Matthew
6:13
This is a prayer for realists.
Once
again, to fully understand what Jesus would have us pray about we need to
explore the meaning of a key term. When
most of us hear the word “temptation” we think of an inducement to do evil.
Oscar Wilde, whose lifestyle revealed the honesty of his words, used that
meaning when he said, “I can resist
anything but temptation.” The old
Christian hymn “Yield Not to Temptation” also uses the word this way. It cautions us, “Yield not to temptation for
yielding is sin.” The word translated
as “temptation” in this verse can have another meaning. In fact, this other meaning was the usual
understanding of the word when Jesus taught this prayer.
The
Greek word peirasmon usually suggests
a test or a challenge which proves a person’s character. We might describe it as an experience which
shows what a person is made of. As such,
this temptation is morally neutral. In
fact, some might even argue that the experience is good for us because it
proves our mettle, it makes us stronger.
Remember, though, it makes us stronger in the sense of “what does not
kill me makes me stronger.”
There’s
no doubt that facing challenges can make us stronger. Most parents know it’s a mistake to try to
make the way too smooth for our children.
That’s why we resist the practice
of giving every player, good or bad, a trophy, why we feel not keeping score in
the game is a bad idea. When God tests
us, he has our good in mind. He wants us
to have a stronger faith, a greater assurance. James describes this process in the first
chapter of his letter.
For when your faith is tested, your endurance
has a chance to grow.
So
let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in
character and ready for anything.
If
our Christian life were a smooth road, some of us would never have a chance to
grow in our faith. In this case, peirasmon is good for us.
Yet,
here Jesus instructs us to pray that the Father “lead us not into
temptation.” That’s because the idea
here is that the “temptation” or the “test” is designed to hurt us not help
us. It is far from good for us. It’s aim is to weaken our faith, not enrich
it. We need to understand that these
words are never meant to imply that God the Father would lead us into such a
situation. He would never expose us to
such powerful, destructive influences.
The words of this petition involve a literary device which states a
matter so strongly that we understand the very opposite meaning. Another example is Romans 1:16 where Paul
says “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” a statement that really means “I am
proud of the gospel.” The prayer
involves what Greek language specialists call the “permissive imperative” to
help accomplish this purpose.
A.T.
Robertson’s Word Pictures helps us understand what this
request means. He says, “Here we have a
‘Permissive imperative’ as grammarians term it. The idea is then: ‘Do not allow
us to be led into temptation.’"
Some modern translations express this idea.
Williams:
“And do not let us be subjected to temptation, but save us from the evil one.”
The
Message: “Keep us safe from ourselves
and the Devil.”
New
Living Translation: “And don't let us
yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
The
testing that makes us stronger comes from God, the testing or temptation
designed to destroy us—by leading us to sin, doubt, despair--comes from another
source. But what source?
The majority of modern translations render the second part of this
petition as “deliver us from the Evil One,” a reference to Satan. Jesus had no qualms about acknowledging the
existence of Satan, that malevolent spirit who is opposed to all God is doing
in the world and seeks to curse humankind with the same tenacity that God seeks
to bless it. A prayer to God which
begins “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done” stands in absolute opposition to
the desires of Satan. He wants the
Kingdom to diminish, God’s will thwarted.
In calling Satan “the Evil One,” Jesus is underscoring his character and
ambition. He is evil to the core and
seeks to bring evil to the ascendency in the world.
He is at work when it is
impossible to say “Our Father” without the specter of a human father who was
abusive, hurtful, and destructive; in
short, a father who was “evil.”
He is at work when it is delightful to nurture our resentments,
delightful to the degree we would never think of forgiving those who have
wronged us.
He is at work when the church has become an instrument for oppression
rather than the gateway to liberty.
He is at work when racism shapes our opinions of others who may look
different but are nevertheless made in the image of God.
