The Collect The Collect The central image of the collect is the temptation of Christ, as a lead into a request for help for each of us in dealing with temptation. The use of the name Satan in this Collect is its only use in the Collects. In all three years RCL A, B and C, the Gospel for the first Sunday in Lent is the temptation of Christ. For the most part the other lessons deal with this theme and that of Sin, RCL A deals with the first sin and Paul’s argument from Romans that as one-man Adam, brought sin, then one man, Jesus could take sin away. This Collect expresses the sense of the readings and sets a proper tone for the season of Lent. The Unity of the readings For each of the readings keep the ideas from the collect in mind. Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 `You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Creation Story Two In the Oxford Annotated Bible superscriptions today’s readings are titled as ‘Another Account of Creation’ Omitted Materials The reading omits the story of the 2ndcreation of Eve. [The first is in Chapter 1:26-27] After the first sentence the reading skips to Chapter Three and the temptation story. But the temptation is the real subject for the day – not creation…... In Chapter 1.1-2.3 the complete first creation story is told. The second starts with V 2.5. Also, the injunction against the “tree” occurs [2:16] before the creation of Eve in the second version. Parable The day’s lectionary story is itself for all intents a parable. As a parable we can look at the action and the actors as a way to examine the story. The Characters The Snake – a wild creature, distinguished by uncanny wisdom and there is a hint of an evil power, hostile to God, in the world. Adam and Eve – Both are apparently present for the snake’s line, only the Woman speaks. God – Through His commandment and His tree. The set up Adam and Eve are at peace in the Garden. The snake tells Eve about the tree and casts doubt on God’s motive in the commandment. The object to be acquired is “the knowledge of Good and Evil.” The snake uses a ‘lie’ that the tree is not deadly – we know from hind sight that the ultimate punishment / result would be the cause of bad things. The Action Eve sees that the fruit is attractive and ‘desired to make one wise.’ Eve picks the fruit and eats it. Eve hands it to Adam. They become wise, and know they are naked. They discover that they could choose to follow God’s commandment, or not. Misconception The story has been used to illustrate Eve’s temptation of Adam. The text itself is ambiguous – Adam may or not have been with Eve when she encountered the snake. But, in the text he was present when she picked and ate the fruit. Adam and Eve had equal moral positions. Eve The traditional story telling emphasis is on the gullibility of Eve. This is only one possible interpretation of the Genesis narrative. Another might be that since the man and the woman were together when the serpent spoke - the serpent might have addressed the woman as provider of food or as theological thinker, not as the more gullible. Adam and Eve The man and the woman together discover their nakedness, together make fig leaf garments, and together hide from the deity. Both are destined to pain and are expelled from the garden. Thus, once the reader sets aside the portrait of Eve based on later traditions, her character becomes open to diverse interpretations. The Fall The Fall refers to the disobedience and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve—initially enjoyed a life of ease and intimacy with God, but their desire to become "like gods“ led them to disobey God's prohibition against eating from the tree of knowledge. Other traditions have similar stories. The biblical narrative is unique, however, in implying that humanity's degradation was indirectly caused by its own free choice. SO? Is this a story about how bad snakes are? Is this a story to explain the transition as mankind reached intelligence and then self awareness? If one is not self aware e.g. aware of another less than ideal life, was it really paradise in the garden? Is the garden a description of the perfect life [see Isaiah or Revelation] to come, and to which we seek a return as ourselves but sinless? The Limbourg Brothers,
The Fall and the Expulsion from Paradise
(from the Book of Hours of the Duc de Berry), 1415-16
Vellum, 29 x 21 cm,
Musée Condé, Chantilly
The structure in the middle is the fountain of life. Jacopo della Quercia, Temptation, 1425-28
Marble, 99 x 92 cm
San Petronio, Bologna
The heroic bodies of Adam and Eve influenced Michelangelo who was drawn to them while in Bologna. Albrecht Durer,
Adam and Eve, 1504
Engraving, 252 x 194 mm
The figures are based on classical sculptures: the Apollo Belvedere and the Medici Venus. The elk, hare, cat and ox symbolize the four humours into which the human soul divided after the Fall.
