Lent 1A
image: Simeon Holmogorec / Public domain (wikimedia)
Renee Roederer, reneeroederer.com
Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, PsalmImmersion.com, @pomopsalmist, Patreon
Diann Bailey, Senior Minister of First Church Suffield, CT
Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, PsalmImmersion.com, @pomopsalmist, Patreon
Sarah Renfro, m-bodied.com, Facebook, @revrenfro
Musician: Red Molly, “May I Suggest” from their album Love and Other Tragedies. Redmolly.com, @redmollyband
Tasty Wafer of the Week:
Matthew 4:1-11
Initial Thoughts
Week one of the Lenten series “Jesus and Pals.” How Jesus interacts with each of these reveals to us something of Jesus. This is about Jesus, not about Satan.
Lent 1A - Satan, “Worship and serve only God”
Lent 2A - Nicodemus “[Jesus was not sent] to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him”
Lent 3A - Woman at the well, “I am [the Messiah]”
Lent 4A - Blind man, “I am the light of the world”
Lent 5A - Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life”
Bible Study
Connected to Baptism
“This passage is not to be reckoned a historical narrative in the strict sense. Its intent is not to convey objective, biographical data. This we understand by comparing it with similar rabbinic stories. It constitutes a piece of haggadic midrash, that is, it is a fanciful story whose purpose is to interpret Scripture.” (Douglas Hare, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Matthew, p. 22-23)
Will that preach in your context?
Can you treat this is a story - not historical fact?
Regardless of historicity of the story, this ultimately a story about Jesus’ identity.
“In its present form, however, the story is less involved with the vanquishing of Satan than with the meaning of Jesus’ divine Sonship. It is, in effect, a theological meditation on the baptismal narrative, addressing the question: [what did God mean by] “This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased?”
Ill-placed in the lectionary. This is a commentary on Baptism Narrative, not as introduction to his ministry.
If “Then the Spirit led him”
Comes directly after “he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.”
The same Spirit that descended upon him, has now led him into the Wilderness
After being declared “Son of God,” Devil now addresses him as such.
Wilderness – a time of trial – matches the time of trials – Flood, Israelites in Wilderness, etc.
Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit- but not necessarily left there- Is the Spirit with Jesus in the midst of temptation?
God, not the devil, is initiating this situation
Similar to Moses and Elijah
Wilderness is not only a physical place but a spiritual place - to be tested and transformed. See this article for more on forest/wilderness symbolism in literature. Or The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton:
“It would perhaps be too much to say that the world needs another movement such as that which drew these men into the deserts of Egypt and Palestine. Ours is certainly a time for solitaries and for hermits. But merely to reproduce the simplicity, austerity and prayer of these primitive souls is not a complete or satisfactory answer. We must transcend them, and transcend all those who, since their time, have gone beyond the limits which they set. We must liberate ourselves, in our own way, from involvement in a world that is plunging to disaster. But our world is different from theirs. Our involvement in it is more complete. Our danger is far more desperate. Our time, perhaps, is shorter than we think.”
Ancient contest of wit and knowledge (Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Hillel, etc)
If you are the Son of God then….
Jesus proved he is the son of God by responding faithfully as oppose to acquiescing to the devil
Devil
the opposition, the tempter, the “other”, the adversary or accuser
Each time Jesus responds with Torah - even when the Devil quotes Ps 91, Torah wins out.
In each temptation Jesus is asked to diminish himself in relation to Satan - to “look selfishly within, to lift him (the devil) up, and to throw himself down.” Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, “Luke”, True to Our Native Land, p.164.
The Devil - diabolos, equivalent of the Hebrew satan or accuser
All of Jesus' responses come from Deuteronomy
“Since you are the Son of God” or “If you are the Son of God.”?
NRSV - If
CEB - Since
Douglas Hare, Rob Myallis (Lectionary Greek blog), and Common English agree that it should be “Since”
“ In this sentence, it seems odd that the devil would wonder if Jesus is the son of God. The devil is saying, more likely, "As the son of God, do X, Y and Z." Not only does this make more sense in the narrative, but grammatically, the fact that the verb [ει] is in the indicative and not subjunctive mood, also suggests this.” (Rob Myalis)
It does not seem like Satan is trying to find out if Jesus is the Son of God, but what is the nature of such a position.
