Genesis 2: 15-17, 3:1-7
Matthew 4:1-11
Lent 1 9th March 2014 Year A
Jesus goes into the desert.for between and waters and the annunciation of the call to living, there must be a desert sojourn. As was the case for Israel of old where the passing through the waters of the Red Sea would be followed by a desert journey and the giving of the Law on a mountain, so here the passing through the waters by Jesus at baptism is followed by his desert sojourn, that in turn being followed by his giving of a new law on another mountain. Matthew in his writing is wishing to make the parallel very explicit. In this Jesus there is a new exodus out of slavery, the reception of a new law, to live as a new community. To reach that point there must be a time of orientation and testing between. For Israel that time was a 40 year exodus journey, a time in which they bowed to temptation, while for Jesus representing the new Israel there is a 40 day retreat to the desert where he succeeds in resisting the trials and temptations put before him. The number 40 is one commonly used in the Scriptures and really signifies ‘a long time.’
Matthew 4:1-11
Lent 1 9th March 2014 Year A
Jesus goes into the desert.for between and waters and the annunciation of the call to living, there must be a desert sojourn. As was the case for Israel of old where the passing through the waters of the Red Sea would be followed by a desert journey and the giving of the Law on a mountain, so here the passing through the waters by Jesus at baptism is followed by his desert sojourn, that in turn being followed by his giving of a new law on another mountain. Matthew in his writing is wishing to make the parallel very explicit. In this Jesus there is a new exodus out of slavery, the reception of a new law, to live as a new community. To reach that point there must be a time of orientation and testing between. For Israel that time was a 40 year exodus journey, a time in which they bowed to temptation, while for Jesus representing the new Israel there is a 40 day retreat to the desert where he succeeds in resisting the trials and temptations put before him. The number 40 is one commonly used in the Scriptures and really signifies ‘a long time.’