Scripture Study for

The Genesis reading relates how an original intimacy between humans and God was damaged by distrust. The serpent’s question to the woman implies that God has placed an unreasonable limitation on the couple. Although Eve does not take the bait, she does note that God said they would die if they ate from the tree. Knowing that they will not physically die, the serpent tells a half-truth, suggesting that God does not have their best interest at heart. But once the couple has eaten of the tree, they do experience death in the form of estrangement from God, the source of life. Exile from the Garden,  where God and the tree of life reside, symbolizes this rupture of the divine-human relationship, the devastating consequences of sin. 

In his letter to the Romans, Paul articulates the problem to which  Christ is the solution—human captivity to sin. He develops this theme by drawing a contrast between the actions of Adam and their consequences and those of Christ. Adam’s disobedience brought judgment and death, not only for himself but for all his descendants,  such that “death reigned” in the world. Christ’s obedience reversed all of this: sinners are made righteous, the condemned are “acquitted,”  and the reign of death comes to an end. Through the “abundance of grace,” a sheer gift of God, the acquitted now “reign in life” through  Christ. 

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus, who represents all of Israel (2:15),  recapitulates and perfects Israel’s history with God. Now Jesus is led into the wilderness and tested, as Israel was after the Exodus.  Whereas in the desert Israel lacked trust and was unfaithful to God,  Jesus resists the temptation to use his powers for his own needs, to put God to the test, or to worship anyone other than God. The rest of the Gospel will show Jesus, as Son of God, serving others rather than himself and, even to the Cross, trusting and remaining faithful to the Father.