What does a Son of God look like?
A second Exodus (Douglas Hare)
Jesus’ 40 days in wilderness = Israel’s 40 years.
Temptations are the same
Bread in face of extreme hunger - like Israelites in Ex. 16:3.
Israelites complained about hunger, and betrays trust. Jesus shows complete faith and appeals to higher calling than hunger.
“Throw yourself down.” Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, referring to when the Israelites questioned of The Lord was in their midst.
Idolatry. Despite many warnings to the contrary, the Israelites worship idols and graven images - from the very start of the covenant. Jesus, on the other hand, refuses to worship anyone but God.
Idolatry was an incredible temptation to early Christians, who were kept from regular Roman culture - everything before them - if they did not participate in Emperor worship.
Jesus’ 40 days in wilderness = Israel’s 40 years.
Food
mimics Israel in the wilderness in Ex. 16:3- demand for Manna, Water, etc
Israel is unfaithful- Jesus is faithful
Jesus shows complete faith and appeals to higher calling than hunger
Jesus responds - Deuteronomy 8:3
Temptation for material items
“Give us this day our daily bread” - a gift from God given, not something demanded
Survival
Israel repeatedly makes concessions to other nations and powers in order to ensure its own survival - often against the will of God or the prophets (Elijah vs Ahab/Jezebel, Isaiah and Ahaz, etc)
Foreshadows Jesus’ death Psalm 91:11-12- the Devil’s quote
knowing scripture and being faithful are 2 different things
Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 6:16- referring to when the Israelites questioned whether the Lord was in their midst (cf. Exodus 17).
Despite many warnings to the contrary, the Israelites worship idols and graven images - from the very start of the covenant. Jesus, on the other hand, refuses to worship anyone but God.
Idolatry was an incredible temptation to early Christians, who were kept from regular Roman culture - everything before them - if they did not participate in Emperor worship.
Power
mimics Israel’s desire for a King
Deuteronomy 6:13
total power corrupts totally
Won’t the world be better off with Jesus as the leader? Temptation of ends justifying the means
Douglas John Hall - Beware these temptations for the church
Satan’s temptation is the same here as in Genesis - to tempt people to “become like God”
Temptation to Attempt the Miraculous - beware of a theology which promises glory without sacrifice, resurrection without crucifixion, and cheap grace
Temptation to Spectacle - beware the ecclesiology of local church or local pastor worship - the ecclesiastic cult of celebrity. You and your church are not the savior- only Jesus is
Temptation to Political Power - Political power is about domination and winning against others, Jesus’ way is about loving and forgiving others- about an emptying of power.
Pride, power, possession.
“‘The tradition teaches that these temptations stand for pride, power, and possession,’ And all of the sudden my soul - not my mind, but my soul -said ‘Aha!’ as a puzzle piece clicked into place. I didn’t know much about Jesus, the devil, or that desert, but I knew pride. I knew the desire for power; I knew the wish for possessions. I was familiar with all of them, from painful experience… All of the sudden the story wasn’t about Jesus; it was about me, too. And not just me; it was about all humanity.” (Nurya Love Parish, The Christian Century, “Living by the Word” Feb. 15, 2017. Vol 134, no 4)
This reading cuts off the temptation from the beginning of Jesus ministry, but the next line is: “When Jesus heard that John was arrested.”
Synoptics agree that Jesus did not begin his ministry until John was arrested.
Was it intentional for Jesus? Did he purposely wait until that moment, or did John’s arrest somehow spur him to action?
Tense of the verb that is translated “arrested” is similar to “handed over” or “delivered up.” This is a divine passive tense that implies that it was God who “handed over” John. This implies that John’s arrest was a part of God’s plan - as was Jesus’ arrest later in the gospel story. (Douglas Hare, Interpretation: Matthew, p. 28)
Sometimes it is moments of crisis that give us the nudge.
How many are arrested for civil disobedience, often inspiring others to do more, e.g. MLK in Birmingham Jail, Leah Gunning Francis’s book Ferguson and Faith.
“Thus, the pericope's opening verse is not simply a way to mark time, but it signals that John's arrest is a dangerous situation for Jesus, and he must choose how to respond. There will come a time, later, to face such threats head-on (particularly when Jesus goes to Jerusalem prior to the crucifixion), but for now Jesus pulls away in order to carry out his ministry of proclamation in and around Galilee.” (Audrey West, Working Preacher)
At Temptation - in wilderness, has a mystical experience, then goes to Galilee; at Transfiguration - on mountain, has mystical experience, then goes to Jerusalem.
