Lead Us Not into Temptation
Lead Us Not into Temptation
Matthew 6:13; John 11:47-50
Maundy Thursday
April 1, 1999
Because any temptation to sin is such a threat to our faith, we do well to understand the phrase, “Lead us not into temptation.” The English falls short of the biblical term. “Keep us from situations in which we could fall into temptation” is most likely what is meant. Some newer Bible translations render it, “Do not put us to the test.”
God Does Test Us. But God does test us, and for good reason. You remember Job, and how God allowed Satan to test his faith, first by destroying his livestock, then even his sons and daughters, then his own health. In the end Job survives these tremendous tests, keeps his faith, and is doubly blessed.
From time to time, Jesus would test his followers’ faith. Remember how he asked his disciple Philip, “’Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’” Then scripture records this statement: “He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he would do” (Jn 6:5-6). Then there is the test of a Canaanite woman, which, to Jews of that day were no better than dogs. She pleads with Jesus to help her demon-possessed daughter. At first, he ignores her. Then, he advises her that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. But she persists, and finally he replies, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs?” But, now listen carefully to her response: “Yes, Lord,” she says, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” At that, Jesus applauds her faith and grants her request (Mt 15:21-28). Testing like this is for our benefit and growth. It has the purpose of bringing us closer to the Lord. The sad thing is that we humans have a unique propensity, leaning, toward pooh-poohing such things, or totally rejecting them as nonsense.
Satan Tests to Sin. Thus temptations to sin come from the devil who works through the world and our sinful nature to disrupt and distort God’s plans for the good. The apostle John gives us this God-breathed warning: “… everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 Jn 2:16). The “world,” as John understands it, is everything that has become evil in God’s creation. Thus he rightfully adds, “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19).
There are many different temptations. They’re like weeds that grow in all sorts of soil, so temptations abound in any situation. Because of our sinful nature, which Luther once referred to as “the devil’s playground,” we each are sadly endowed with certain weaknesses which others may not have. And we are especially vulnerable when we think we’re above falling into temptations. We might even say something like this, “I would never do that!” Or, we might say, “I know God will not let me fall no matter what I do.” Undoubtedly, this is what Paul had in mind when he warned the Corinthians: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor 10:12).
Friends, we are especially vulnerable to temptations that seem to have a proper goal. The Passion account includes such a temptation. It is attractive, but murderously deceptive. Upset with the growing popularity of Jesus, members of the Sanhedrin complained: “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But Caiaphas had the answer “it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (Jn 11:47-50). In essence, He was raging, “We must kill him for the good of the nation.” Man! That sounds strikingly familiar to things I’ve heard around here. It’s just like saying: “The end justifies the means,” and “It’s not quite right, but it’s for a good cause.” “It’s for his own good.” God help us all!
And, There Is Help! Each temptation appears to offer the right answer to a difficult question. But, we can deal with them. Our Lord helps us by making us aware of who employs such deceptions—namely, the devil, because he is a prolific liar, he is our most serious enemy. Jesus calls him, “a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44). Paul speaks of the devil’s disciples this way: “…such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
Second, God helps us to know what to do when temptation comes, and how to stand against it. Jesus told the sleeping disciples, “Watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation” (Mt 26:41). For one full year I closed every worship service with God’s admonition to us to pray. Remember the words, “Watch and pray!”?
Third, God helps us by assuring us that we are not alone in the battle. Jesus assured an overconfident Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Lk 22:31-32). Yes, Peter did lose faith? But, he did not lose saving faith—the belief that Jesus was his Savior and Lord. He did, however, lose trust in God as his defender and protector. Jesus must have seemed so helpless before his accusers. But, Peter also lost faith in his own strength, to the good of his soul. And now, this same Jesus who prayed for him prays for us, (Rom 8:34) says, “Christ Jesus … is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us”
Another help in our struggle with temptation is the sacrament Jesus instituted on the night he was betrayed. With the bread he gives us his body, and with the wine, his blood. In his Large Catechism Luther writes: “There are so many hindrances and temptations of the devil and the world that we often grow weary and faint, at times even stumble. The Lord’s Supper is given as a daily food and sustenance so that our faith may refresh and strengthen itself and not weaken in the struggle but grow continually stronger” (LC V, 23-24_.
In addition to prayer and the Supper, there is the Word of God itself. The first Sunday in Lent we heard how the devil tempted Jesus after his 40-day fast in the desert. Each of the three temptations is a shortcut to a desired goal—each suggests flattery; each speaks to a basic need in life. But, Jesus answers each suggestion with the right answer from God. He rightly used the Scripture to thwart the devil’s fiery darts (Mt 4:1-11). We, too, can call on the powerful Word of God: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes. … Take the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:11, 17).
God certainly does not lead us into temptation. Yet, he does test us that we might loose our trust in our own abilities and powers and cling more tightly to the one who helps us in every need. When we pray as he taught us, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are opening ourselves to the will of God to keep us safe. Let’s close this evening’s meditation by recalling this helpful verse from the book of Hebrews. Speaking of Jesus it says, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Amen.