Why Do We Pray, "Lead Us Not Into Temptation"?

Again and again we Christians pray to our Father in heaven to "lead us not into temptation." Since we know he does not tempt us to sin, why pray such a prayer at all? This is a puzzle I'd like to help us solve as we move into this Lenten season of penitence. Let's start by looking at the petition itself.

. . . And lead us not into temptation." - Luke 11:4 and Matt. 6:14 ESV

The word translated as lead is eispherō in Greek. In the N.T. we find the word in a variety of contexts. 

• some men brought in their paralyzed friend to Jesus - Luke 5:18-19
• Jesus advises his disciples not to be anxious about what to say when rulers and authorities bring you before them - Luke 12:11
• The Athenians were quite fascinated by the strange teaching Paul brought them - Acts 17:19
• Timothy is to remind his flock that "we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it - 1 Tim. 6:7
• Just as the bodies of sacrificial animals brought into the holy places by the high priest were burned outside the camp, so Jesus suffered outside the gate - Hebr. 13:11-12

It seems Jesus teaches us to petition our Father not to bring us into temptation. Is he thereby reminding us that the Father does in fact bring us to places or situations where we might be tempted to disobey or reject Him? It is interesting to note that this is precisely what the Father did with Jesus. We hear about it at the very beginning of his public ministry. Jesus must have reported it to his disciples, because it was a very solitary encounter between himself and his arch-enemy, Satan himself. The account is found in Matt. 4:1-11. Its about what he experienced after his 40-day fast. More about that in later posts. 

It appears that the devil and his minions are always roaming about like hungry lions on the prowl and we who follow Jesus are the juicy meat they desire (1 Peter 5:8). Add to that the fact that our sinful human nature loves to join the demons in giving in to the temptations and we live in a world filled with equally sinful men. Given all that, why would our Father in heaven bring us into temptation or allow us to be tempted as was His Son? What's the point?

Let's go back to the petition and read the whole sentence this time. 

. . . And lead us not into temptation, BUT deliver us from evil - Matt. 6:14

A couple things to note: 

• Luke's version of the prayer does not have "but deliver us from evil" (Luke 11:4)
• Matthew's version actually has τοῦ ponēros - the evil one

What Jesus teaches is that we will be tempted by the evil one, the devil or those personal demons assigned to us. This wrestling and fighting is bound to happen in this world controlled and led by the devil, the real god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). The Father does not take us out of the world, but rather permits us to be tempted in order that we may grow in faith and trust. He wants us to grow up in Christ. This is part of the discipling process, the training for life here and now AND for the life we will live in the age to come. It is proof that we are His children. Here's what we're told: 

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons? 

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." 

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. - Hbr 12:4-11 ESV

So lift up your dangling, droopy hands and brace your weakened, wobbly knees. Get back on the straight path so your lame legs won't be put out of joint, but will heal. And focus on Jesus who endured such testing, personal attacks, hostility and eventually the cross for us. And always remember that he will not allow us to be tested beyond our strength, but will with the trial also provide a way out.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1Cor 10:13 ESV

More about temptation in my next post.