Thoughts and Questions
What does the Son of God look like? What does it look like to have that kind of power and status?
Similar to what happens in Ch. 27 when the Chief priests “led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.”
Pilate’s question: “Are you the King of the Jews?”
What is the nature of Jesus’ Kingship?
Pilate would expect a king to have wealth, political clout, and military strength.
Satan’s questions are about wealth and power.
Jesus is a disappointing Son of God to Satan, just as he is a disappointing King to Pilate.
Satan is well versed in Scripture, and tries to use it against Jesus, but ultimately, Jesus’ command of Scripture is stronger. Simply knowing the Scripture is not enough. Like Jesus, who declares “You have heard it said… But I say to you.” The Word of God is more than the words on the page. It is the way of God, which does not include giving in to easy paths of surface-level victories.
Jesus’ temptations are our temptations still. Though none of us are tempted to turn stone to bread, and hopefully none expect to survive jumping off a building, we are still tempted to pursue other paths to wealth, influence, and power. We are still tempted to seek short cuts, ignore God’s will, and pursue goals that promise fulfillment, but only lead to emptiness.
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Initial Thoughts
Original sin? Whether you agree or disagree- this must be address as it is the prevailing theology
Bible Study
Background
Part of the older story of creation (Genesis 2 bedates Genesis 1) - J or Yahwist
“Eden” means “delight”, “luxury” or “dainty”
The earth creature (ha adam) is placed in the garden to help God “till” (to serve and keep the garden)
Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil
Unknown exactly what it symbolizes- few parallels in ancient literature
Only time it appears in scripture
God offered incredible - but not boundless - freedom
Breaking the relationship
Trust, Obedience and Intimacy with God are broken and devolve into distrust (3:5), disobedience and temptation (3:6) and finally a broken relationship and estrangement between humanity and God and humanity with itself.
Good and Evil
To know Good and Evil is not about ethical discernment or rational choice, but rather “the desire to make ourselves the arbiters of good and evil, assuming for ourselves the role of God.” Allen Mcsween Jr, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide.
Humanity falls to temptation and immediately begins to justify the choice:
She touches the tree and doesn’t die (3:2-3, although Eve adds this, God doesn’t claim touching the tree will kill them- the first mistranslation)
“good” , “a delight”, “to be desired to make one wise” (3:6) - all seemingly good reasons to eat the fruit
Arbitrary rules?
Seems like it to the child, but not to the parent
God grants us freedom within boundaries - the boundaries are not there for God’s well-being but for ours
You may eat anything but not the chemicals under the sink
You may play anywhere, but not in the middle of the street
God’s torah, law and will are there for our benefit and the benefit of creation
Does God lie?
Humanity did not die the the day they ate from the tree (2:17)
The consequences of their actions introduces death, pain and suffering into the world
God threatens but chooses not to kill humanity
Theological interpretation
Classical interpretation: Adam’s disobedience (by taking from the tree) invited sin and evil into the world and condemns humanity to death. This is countered by Christ’s obedience and sacrifice (by offering himself upon the “tree”) redeems us and allows us to once again live in full relationship with God
The original sin of Adam in cleansed in the baptismal waters as we participate in the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
Mythical allegory describing theodicy (why is there evil in the world?)
Sin, evil and even death are introduced into the world by humanity’s free will choosing not-God.
Jesus shows us the way to choose God (even unto death on the cross)
We are condemned and redeemed by the choices we make
Important things to remember
Sin is NEVER mentioned in this story
Satan and the devil are never mentioned
What is the consequence of humanity’s disobedience? Fear and shame - both unnatural in the garden
365 times - do not fear
No need to feel shame
Guilt (for doing something wrong)? Yes
Shame (for being something wrong)? Never
Interpreting Eve (Elaine James in Women’s Bible Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press, p. 54)
“Although Eve has been much maligned by some interpreters as inferior to her husband, solely responsible for humanity’s broken condition, and even a gateway for the devil, not all have seen her in such a negative light. Interpreters that emphasize her equality with Adam and her role as “mother of all living” draw attention to important aspects of the biblical text, which figures Eve as a dynamic character and fails to cast blame on either Adam or Eve alone. Indeed, such positive interpretations allow contemporary women to reclaim Eve as a pivotal biblical character of curiosity and intelligence, formed in the image of God.”
