First Sunday in Lent: The Lord Jesus Christ Is Our Champion against Satan

Genesis 3:1-21; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11; Psalm 32:1-7

Exegesis of the LectionaryStudying, expounding, and interpreting the Bible readings through the Church Year

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

 

Genesis 3:1–21

Romans 5:12–19

Matthew 4:1–11

 

The Lord Jesus Christ Is Our Champion against Satan

 

Following His Baptism, Jesus is “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1). As He takes upon Himself the curse of our sin and sets Himself against our enemy, He trusts His Father’s voice and waits upon His Father’s hand for all things. The devil questions His sonship, but the beloved and well-pleasing Son remains faithful and lives “by every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Jesus patiently suffers hunger in His mortal flesh and returns to the dust whence man was taken, and by His pain He brings forth food for all the children of men (Gen. 3:18–19). By the sweat of His brow we eat the fruit of His Cross, even as our nakedness is covered by His righteousness. Although all people live in bondage to death through the trespass of the first man, Adam, all the more “have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one Man Jesus Christ abounded for many” (Rom. 5:15). His righteous obedience “leads to justification and life for all men” (Rom. 5:18).

This week:

The Battle

ה   מ#" ח# ל& מ) ה*

•How does Satan corner you?

•How does the Spirit do battle within you, for you?

LSB 6571 A mighty fortress is our God,A trusty shield and weapon;He helps us free from ev'ry needThat hath us now o'ertaken.The old evil foeNow means deadly woe;Deep guile and great mightAre his dread arms in fight;On earth is not his equal.

2 With might of ours can naught be done,Soon were our loss effected;But for us fights the Valiant One,Whom God Himself elected.Ask ye, Who is this?Jesus Christ it is.Of Sabaoth Lord,And there's none other God;He holds the field forever.

3 Though devils all the world should fill,

All eager to devour us.We tremble not, we fear no ill,They shall not overpow'r us.This world's prince may stillScowl fierce as he will,He can harm us none,He's judged; the deed is done;One little word can fell him.

4 The Word they still shall let remainNor any thanks have for it;He's by our side upon the plainWith His good gifts and Spirit.And take they our life,Goods, fame, child, and wife,Let these all be gone,Our vict'ry has been won;The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray for justice and

protection. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. O Lord, in the temptation of Your Son, He forsook the trophies of this world to cling steadfast to the one thing needful, the Word of God. Grant that, especially in an affluent society, we may always remember that where our treasures are, there will our hearts be also. By grace, may our greatest treasure always be Your gifts of forgiveness and eternal salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. O loving Father, there are many around us who are in desperate need. We remember especially those who are unemployed, underemployed and who are

struggling to receive their daily bread with thanksgiving. Grant that all of Your people, in want or in wealth, may look to You alone as the One who meets our every need and who graciously provides all that we require to support this body and life… Lord of the Church, You have established the Office of the Holy Ministry to bring the gifts of the Gospel to the people of God. Grant us a deep appreciation for the work of our pastors. Help us to see them as workers together in the same vineyard, as stewards of the mysteries of God and as faithful shepherds of Your flock, that our pastors may rightly deliver and Your people may joyfully receive all the gifts that Christ freely gives in this place…

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray for justice and

protection. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

O Lord God, You have established the kingdoms of this world to reward good and punish evil. Grant us good government as part of our daily bread. Make our public servants faithful in all that they do, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness… O God, there are many around us who have various needs, [especially ______________]. Fix their eyes on You as the One who alone can rescue them from any peril. Grant us daily prayer for those in need, whether in this congregation, in the larger communion of saints or throughout the world. Spare us, good Lord, for You alone can fight for us…  Heavenly Father, You have left us the body and blood of Your Son for

us Christians to eat and to drink. Grant penitent hearts and steadfast faith to all who receive the Sacrament at this altar this day, that they may learn from this meal to love God, to believe that only Christ could make satisfaction for our sins and to love their neighbors as themselves… Deliverer from death and the grave, receive this day our humble thanks for all Your children whom Your Spirit has kept in saving faith through the Word and who now rest from their labors. Bring us to share with them the joys of Your unending feast… Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Meet w/teams3-5 min per box

What are the major points of your text? How does your topic fit the pericope

theme? How does it connect to the other texts?

