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Lent · The First Sunday in Lent (Invocavit)

Genesis 3:1-21

The Fall of Man

February 22, 2026

The Rebuke of Adam and Eve, Domenichino
The Rebuke of Adam and Eve, Domenichino, 1626National Gallery of Art, Washington
God carried in on a cloud with his hand out, Adam pointing at Eve, Eve pointing down at the serpent, and the whole chain of blame laid out left to right.Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, Where are you? I will put enmity between you and the woman.DomenichinoDomenichino, who painted the questioning rather than the eating.National Gallery of Art, WashingtonThe National Gallery of Art, Washington.National Gallery of Art, Washington
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 4:1-11Mt 4:1-11
Epistle2 Cor. 6:1-102 Cor 6:1-10Alt. EpistleHeb. 4:14-16Heb 4:14-16
Old TestamentGen. 3:1-21Gn 3:1-21Alt. OT1 Sam. 17:40-511 Sm 17:40-51
PsalterPs. 32Ps 32Alt. PsalmPs. 118:1-13Ps 118:1-13

Overview & Insights

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers.” (Genesis 3:15)

The interchange among the man, the woman, and the serpent provides dramatic movement, and captures how motivation to disobey God rises from an inversion of the order of responsibility that God had established.

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Take it further: Genesis 3:1-21

Commentary

Genesis 3 - Enduring Word Bible CommentaryGn 3 - Enduring Word Bible Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on the serpent's deception, the fall, and the first promise of a deliverer.

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

A Reformed preaching commentary reading Genesis 3 as the recurring pattern of human choice, not just origins.

Genesis 3 CommentaryGn 3 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-level notes and word studies on temptation, the curse, and the coats of skin.

Genesis 3:1 CommentariesGn 3:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators gathered on the serpent's question and the entry of sin.

Background & Word Study

Genesis 1-11 OverviewGn 1-11 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the primeval story that frames the fall in Genesis 3.

Genesis 3:1 InterlinearGn 3:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew text with parsing for the words crafty, serpent, and knowing good and evil.

Genesis 3 (Hebrew text with commentaries)Gn 3 (Hebrew text with commentaries) Sefaria

The Hebrew of Genesis 3 with Jewish commentary and cross references for close reading.

The Church Fathers

Genesis 3 commentary from the Church FathersGn 3 commentary from the Church Fathers Catena

Patristic readings of the fall and the promise given to the woman's seed.

Questions preachers ask

Why read the Fall in Advent?

Genesis 3 tells why a Savior must come, and hides the first promise of the gospel: the woman's offspring will crush the serpent's head. The season answers Eden's ruin.

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