Introduction: We are continuing our study of what has been called the “Lord’s Prayer,” although as we have already stated it might be more accurate to title it the “Disciples Prayer.” This is because it was given by Jesus to His disciples in order to teach them how to pray. As we move to our final segment in this prayer we will discover that prayer according to Jesus involves a realization of the need for God’s Protection.
I. An Intimate Relationship with the Father - “Father”
II. A Reverent Response to the Character of God - “Hallowed be Your name”
III. A Submissive Recognition of the Kingship of God - “Thy Kingdom Come”
IV. A Humble Reliance on the Provision of God - “Give us day by day our daily bread”
V. A Penitent Request for the Forgiveness of God - “And forgive us our sins”
VI. A Needy Realization for the Protection of God – "And lead us not into temptation
One of the interesting aspects of this model prayer is its focus throughout on God. It is a prayer that focuses on God and exalts Him.
It addresses His Fatherhood…His holiness…His sovereignty…His provision…His mercy and His protection!
This is important because as we think thoughts that are true about God, we will speak prayers that have His glory as their goal. All of our prayers should be under girded with a true and comprehensive concept of God. The better we understand God and His promises, the richer our prayers will become.
This last petition is especially filled with insight into God’s nature and His work in our lives. However, unless God’s nature and work in our lives is understood properly, this petition becomes difficult to comprehend and easy to misinterpret.
Jesus says to pray to the Father….. “And lead us not into temptation.”
At face value, this petition would seem to suggest that God is in the business of tempting us to sin. However, James 1:13 says,
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
What then does Jesus mean when He tells the disciples to pray, “and lead us not into temptation?”
First, if we are going to understand this petition we must clearly understand that nothing happens in this world except by God’s sovereign will and determination. If this were not true then it would be foolish to pray this petition. If God is not a deciding factor in all that happens, then He is not truly sovereign and our prayers are nothing more than hit or miss propositions.
Scripture makes it clear that God is sovereign over all of His creatures and all events. Consider the following passages…..
Daniel 4:34-35
“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘what hast thou done?’”
Psalm 135:6
“Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all the deeps.”
Ephesians 1:11
“…also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” cf. Isaiah 14:24-27; 45:3-7
Since we believe that God is truly sovereign then we must also acknowledge that whatever temptation comes our way has to come by God’s permission.
Second – if we are going to understand this petition then we need to define the word “temptation.” Temptation (peirasmos) is a neutral word that can mean either trial (as in testing or proving) or it can mean temptation (as in an enticement to sin). The context determines the way in which the word is translated.
For example in James 1:2-14 peirasmos is used both ways. In verse 2 it is translated as testing or trials (cf. the context of v. 2-11). In verses 13-14 peirasmos is used several times and in each case is translated as temptation as the context calls for. However, it is used in verse 12 and is translated as temptation but the context could call for either meaning.
Many times in scripture the word has both ideas in mind as seems to be the case in James 1:12. This is because a trial can easily turn into a temptation to doubt God, disobey His word and neglect His grace.
John MacArthur writes:
“Anytime there is a legitimate trial or test there are two possible outcomes – to pass or fail; to succeed or to not succeed. So when God brings a test, there is always a possibility that it can be turned into a temptation.” (The Disciples’ Prayer Study Notes, pp. 98-99)
Let me give you some biblical examples:
The Example of Joseph – Genesis 37-50
Speaking of the great trial he endured, Joseph said to his brothers, in Genesis 50:20,
20 "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Imagine what would have happened if Joseph would not have endured this trial and instead succumbed to the temptation doubt and disobey God. By the way, Joseph could have fallen at several points along the way, yet he endured.
The Example of Job – Job 1:7-22; 2:1-10
This story is important because it gives us insight into the great battle that goes on behind the scenes whenever we experience some great peirasmos – trial in our life. Here we learn that God seeks to use every trial to test us and prove us, while Satan seeks to use our trials as temptations for evil.
Note also that this trial was clearly initiated by God (v.7-12).
The Lord meant this as test, a trial for good. It was meant to strengthen Job’s faith and to glorify God. The devil meant it for evil.
He intended for Job to sin and dishonor God.
“In every trial we face we have the potential to honor or dishonor God. Each trial has the potential to increase our faith, our peace and improve our witness or do just the opposite.”
By the way, Job passed the test (v.1:22).
In Job 2:1-10 God allows Satan to crank up the intensity of a second trial…this time involving personal disease (note that God was the initiator once again). Again, Job passed the initial test (v.2:10).
Consider for a moment Job’s wife. Was this not a trial for her as well?
Did she not experience everything that Job experienced except his disease? She lost her children, her wealth, her material possessions and her husband’s health. Through this experience she too could have strengthened her faith and glorified God, yet she failed to pass her test (v.2:9).