How is it unique?

Group Time The Lord Jesus Christ Is Our Champion against Satan

Genesis 3:1-21The Fall3 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.8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have

done this,“Cursed are you above all livestock    and all wild animals!You will crawl on your belly    and you will eat dust    all the days of your life.15 And I will put enmity    between you and the woman,    and between your offspring[a] and hers;he will crush[b] your head,    and you will strike his heel.”16 To the woman he said,“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;    with painful labor you will give birth to children.Your desire will be for your husband,    and he will rule over you.”17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’“Cursed is the ground because of you;    through painful toil you will eat food from it    all the days of your life.18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,    and you will eat the plants of the field.19 By the sweat of your brow    you will eat your fooduntil you return to the ground,    since from it you were taken;for dust you are    and to dust you will return.”20 Adam[c] named his wife Eve,[d] because she would become the mother of all the living.21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Romans 5:12-19Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can

the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Matthew 4:1-11Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] 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.’[b]”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.’[c]”7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”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.’[e]”11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Psalm 32:1-7Psalm 32Of David. A maskil.[a]

1 Blessed is the one    whose transgressions are forgiven,    whose sins are covered.2 Blessed is the one    whose sin the LORD does not count against them    and in whose spirit is no deceit.3 When I kept silent,    my bones wasted away    through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night    your hand was heavy on me;my strength was sapped    as in the heat of summer.[b]

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you    and did not cover up my iniquity.I said, “I will confess    my transgressions to the LORD.”And you forgave    the guilt of my sin.6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you    while you may be found;surely the rising of the mighty waters    will not reach them.7 You are my hiding place;    you will protect me from trouble    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Sing it!

1 Amazing grace--how sweet the sound--That saved a wretch like me!I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now I see!

2 The Lord has promised good to me,His Word my hope secures;He will my shield and portion beAs long as life endures.

3 Through many dangers, toils and snares,I have already come;

His grace has brought me safe thus far,His grace will lead me home.

4 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall failAnd mortal life shall cease,Amazing grace shall then prevailIn heaven's joy and peace.

5 When we’ve been there ten thousand years,Bright shining as the sun,We’ve no less days to sing God’s praiseThan when we’d first begun.

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENTThe Word of the Gospel

Opens the Eyes of Faith and Fixes Them on Christ Jesus

Genesis 12:1–9 The Call of Abram

Romans 4:1–8, 13–17 Abraham Justified by Faith

John 3:1–17 Jesus Teacher Nicodemus

Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills…

Next Week…

Genesis 12:1–9; Romans 4:1–8, 13–17; John 3:1–17; Psalm 121

Genesis 12:1-9The Call of Abram12 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.2 “I will make you into a great nation,    and I will bless you;I will make your name great,    and you will be a blessing.[a]

3 I will bless those who bless you,    and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earth    will be blessed through you.”[b]

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai,his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaaniteswere in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring[c] I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.Romans 4:1-8Abraham Justified by Faith4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a]

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does

not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:7 “Blessed are those    whose transgressions are forgiven,    whose sins are covered.8 Blessed is the one    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b]

Romans 4:13-1713 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.John 3:1-17Jesus Teaches Nicodemus3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it

comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus,“and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?13 No one has ever gone into heavenexcept the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f]15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.Psalm 121A song of ascents.1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—    where does my help come from?2 My help comes from the LORD,    the Maker of heaven and earth.3 He will not let your foot slip—    he who watches over you will not slumber;4 indeed, he who watches over Israel    will neither slumber nor sleep.5 The LORD watches over you—    the LORD is your shade at your right hand;6 the sun will not harm you by day,    nor the moon by night.7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—    he will watch over your life;8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going    both now and forevermore.