Do Not Bring Us Into Temptation
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· 6 viewsThat we may not be led into temptation, deliver us from evil.
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Texts:
Texts:
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Why This Text?
Why This Text?
We have been studying the model prayer given by our Lord to His disciples; this came as a result of the disciples asking Him to teach them how to pray. This is the final petition of this prayer.
I purposely chose the NKJV for the translation today of as there is a textual variant here.
Some of the texts deemed earliest have only “And do not lead us into temptation.”
The majority of texts, both deemed earliest or later have “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
I do not want to cause you to fear if you have the Word of God - for you have the Word of God and you do not need me or another person to testify that to you. In this case, being able to go to analysis of texts is helpful but it does not change the meaning nor focus of the text.
The same quote in in all texts is the same and we should feel confident in including the phrase “but deliver us from the evil one” in our understanding.
That being said, I do prefer the NKJV rendering of delivering us from the “evil one” over delivering us from “evil” as it ascribes the source of the attack as Satan, not events.
The Greek Majority Text has, but rescue us from the evil (αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου).
αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου
The use of the article here would best be understood as evil being personified - the evil one. Matthew Henry note Lightfoot, and renowned Greek scholar, who renders it as “the evil one.”
All of this being said, there are two elements to this petition:
Dread of temptation to evil
Dependence on God for delivery from Satan and his deceptions
This petition targets what the Gospel addresses:
Man’s fallen nature from Adam that responds to the evil of this world
Man’s bent towards evil because of his own inward corruption
Man’s inability to keep the law of God because he is unwilling and does not love God’s law; this shows his absolute dependence on God.
The Nature of the Petition
The Nature of the Petition
What it is not
It is more than us asking God to prevent temptation from being placed before us.
It is more than us asking God to keep us out of trouble
What is temptation?
The word for temptation is not moral in its connotation - it doesn’t suggest good or evil or inducement either way.
The word is referring to a testing or a proving - it is a trial.
In the context of this verse it would be an enticement to sin.
Corresponding texts
,
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Is this passage asking God to not do something that we are sure, elsewhere, He does not do?
MacArthur says, “why ask Him not to do what He would never do anyway? James tells us we should rejoice when trials come and not seek to avoid them. So why should we pray, “Do not lead us into temptation”?
MacArthur paraphrases Chrysostom by stating that the solution to this issue is that Jesus is not dealing with logic or theology but with a natural appeal of human weakness as it faces danger. We all desire to avoid the danger and trouble that sin creates. This petition is thus the expression of the redeemed soul that so despises and fears sin that it wants to escape all prospects of falling into it, choosing to avoid rather than having to defeat temptation.
why ask Him not to do what He would never do anyway? Yet James tells us we should rejoice when trials come and not seek to avoid them. So why should we pray, “Do not lead us into temptation”?
Chrysostom stated, Here He teaches us plainly our own vileness, and quells our pride, instructing us to deprecate all conflicts, instead of rushing upon them. For so both our victory will be more glorious, and the devil’s overthrow more to be derided.
I affirm with Chrysostom, the early church father, that the solution to this issue is that Jesus is not dealing with logic or theology but with a natural appeal of human weakness as it faces danger (Homily 19:10). We all desire to avoid the danger and trouble that sin creates. This petition is thus the expression of the redeemed soul that so despises and fears sin that it wants to escape all prospects of falling into it, choosing to avoid rather than having to defeat temptation.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. Alone with God. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995. Print. MacArthur Study Series.
Here He teaches us plainly our own vileness, and quells our pride, instructing us to deprecate all conflicts, instead of rushing upon them. For so both our victory will be more glorious, and the devil’s overthrow more to be derided. I mean, that as when we are dragged forth, we must stand nobly; so when we are not summoned, we should be quiet, and wait for the time of conflict; that we may show both freedom from vainglory, and nobleness of spirit.
MacArthur paraphrases Chrysostom by stating that the solution to this issue is that Jesus is not dealing with logic or theology but with a natural appeal of human weakness as it faces danger. We all desire to avoid the danger and trouble that sin creates. This petition is thus the expression of the redeemed soul that so despises and fears sin that it wants to escape all prospects of falling into it, choosing to avoid rather than having to defeat temptation.
