The Lord’s prayer is the prayer that is the most familiar prayer to Christians in all of Scripture and it is the prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples as stated in Matthew 6:9-13. One verse of this passage, verse 13, has been the source of concern for some Christians as they tried to understand the verse in light of other passages of Scripture.
Verse 13 states “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (KJV). Please note before we discuss the meaning of verse 13 that the underlined portion of the Scripture does not appear in the English Standard Version (ESV). The underlined portion is called the doxology of the Lord’s prayer. This doxology is not found in the two earliest Greek witnesses of Matthew 6:13 and thus does not appear in the Roman Catholic and most modern Protestant Bible versions of Matthew 6:13. This doxology does, however, appear in the third earliest witness. So, there is disagreement amongst theologians as to whether the doxology was a later addition to the earlier manuscripts, are not. The KJV apparently believes it is not a later addition and includes it in their version of verse 13. Most other translations do not. We don’t really know for sure whether the doxology should be included, however, the doxology probably was included because the Jews would not have ended a prayer on a negative note. Nevertheless, this particular point is not germane to our discussion here, it is just provided for information and edification.
The perceived problem with the first phrase of verse 13 is that Jesus is teaching us to pray asking God not to tempt us. But why ask God not to do something that Scripture elsewhere tells us that God does not do in the first place? Let’s consider that.
A temptation is a solicitation by our own fleshly nature or by the world or even by Satan to do evil. Temptation is designed to do us harm; it is designed to bring bad upon us. But God will never tempt us. James 1:13-15 teaches about temptation. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Paul informs us regarding temptation that No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Cor. 10:13). This Scripture points out to us that we are not tempted in any way that is not common to other people but we are assured that God will provide us with a way out; if we want out, there’s a way for us to get out through God. So, there is a way to escape from the burden of temptation. God always gives us an out regarding temptation.
It is better to understand the phrase lead us not into temptation to mean “do not allow us to be led into the power of temptation.” And this understanding is perfectly consistent with the teaching of God elsewhere in Scripture. This phrase expresses human frailty and weakness in the face of temptation and seeks divine assistance to deal with temptation. In praying these words, we are crying out to God that our weakness subjects us to the power of temptation and only with God’s divine assistance, can our fleshly desires be made to not lead us into temptation.
