Lead Us Not Into Temptation

At the end of the Lord’s model prayer (Matt. 6:9–13), we find these words: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (v. 13). Jesus says in verse 9 to “pray then like this” or pray in this manner. We see Jesus giving instructions throughout this passage as to what to pray for and how to pray for it. So what exactly would the Lord have us pray for when we pray, “Lead us not into temptation” (v. 13)? James 1:13 says, “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.” If God does not tempt us to sin, why would we ask him not to do what he has already said he would not do?

The Bible refers to Satan, the Devil as the tempter (Matt. 4:3, 1 Thess. 3:5). God is not the tempter! We are susceptible to sin because of our waywardness. “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” (James 1:14–15). The Devil lures us, entices us, and tempts us to give in to our desires to sin. Satan cannot force us to sin, but through cunning allurements, he draws us away from God to act on our propensity to sin. 

When we ask God to “lead us not into temptation,” we are asking him to spare us from being so tested that it goes beyond our limits of resistance so that we cave in and sin against him. We are told in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that “no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not allow you to 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.” God has promised deliverance, but that does not mean we should act presumptuously and think, “I got this!” There are certain places, people, and circumstances that seem to provoke us to sin. Therefore, my prayer is, “Oh Lord, I know that when temptation comes to me, you have promised to deliver me. And if you allow it to come, I know your reason is to test and refine me. But Lord, it is one thing for temptation to come to me and quite another for me to go to it! One way or another, please keep me and steer me away from that which would cause me to sin against you. Amen.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Joseph is an excellent example of not acting presumptuously (Gen. 39:1–12). Notice in verse 10 that Joseph repeatedly resisted temptation “day after day.” The temptation was relentless, but notice that “he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.” He avoided her like the plague. He would not put himself in a situation where he might give in to sin’s enticement. Then, we see him physically running away from it! (v. 12). With great urgency, he avoided that which would cause him to sin. He said, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God” (v. 9)?

The same Greek word can be translated as “temptation” or “trial.” Trials can lead us to respond sinfully instead of trusting God. Trials test the genuineness of our faith (1 Pet. 1:6–7) and produce steadfastness (James 1:2–3). God intends our trials to be for our good. Being tested by a hard trial can result in either trust in God or compromise to sin. The Devil will try to use the very trial that God intends for good to trip us up and tempt us. Yes, it is true that trials are for our good, but should we pray for them or seek them out? On the contrary, we pray for deliverance from testing so severe that sin might obtain a foothold. “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord’? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God” (Prov. 30:8–9). Yes, Oh Lord, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13).