This passage discusses what theologians refer to as "original sin." This the story of Adam and Eve in the garden. God has put these two humans into a garden that will provide for their every need. However, God gave them one rule. Do not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. That seems to us today to be easy. There was only one rule to follow. Then temptation showed up in the form of a serpent. Few people would think of a serpent as attractive (although some people do). The serpent in this story is described as "crafty." The text reads, "Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made" (Gen. 3:1 NRSV).

There is a conversation between the serpent and Eve. The serpent asks about the rule regarding eating from the tree in the center of the garden and what God has said about the tree. Eve tells the serpent that God said the humans must not eat from the tree in the center of the garden or they will die. The serpent replies that they will not die but will have greater knowledge (of good and evil). This is not a direct lie. They will not die immediately but will bring death on humankind (because of disobedience of God) and separate them from God. Temptation often seems true on the surface, and sin is anything that separates us from God.

When we think of evil we think of something frightening and ugly. However, evil can come in the form of something very beautiful and inviting. Temptation lures us to do things that separate us from God. Because of that separation we die, but we have hope in God who saves us if we turn back to God instead of away from God. Repent means to turn around or toward something. We are entering the season of Lent which is a time of self examination and repentance. We need to look at our lives and determine what is separating us from God and turn back to God.

Christ and Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11)

Our Gospel story this week picks up immediately after the baptism of Christ. Christ is led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil. There are three times that the devil tempts Jesus. The first temptation was about food. After Jesus has fasted for forty days and forty nights the text says that he was "famished". Imagine how hungry you would be if you had not had anything to eat for that amount of time. It is described in our story like this: "The tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread'" (Matt. 4:3 NRSV). Then we hear these words of Christ: "...It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Matt. 4:4 NRSV).

The next temptation is about saving Jesus' life. He is taken up on the "pinnacle of the temple" and the devil dares him to jump telling him that God will send angels to save him. The devil even quotes Scripture to that effect. Jesus counters with these words: "...Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'" (Matt. 4:7 NRSV).

The third temptation is about wealth and power. The devil promises Jesus great wealth and power if he will only bow down and worship the devil. Again Jesus replies with Scripture, saying, "...Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God,and serve only him'" (Matt. 4:7 NRSV). Christ had the wisdom and faith to resist the temptations set before him even though they were great. We thank God for that redeeming power through Christ that redeems us when we are not strong enough to resist temptation when it comes. We must, however, confess and repent to receive this Grace.