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Lenten Season · First Sunday of Lent · Year A

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

The Making and Unmaking of Man

February 22, 2026

The Fall of Man, Hugo van der Goes
The Fall of Man, Hugo van der Goes, c. 1467–1468Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
The serpent is painted as a lizard with a woman's head standing upright on two legs, watching Eve take the fruit with real attention.It is the reading, and Van der Goes made the tempter something you cannot quite place, which is worse.Hugo van der GoesA Ghent painter who entered a monastery at the height of his fame and suffered a breakdown his fellow monks recorded in detail.Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaThe Habsburg collection, assembled over four centuries and housed in a purpose-built palace on the Ringstrasse since 1891.Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 4:1-11Mt 4:1-11
Second ReadingRom. 5:12-19Rom 5:12-19 orRom. 5:12, 17-19Rom 5:12, 17-19
First ReadingGen. 2:7-9; 3:1-7Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Responsorial PsalmPs. 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14+17 (cf. 3a)Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14+17 (cf. 3a)

Overview & Insights

"The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7)

God shapes the first man from the dust and breathes life into him, then plants a garden with two significant trees at its center. The serpent talks the woman into eating the forbidden fruit by twisting God's warning into a promise, the man eats with her, and the eyes opened by disobedience see shame where they once saw only good.

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Take it further: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7Commentary on Gn 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Working Preacher

A Luther Seminary reading of the creation and the fall as the First Sunday in Lent's Old Testament text.

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 CommentaryGn 2:15-17, 3:1-7 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on the serpent's twisting of God's word and God's mercy after the fall.

Genesis 3 Commentary: Man's Temptation and FallGn 3 Commentary: Man's Temptation and Fall Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse by verse evangelical commentary on the temptation, the eating, and the opened eyes.

Genesis 2 CommentaryGn 2 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep study page on the forming of man from the dust and the breath of life, with cross references and word studies.

Genesis 3:1, classic commentatorsGn 3:1, classic commentators BibleHub

Barnes, Gill, and other historic commentators gathered on the serpent's cunning question.

The First Sunday of Lent, Year A Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Brant Pitre connects the fall of the first Adam to Christ's temptation in the Gospel for this Sunday.

Background & Word Study

Genesis 2:7 InterlinearGn 2:7 Interlinear BibleHub

The Hebrew text word by word for the forming of man and the breath of life.

The Church Fathers

Genesis 3:1, patristic commentaryGn 3:1, patristic commentary Catena

A chain of patristic comment on the serpent's approach to the woman.

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