Jan Brueghel the Elder (c. 1568 - 1625),
Garden of Eden, 1612
Oil on copper, 50,3 x 80,1 cm
Galleria Doria-Pamphili, Rome Known as a painter of flower pieces and landscapes, he did at least 106 versions of the Garden of Eden. Psalm 32 Beati quorum 1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, * and whose sin is put away! 2 Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, * and in whose spirit there is no guile! 3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, * because of my groaning all day long. 4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; * my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, * and did not conceal my guilt. 6 I said," I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." * Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32 Beati quorum 7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; * when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them. 8 You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; * you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 9 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; * I will guide you with my eye. 10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; * who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you." 11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; * but mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD. 12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD; * shout for joy, all who are true of heart. Thanksgiving for healing The Psalm is a thanksgiving for the speaker’s healing. Disease was commonly regarded as a punishment for sin, and healing evidence of forgiveness. Healing came only as the result of acknowledgment of sin. Look at V 9 – comparison of human to an animal’s understanding – what? Is this also about our exit from the garden? Romans 5:12-19 As sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned-- sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:12-19 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. Romans 5:12-19 If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:12-19 Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Introduction to the Letter of Paul to the Romans This is the longest and the most influential of all his correspondence. Written at the height of the apostle's career between A.D. 54 and 58. He writes to the Christians at Rome to announce this intention and to explain his understanding of the gospel. Also with a view to securing the support of believers there for his work farther to the west. Context The reading for today is a part of a much longer exposition on the nature of the Gospel, according to Paul. It is a sub-point in the middle of a three step statement about the nature of Grace and Salvation. Ended by a section on suggestions for daily living. Four Sections of Romans Logical Argument - Simple Version Paul argues in support of salvation through Jesus by extension from Adam. Death and sin came into the world through the act of one man, Adam. Therefore, we are saved from death, by the act of one man Jesus. The Universality Of Sharing In Adam's Rebellion The argument is appealingly simple the unbalance from Adam, was balanced by Jesus. But what if Adam and Eve = 2, or if Adam is an archetype – everyman (person) – NOT just ONE? If it is our nature to be free, is that a sin? Does God give us the Gift, freedom but without the consequence, sin. Duccio di Buoninsegna, Temptation on the Mount, 1308-11
Tempera on wood,
43 x 46 cm,
Frick Collection,
New York Botticelli, Three Temptations of Christ, 1481-82 Fresco, 345 x 555 cm,
Cappella Sistina, Vatican Christ's threefold temptation by the Devil, as described in the Gospel according to Matthew, can be seen in the background of the picture, with the devil disguised as a hermit. At top left, up on the mountain, he is challenging Christ to turn stones into bread; in the centre, we see the two standing on a temple, with the Devil attempting to persuade Christ to cast himself down; on the right-hand side, finally, he is showing the Son of God the splendor of the world's riches, over which he is offering to make Him master. On the right in the background, three angels have prepared a table for the celebration of the Eucharist, a scene which only becomes comprehensible when seen in conjunction with the event in the foreground of the fresco. Christ appears with three angels in the middle ground on the left of the picture, where He is apparently explaining the incident occurring in the foreground to the heavenly messengers. In the foreground is a scene of a Jewish sacrifice, conducted daily before the Temple in accordance with ancient custom. The high priest is receiving the blood-filled sacrificial bowl, while several people are bringing animals and wood as offerings. The Jewish sacrifice portrayed here refers to the crucifixion of Christ, who through His death offered of His flesh and blood for the redemption of mankind. Christ's sacrifice is reconstructed in the celebration of the Eucharist, alluded to here by the gift table prepared by the angels. Juan de Flandes
(1465?-1519),
The Temptation of Christ,
c. 1500
Oil on panel, 21 x 16 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington Matthew 4:1-11 After Jesus was baptized, he was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.‘” Matthew 4:1-11 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.‘” Matthew 4:1-11 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. The Temptation of Jesus Each of the synoptic Gospels gives an account of the temptation of Christ and all three place the temptation within the same sequence, following Jesus' baptism. Mark has one sentence, Matthew and Luke have three Scenes – the order is different. Jesus’ confrontations with Satan center in quotations from Deuteronomy 6 and Deuteronomy 8 Deuteronomy 6 and 8. Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD What’s the point? The Challenge was to show Jesus as both a human, like others, and as an OT Messiah. Here Jesus is tempted as are all people, but He does not give in. His defense each time was a quote from the OT Law which defeated Satan each time. The Law was sufficient when used! The perfection of Jesus In Genesis we see mankind in general fall to sin. In the forty day time period of Matthew, we see Jesus succeed where the entire community of man, in the form of Israel, fell to sin. In Romans we see the logic of salvation through Jesus. In Matthew we see, first that God as Jesus defeats Sin, where we fail; and Second that the ‘Law’ would have been sufficient – God gave mankind all that was needed to defeat sin. In the temptation Jesus defeated sin with the law, everything after that was for us. Christ Church Glass The Glass Depicts the last Temptation – Power Crown = Power Cities of the World The devil is Winged?
