January 2 (Genesis 3–4; Psalm 2; Matthew 3–4)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Host: Crossway
Episode: January 2 (Genesis 3–4; Psalm 2; Matthew 3–4)
Date: January 2, 2026

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Overview

This episode is part of the daily "Through the ESV Bible in a Year" series, where each day features selected readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms, intended to guide listeners through the entire ESV Bible in a year. Today's passages include Genesis 3–4 (the Fall, Cain and Abel), Psalm 2 (God’s Anointed), and Matthew 3–4 (Ministry of John the Baptist and the early ministry and temptation of Jesus).

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Genesis 3–4: The Fall of Humanity and the First Murder

Theme: Disobedience, consequence, and the beginnings of redemption

• Temptation and the Fall (00:04):

  • The serpent tempts Eve, questioning God’s command and promising wisdom ("You will not surely die; for God knows that when you eat of it… you will be like God, knowing good and evil" – Serpent, 00:30).
  • Eve and Adam eat the forbidden fruit; their eyes are opened, and they feel shame ("Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew they were naked …" – Reader, 00:37).

• Consequences & the Curse (01:03):

  • God confronts Adam, Eve, and the serpent, apportioning curses:
    • Serpent cursed to crawl and eat dust; enmity between serpent and woman (“He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” – God, 01:22).
    • Increased pain in childbearing for women, ruling of the husband over wife.
    • The ground is cursed for Adam; toil and eventual death now part of human experience ("By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground..." – 01:43).
  • Adam and Eve are banished from Eden, and a cherubim with a flaming sword guards the Tree of Life (02:12).

• Cain and Abel (02:20):

  • Eve bears Cain and then Abel.
  • Cain and Abel present offerings to God; God accepts Abel’s, not Cain’s.
  • Cain’s anger leads to the first murder: he kills Abel in the field ("Am I my brother's keeper?" – Cain, 03:16).
  • God curses Cain to a life of wandering; places a mark on him for protection ("…vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." – God, 03:47).

• Genealogy and Early Culture (05:14):

  • Cain’s line is established, including the first city, various professions (livestock, music, metalwork).
  • Lamech's boast of violence ("If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold." – Lamech, 06:04).
  • Adam and Eve have another son, Seth; “At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” (06:20).

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Psalm 2: God’s Sovereignty and His Anointed

Theme: The futility of rebellion against God and the authority of God’s Messiah

• World's Rebellion and God’s Response (06:21):

  • The nations and rulers rebel against the Lord and His anointed ("He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision." – 06:39).

• God’s Decree and Warning (06:42):

  • God establishes His son as King on Zion ("You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage..." – God, 07:01).
  • Call for earthly rulers to serve the Lord with fear and take refuge in Him (“Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” – 07:20).

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Matthew 3–4: The Ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Begins

Theme: Repentance, fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus’ identity and authority

• Introduction of John the Baptist (07:20):

  • John preaches in the wilderness, calling for repentance because the kingdom is near.
  • He fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.” (07:28)
  • John’s baptism draws crowds; he confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees: ("You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" – John, 08:05).
  • John distinguishes between his baptism with water and the coming one (“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” – John, 08:32).

• The Baptism of Jesus (08:35):

  • Jesus comes to John to be baptized; John protests, but Jesus insists ("Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." – Jesus, 08:45).
  • At Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit descends “like a dove,” and a voice from heaven announces: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (08:58)

• Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness (09:07):

  • Led by the Spirit, Jesus fasts forty days; Satan tempts him three times.
    • Temptation to turn stones to bread: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Jesus, 09:25.
    • Temptation to test God’s protection: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” – Jesus, 09:58.
    • Offer of worldly power in exchange for worship: “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” – Jesus, 10:18.
  • Angels minister to Jesus after the devil departs.