Satan has already appeared in Matthew, attempting to undermine the
mission of Jesus before it even began. That’s
an implicit reminder that Jesus understands the power of temptation. Satan failed when he dealt with Jesus. He is often more successful in dealing with
us. This is why Jesus wants us to
realize how much we need God’s protection from this Evil One.
Sometimes we fail to
see our need for that protection. One
poet foolishly dared to ask,
“Why
comes temptation but for man to meet
And
master and make crouch beneath his foot,
And
so be pedestaled in triumph?”
That kind of arrogance puts a person in danger.
This petition makes the Lord’s Prayer a prayer for realists. Realists understand their weaknesses. Realists know they possess a “bent to
sinning.” Realists respond to the story
of a fallen brother or sister by saying, “there but for the grace of God go I,”
and they really mean it.
The realist also understands that God often acts on our behalf without
our knowing it.
Sometimes I imagine what life would be like if I found a winning lottery
ticket on the ground, a ticket worth millions of dollars. Note I said found. Or, I’ve wondered what life would be like if
I bought a two dollar painting at a garage sale to get the frame and discovered
the picture was a long lost Picasso worth millions. Pat usually says, “God probably knows we
couldn’t handle the money.” My first
thought is something like, “Speak for yourself.
I’m pretty sure I could handle it.”
The truth is, God may keep each of us from temptations we might never
imagine. God may disarm some of the Evil
One’s traps before we get near them.
This petition teaches us to rest our hope on the grace of God but doesn’t
imply that we aren’t somehow involved in cooperating with God in making the
answer to this prayer a reality.
How do we do this?
1. We need to ask God for
wisdom to better know ourselves.
--We each have our own sets of weaknesses. We are vulnerable in different ways.
--If we know ourselves better, we will be better able to avoid those
circumstances where we might become prey to the Evil One.
2. We need to seek to be
attuned to God’s voice.
--God speaks to us though his Word.
The Bible may not discuss issues like using marijuana or CD piracy but it gives us the principles to
judge such behaviors. The thoughtful
application of “gospel principles” can help us face days of moral confusion.
--God may also use the voice of conscience. No, because we are sinners we can’t always
trust our conscience; but, if that conscience is “captive to the word of God,”
as Luther said, we can hear it with greater confidence.
3. We need to find direction
and encouragement through the community of faith.
--The church is a fellowship of those who struggle with temptation. Somewhere in that fellowship there may be a
brother or sister who has struggled with the same temptation and known victory.
We can learn from them.
--We are not alone in our battles, unique in our failures. Most of the “12-step programs” involve some
type of fellowship with those who have been in the battle longer, tasted the
victory we long for, but never assume they have won the final victory. The newest believer and the oldest saint each
needs to regularly pray, “Lead us not into temptation….”
4. We need to seek to employ
our energies in meaningful ways.
--The notion that “idle hands are the Devil’s tools” is a wise
observation.
--We can easily get into trouble when we have nothing positive to
do. I’m not talking about “busy
work.” I’m talking about finding
something that gives us a sense of satisfaction.
5. We need to be on guard
against the danger of pride.
--Paul reminded us that we shouldn’t think more highly of ourselves than
we ought to think.
--Pride might prompt us to think we can stand on our own, that we don’t
need God’s help. It’s a dangerous place
to be.
Conclusion
Failing to face
temptation successfully is spiritually disastrous.
1. It mars our sense of spiritual
well-being. We may even doubt the
reality of our relationship with God.
2. It may wound our fellowship. Others may feel discouraged and ready to give
up.
3. It may keep a seeker from taking the step of
commitment because they wrongly perceive that the Christian life is impossible.
We need to be
spiritual realists.
--Admit we need
God’s help.
--Admit to the
watching world that the church is not perfect but our Lord is.
--Admit that
failure is not final.
--Admit that
God is the Greatest Realist.
He knew what we were when he sent his
Son to die for us.
He knew what we were when he called
us to be his people in the world.
He knew what we were when he
commissioned us to advance his kingdom.
