March 9, 2014

Reading

Genesis   2: 7-9, 3: 1-7

2:7 And then the Lord God formed man from the clay of the earth, and he breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

2:8 Now the Lord God had planted a Paradise of enjoyment from the beginning. In it, he placed the man whom he had formed.

2:9 And from the soil the Lord God produced every tree that was beautiful to behold and pleasant to eat. And even the tree of life was in the midst of Paradise, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

3:1 However, the serpent was more crafty than any of the creatures of the earth that the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Why has God instructed you, that you should not eat from every tree of Paradise?”

3:2 The woman responded to him: “From the fruit of the trees which are in Paradise, we eat.

3:3 Yet truly, from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of Paradise, God has instructed us that we should not eat, and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we may die.”

3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman: “By no means will you die a death.

3:5 For God knows that, on whatever day you will eat from it, your eyes will be opened; and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.”

3:6 And so the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and beautiful to the eyes, and delightful to consider. And she took from its fruit, and she ate. And she gave to her husband, who ate.

3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened. And when they realized themselves to be naked, they joined together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.

Reading

Romans    5: 12-19

5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into this world, and through sin, death; so also death was transferred to all men, to all who have sinned.

5:13 For even before the law, sin was in the world, but sin was not imputed while the law did not exist.

5:14 Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses, even in those who have not sinned, in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come.

5:15 But the gift is not entirely like the offense. For though by the offense of one, many died, yet much more so, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, has the grace and gift of God abounded to many.

5:16 And the sin through one is not entirely like the gift. For certainly, the judgment of one was unto condemnation, but the grace toward many offenses is unto justification.

5:17 For though, by the one offense, death reigned through one, yet so much more so shall those who receive an abundance of grace, both of the gift and of justice, reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.

5:18 Therefore, just as through the offense of one, all men fell under condemnation, so also through the justice of one, all men fall under justification unto life.

5:19 For, just as through the disobedience of one man, many were established as sinners, so also through the obedience of one man, many shall be established as just.

Gospel

Matthew    4: 1-11

4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, in order to be tempted by the devil. 4:2 And when he had fasted for forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry.

4:3 And approaching, the tempter said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4:4 And in response he said, “It has been written: ‘Not by bread alone shall man live, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

4:5 Then the devil took him up, into the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple,

4:6 and said to him: “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down. For it has been written: ‘For he has given charge of you to his angels, and they shall take you into their hands, lest perhaps you may hurt your foot against a stone.’ ”

4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it has been written: ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

4:8 Again, the devil took him up, onto a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,

4:9 and said to him, “All these things I will give to you, if you will fall down and adore me.”

4:10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan. For it has been written: ‘You shall adore the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” 4:11 Then the devil left him. And behold, Angels approached and ministered to him.