This trial for her turned into a temptation to sin! She did what Satan tried to get Job to do, she became embittered toward God. In her mind God had treated them unfairly, unjustly, and with extreme harshness. In becoming angry with God she refused to bow to His wisdom and providence for her life. In her unbelief she became a temptress to evil, a tool in the hands of Satan, like Eve in the Garden of Eden enticing her husband to join her in sin.
Yet Job remained strong.
What was it that Job knew that kept him from sinning? Job knew God as he really is. He had a proper understanding of the nature of God and how He works in our lives. He knew that God is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth and that He does as He pleases. He knew that God could give and take away according to His will and purpose (v.2:10).
However, Job also knew that all things work together for the good to those who love God and are the called according to His purposes.
Job 23:10
10 "But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
And he was right! Consider the end of the story (Job 42:10-17) where the Lord doubled his blessing!
The Example of Jesus – Matthew 4:1-11
Note who the initiator is in this story.
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
The Spirit of God led Christ off to be tempted or tested (peirasmos).
This was to be a test or trial from God’s perspective, but it would be a temptation from the devil’s perspective.
There are some great lessons here about how Satan attacks us and how we can resist him.
Notice that Satan waits for the most opportune time to attack.
2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
It’s not at the start of our trials that Satan comes after us, but usually it is in the midst of them, after we have suffered for awhile and are in a weakened state.
Also note that Satan didn’t quit after the first attempt. He tried three times (v.3, 5-6, 8-9). If Satan is anything he is consistent! His approach is nearly always the same. We see this when we compare the way he tempted Jesus with the way he tempted Eve.
In verse 3 he approached Jesus with the lust of the flesh.
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
In verses 5-6 he approached Jesus with the pride of life.
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written,
'He will give His angels charge concerning You';
and
'On their hands they will bear You up,
Lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'"
In verse 7-8 he approached him with the lust of the eyes.
7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory;
In Genesis 3:4-6 we see Satan’s approach with Eve.
4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! 5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food” (lust of the flesh)
“and that it was a delight to the eyes” (lust of the eyes)
“and that the tree was desirable to make one wise” (pride of life)
The Apostle John acknowledged this point when he said,
15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
The will of God is the key in not allowing your trials to turn into temptations, and the will of God is found in the word of God. Jesus understood this for after each temptation He responded with “as it is written.” He appealed to the will of God!
Every trial, every test, every temptation comes down to this, who will win out? The Lord who means it for good or the devil who means it for evil?
By the way, Satan didn’t give up on Jesus either (cf. Peter’s words to Jesus at Caesaria and Jesus’ struggle at Gethsemane).
In the case of Joseph, Job, and Jesus, God won out, their peirasmos turned out for their good and God’s glory.
11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Matthew 4:11
You see my friends there is always a way of escape. In every test, in every temptation there is an opportunity to be victorious.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
Here is the key to understanding this last petition of the Lord’s Prayer.
When we pray “and lead us not into temptation” we are asking God to make the way of escape clear to us. What is the normal way of escape?
James 4:7
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
We must be very clear, the way of escape is never out of the trial but through it (that you may be able to bear (endure) it). How do we bear/endure it? How do we make it through the trial? By submitting to God and resisting the devil!
This petition then is an acknowledgment that God is sovereign over all situations and events that come our way. It is a request that He will in the midst of our trials help us to see the way of escape so that our time of testing will not turn into enticement to sin. The way of escape comes by submitting to His will and protection and by simultaneously resisting the devil.
There is one more thing we need to see if we are going to understand this petition. If we are going to understand this petition then we need to see its intercessory nature (and do lead US not into temptation).
Remember we emphasized earlier in this series that we are not an only child in the family of God. We are not to pray for our own protection only without praying for the protection of our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. Why?
No temptation (peirasmos) has overtaken you but such as is common to man
Do you struggle with sin in your life? Well, so do I!
Do you struggle to be a better husband, father, neighbor and Christian? Me too!
Do you daily experience the battle that wages between the flesh and the spirit? Join the club!
Do you experience various trials and tribulations in your life? Guess what, we all do!
The tests, the trials, the struggles and the hardships that you are experiencing are COMMON to man! My friends, we are not in this alone. We are the Body of Christ where each part depends on the other to contribute that which we have been designed to contribute (1 Corinthians 12:18-27).
We cannot be unconcerned for each other. I live for you and you live for me, and without each other we are not complete or healthy. When we pray we must say, Father…give US day by day OUR daily bread….forgive US OUR sins, for WE also forgive everyone who is indebted to US……do not lead US into temptation.
Did Peter pray so that he could endure his upcoming trial / temptation (Luke 22:21-40)? No, he slept. What might have happened if Jesus was not praying for him? What is the difference between Judas and Peter, betrayal and denial? Could it be the intercessory prayer of Jesus?
Are you experiencing a great trial? Pray that the Lord would reveal to you the way of escape. Submit yourself to Him and resist the devil. Let others know what you are going through so they can pray for you!
And pray for us.
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