Sermon Tone Analysis

Texts:

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

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

,

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

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

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.

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

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.

hits are the real petition in this prayer.

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.