• Jesus Begins Public Ministry (10:23):

  • After John’s arrest, Jesus moves to Capernaum in Galilee, fulfilling prophecy ("The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light..." – 10:30).
  • Jesus preaches: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Jesus, 10:38.
  • Calls disciples Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John (“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Jesus, 10:43).
  • Jesus teaches, proclaims the gospel, heals, and his fame spreads as people follow from all around (11:02).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
  – The serpent tempting Eve (Genesis 3, 00:30)

• "He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
  – God to the serpent (Genesis 3, 01:22)
  (Often interpreted as the first messianic prophecy)

• "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
  – Cain responding to God (Genesis 4, 03:16)

• "He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision."
  – Psalm 2 (06:39)

• "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance."
  – John the Baptist to religious leaders (Matthew 3, 08:05)

• "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
  – Voice from Heaven at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3, 08:58)

• "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
  – Jesus resists Satan (Matthew 4, 09:25)

• "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
  – Jesus calls his first disciples (Matthew 4, 10:43)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:04 – Genesis 3–4: The Fall, Cain & Abel
• 06:21 – Psalm 2: God’s Anointed King
• 07:20 – Matthew 3: John the Baptist; Baptism of Jesus
• 09:07 – Matthew 4: Temptation of Jesus; Beginning of Ministry

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This episode presents foundational themes: humanity's broken relationship with God, the promise of redemption, the calling to repentance, and the revelation of Jesus as God’s Son and Savior. It’s a sweeping overview of why and how the biblical story presses toward restoration and hope, grounding listeners in some of the Bible’s most pivotal moments.

Transcript

[Narrator]

A reading from the Book of Genesis.

[Reader]

Now, the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, did God actually say, you shall not eat of any tree in the garden? And the woman said to the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden. But God said, you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden. Neither shall you touch it, lest you die. But the serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you.

[Narrator]

Will be like God, knowing good and evil.

[Reader]

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. And she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened and. And they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin cloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, where are you? And he said, I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself. He said, who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? The man said, the woman whom you gave to be with me. She gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate. Then the Lord God said to the woman, what is this that you have done? The woman said, the serpent deceived me, and I ate. The Lord God said to the serpent, because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field. On your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain and childbearing. In pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. And to Adam he said, because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, you shall not eat of it. Cursed is the ground because of you in pain, you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you. And you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. For out of it you were taken, for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. Then the Lord God said, behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the Tree of Life and eat and live forever. Therefore the Lord God sent him out from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. And he drove out the man. And at the east of the Garden of Eden he placed a cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the Tree of Life. Now Adam knew Eve, his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord. And again she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. And and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, he had no regard. So Cain was very angry and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, why are you angry? And why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it. Cain spoke to Abel, his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, where is Abel, your brother? He said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper? And the Lord said, what have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you with strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. Cain said to the Lord, my punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a Fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me. Then the Lord said to him, not so. If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And and the Lord put a mark on Cain lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch when he built a city.

[Narrator]

He called the name of the city.

[Reader]

After the name of his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad. And Irad father Mehugiel, and Mehugiel father Methusio. And Methusio fathered Lamech. And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Idah, and the name of the other, Zillah. Idah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Zillah also bore Tubal Cain. He was the forager of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal Cain was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives Ida and Zillah, Hear my voice, you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is 77fold. And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth. For she said, God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him. To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

[Narrator]

A reading from the Book of Psalms. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord holds them in derision.

[Reader]

Then he will speak to them in.

[Narrator]

His wrath and terrify them in his fury, saying, as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me, you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Now therefore, O kings, be wise, be warned. O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

[Reader]

Kiss the sun, lest he be angry.

[Narrator]

And you perish in the way, for.

[Reader]

His wrath is quickly kindled.

[Narrator]

Blessed are all who take refuge in him. A reading of the Gospel according to Matthew. In those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. Make his path straight. Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him. And they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, and he said to them, you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father.

[Reader]

For I tell you, God is able.

[Narrator]

From these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to.

[Reader]

The root of the trees.

[Narrator]

Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance. But he who is coming after me is mightier than I, who whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.

[Reader]

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

[Narrator]

His winnowing fork is in his hand. And he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized immediately he went up from the water. And behold, the heavens were opened to him. And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, if you are The Son of God command these stones to become loaves of bread. But he answered, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, he will command his angels concerning you.

[Reader]

And on their hands they will bear.

[Narrator]

You up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, again it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test again. The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, all these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, begone, Satan.

[Reader]

For it is written, you shall worship.

[Narrator]

The Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Then the devil left him. And behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. The the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light. And for those dwelling in the region, and shadow of death on them, a light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. While walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there, he saw two other brothers. James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in the boat with Zebedee, their father, mending their nets. And he called them immediately they left the boat and their Father and followed him. And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. And healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria. And they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures and paralytics. And he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis and from Jerusalem and Judea. And from beyond the Jordan.