ultimately disobey God. It was in a garden, by way of food, that humans first sinned against God.

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7

7 Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

In our Matthew reading for today, we see Jesus contrasted with both Adam and the nation of Israel. Whereas Adam sinned by eating forbidden food, Jesus obeyed the Father and fasted from food. And whereas the nation of Israel wandered through the desert for 40 years and sinned many times against God, Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, resisting and overcoming the serpent’s temptations.

In other words, Jesus succeeded where both Adam and Israel (which represent all God’s Old Testament people) failed. We’re seeing Jesus begin to undo the curse brought into the world through Adam!

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’“

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.