John Chrysostom. “Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople on the Gospel according to St. Matthew.” Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew. Ed. Philip Schaff. Trans. George Prevost and M. B. Riddle. Vol. 10. New York: Christian Literature Company, 1888. 136. Print. A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series.
So while trials are a source of spiritual growth, and we must be thankful for such times of testing, we have no desire to be in a place where the trial might lead us to sin against God for until sin is totally defeated we are susceptible to it; and while we do not want trials we also realize that they strengthen us.
James captures this in
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Jim Berg stated it that Satan specializes in tailor made sins - he doesn’t waste his time on what will not work.
The Real Challenge With This Petition
The Real Challenge With This Petition
MacArthur notes, Every struggle and trial we experience is allowed by God to test us, to exercise our spiritual muscles, and to help us mature (cf. ). But if you don’t commit the situation to God and stand in His strength, Satan will turn it into a temptation. He will entice your lusts and may draw you into sin.
makes the promise to us we will not be tempted beyond what you can endure.
No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.
MacArthur makes comments about passing tests and where I have concern is that we can be performance based, which leads us into Legalism.
In Paul deals with Legalism
Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?
The late Jerry Bridges made these comments, Although the issue of circumcision was the specific problem Paul was addressing, notice that he didn’t say, “Are you trying to attain your goal by circumcision?” He generalized his question and dealt not with the specific issue of circumcision, but with the broader problem of trying to please God by human effort, any effort — even good Christian activities and disciplines performed in a spirit of legalism.
Where this prayer directs us is away from a feeling of self-sufficiency - that we can do it.
We can overcome that lust if we just pray more, or just read the Bible more, or just do this or do that.
In truth, reading our Bible, praying, and other means of grace are how we grow spiritually but their strength is that these means of grace take us to Christ, the One who has earned the victory already.
Bridges, Jerry. Holiness Day by Day: Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey (p. 20). NavPress. Kindle Edition.
Jackson, Jeffrey Glen. Synopsis of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.
is clear - abstaining from Satan’s power is both submission to God and resisting the Devil.
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
hits are the real petition in this prayer.
So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.
Matthew Henry succinctly summarizes this, That God is to be depended upon, and sought unto, for our deliverance from all evil; and we should pray, not only that we may not be left to ourselves to run into evil, but that we may not be left to Satan to bring evil upon us.
Calvin makes this statement, The sentence ought to be resolved thus, That we may not be led into temptation, deliver us from evil.
The sentence ought to be resolved thus, That we may not be led into temptation, deliver us from evil. The meaning is: “We are conscious of our own weakness, and desire to enjoy the protection of God, that we may remain impregnable against all the assaults of Satan.” We showed from the former petition, that no man can be reckoned a Christian, who does not acknowledge himself to be a sinner; and in the same manner, we conclude from this petition, that we have no strength for living a holy life, except so far as we obtain it from God. Whoever implores the assistance of God to overcome temptations, acknowledges that, unless God deliver him, he will be constantly falling.1
The meaning is: “We are conscious of our own weakness, and desire to enjoy the protection of God, that we may remain impregnable against all the assaults of Satan.”
We showed from the former petition, that no man can be reckoned a Christian, who does not acknowledge himself to be a sinner; and in the same manner, we conclude from this petition, that we have no strength for living a holy life, except so far as we obtain it from God.
Whoever implores the assistance of God to overcome temptations, acknowledges that, unless God deliver him, he will be constantly falling.
Calvin, John, and William Pringle. Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Vol. 1. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010. Print.
.
Call to Grace
Call to Grace
I close with a simple children's song, simple words but full of truth.
a simple children's song:
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness. If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
Oh, be careful little eyes,
what you see (2)
For the Father up above,
is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes
What you see.
Some of the earliest available manuscripts have “And do not lead us into temptation,” but other witnesses, both early and late, have “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” The longer form matches and may be a result of scribal harmonization.
Oh, be careful little ears,
what you hear (2)
For the Father Up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little ears
what you hear.
Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014. Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.
Oh, be careful little hands,
what you do (2)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little hands
What you do.
Oh, be careful little feet
where you go (2)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little feet,
Where you go.
Oh, be careful little heart
whom you trust (2)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little heart,
whom you trust.
Oh, be careful little mind
what you think (2)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mind,
What you think.
Read more at Oh Be Careful Little Eyes song http://www.turnbacktogod.com/oh-be-careful-little-eyes-song/#ixzz4x7i8n0mk