Thoughts and Questions
Humanity’s disobedience leads to fear and shame (either self imposed or imposed upon us by others). Perhaps the kingdom of God is moving toward a place where none feel fear or shame again.
Churches can quickly become “Jesus-optional” ethical societies. The call to follow Christ is not a call to be an ethical Christian, but a Christ centered Christian. Being a follower of Christ may lead us to make unethical decisions (Abraham and Isaac, Bonhoeffer and the attempted assassination of Hitler).
Lent is a time of repentance - turning our hearts and minds to God, not a season of shame and guilt. How can we reclaim repentance which pulls us closer to God and get rid of the fear and shame which separate us from God and one another?
Romans 5:12-19
Initial Thoughts
This can be read as Paul’s commentary on Genesis 3.
Pulled apart form 5:1-11 makes it feel weird. That we read 5:1-11 in two weeks is weirder. Clearly, this is paired with the Hebrew Bible reading.
“In Romans 5:12-21, Paul completes the transition from discussing the righteousness of faith to describing the new life that results from God’s power and grace.”(Spivey, Smith, and Black; Anatomy of the New Testament, p. 357)
Bible Study
Examination of Adam
Adam introduced sin into the world, and we have not been able to avoid it since. Sin is a part of our very being.
“This passage turns on the profound similarity and the profound difference between Adam and Christ. Both act in ways that impact each and every human being, yet their actions have radically different results,” (Charles Couser, Texts for Preaching, Year A, p. 187)
“Sin, for Paul, is not simply a ‘bad’ action, as we suggest when prayers refer to “sins of omission and sins of commission.’ Sin is a power under which humankind has lived since Adam and which causes separation from - even rejection of - God.” (Cousar, p. 187)
“Death, for Paul, is not simply the termination of vital bodily functions. Rather, death follows from sinfulness and ultimately negages and condemns human life. In turn, sin is accentuated rather than removed by the law. Over and against this hopeless oppression and bondage, Paul places the assurance of God’s all-sufficient grace in Jesus Christ.” (Spivey, Smith, and Black; Anatomy of the New Testament, p. 358)
“Sin, doing those things we hate, Paul explains, regrettably and unavoidably is part of who we are. It is not that some people will sin while others will not. All of us live lives marked by sin and death. And we must trace the source of that sin and death to the very first person, Adam.” (Lucy Lind Hogan, Working Preacher)
Examination of Grace
Just as Adam introduced sin into the world, Christ brought grace into the world. We can no longer exist outside of God’s grace.
“Paul contrasts the workings of a lesser man, Adam, with those of a greater man, Christ. Adam’s life brought death; Jesus’ life brings grace. Jesus Christ brings justification. Death’s dominion because of Adam is less powerful than the dominion of righteousness because of Christ.” (Cousar, p. 188)
“All humanity finds itself under the dominion of sin because of Adam. All of humanity likewise finds itself under the dominion of grace because of Jesus Christ.
“The two powers [sin and grace], however, are not to be regarded as equals, for the power of grace is immeasurable stronger and more extensive even than the power of sin.”
Thoughts and Questions
This feels like an appeal to universal salvation. If all, universally, are condemned by the sin of one man, shouldn’t all, universally, be acquitted by the act of the righteous man?
This is an interesting start to the Lenten season. We are beginning with Grace. Even though we are also beginning with Sin (Genesis) and Temptation (Gospel), and even beginning with sin in this passage, we end with Grace. It feels like we shouldn’t get there this quickly. What does it mean to have this passage as the text for the first Sunday of Lent?
An examination of sin is not usually very welcome. Taking sin seriously though, is an important part of faith. Acknowledging human sin - even its unavoidability - is not the same as total deprivation. Acknowledging that we come up short - that the world is inherently sinful - is not the same as “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.”
Thanks to our Psalms correspondent, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist, patreon.com/RichardBC). Thank you to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music (“Miserlou”), Nicolai Heidlas for our transition music (“Sunday Morning”, "Real Ride" and “Summertime”) and Bryan Odeen for our closing music.