Matthew 6:9-13 (6)

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

Temptation is an important word for God’s people.  It is a word that describes a situation where we have a choice to honor God or dishonor God.  We can choose right or wrong.  It may be a seducing thought from the evil one (that is usually what we mean by temptation, James 1:13-14).  But it can also be a trial or difficulty where we can follow God through the trial or sinfully run away from or around the trial (James 1:2).  In a very real way these situations do not simply produce character but also reveal character (1 Peter 1:6-7).

The Bible of course is filled with stories of these kinds of situations.  From Abraham to Joseph to Gideon to Job to Daniel to the Disciples of Jesus to Paul we see people in the fire of adversity where they are tested.  Even Jesus is tested (Matt. 4:1-11; Heb. 2:18; 4:15).  As with Jesus, so with us: God leads us into these (Matt. 4:1: Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted).  God does not lead us to sin (James 1:13-14) but leads us to be tested.  

Having considered these things, what does Jesus tell us to pray for?  First, we are to pray that we might not be led into trial.  This is a valid thing for us to ask God.  Furthermore, when we pray this prayer, we are also told to watch as we pray that we not enter into temptation (Matt. 26:41).  Sometimes we ask God not to lead us into temptation and then turn around and walk right into a tempting situation ourselves.

Second we are to pray that He deliver us from evil or the evil one.  Our Father is a God of deliverance, as is evident from our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Being saved from sin for eternity is the ultimate deliverance.  Furthermore, we know that …

·        God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, 2 Pt. 2:9.

·        God will deliver us.  Jesus prayed this very prayer for His disciples (John 17:15) and God will honor the prayer of Jesus.  Further, deliverance is assured by God’s faithfulness (1 Cor. 10;13).  He knows our limits and will keep us from falling.

For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen!

These closing words are not included in some translations because of manuscript differences.  However they are probably taken from 1 Chron. 29:11-12 and certainly do not conflict with the prayer Jesus is teaching us to pray.  He has taught us to begin by putting God in His rightful place.  Thus the prayer ends in the same way.  We come to God about all these things because it is His Kingdom, His power that we draw upon, and His glory that is the aim of it all.

Again we are encouraged to examine our praying.  What is our habit of prayer?  What is our pattern for prayer?  Let us learn from our Master!