Dissecting the Lord’s Prayer
Lead Us Not into Temptation
Trials. Temptation. Sin.
These are themes common in our faith life as Christians, and these are interrelated themes that should not be lost in our faith. I say this because we oftentimes want to talk about theology, the kingdom of God, and the proclamation of the Gospel, sometimes to the point of neglecting our interior disposition. We talk about the missions without realizing that we need to first evangelize ourselves.
A good and holy life starts with a clean and pure disposition, and that means denying ourselves, carrying our crosses, and following Jesus daily. And the way to do that is to live without sin.
This is important and is stressed also in the Our Father. Near the end of the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”; then, we say, “Lead us not into temptation”. As we say the former, we examine our conscience, think of our past sins, and ask the Lord’s forgiveness. But we do not end there. As we then say “Lead us not into temptation”, we start looking forward to the future and pray for the Lord’s guidance so that we may not be subject to temptation.
In a way, these two petitions in the Our Father show a tandem between a past & present petition and a present & future petition. Something that we ought to keep in mind. It is not enough that we ask the Lord for the forgiveness of sins if we continue to ask for the same sins without even doing anything to avoid them.
Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.
(1 Corinthians 10:12 NABRE)
Rather, we should also do our part to change our lives, and we need to be vigilant, to be always aware. One tool that can help us persevere is prayer.
Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.
(Matthew 26:41 NABRE)
And this is the reason why Jesus taught us the Our Father saying,
And do not subject us to the final test.
(Matthew 6:13a NABRE; Luke 11:4c NABRE)
But wait, some translations read, “Lead us not into temptation”. Does that mean that God is tempting us? In his letter, St. James tells us:
No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
(James 1:13–15 NABRE)
It is our desire that exposes us to temptations. The devil takes advantage of our desires and of our weaknesses and tempts us accordingly. Hence, when we say, “Lead us not…”, it is similar to saying, “Subject us not…”.
This petition though is not a petition for a total elimination of all tests; rather, it is a petition so that we may survive the trials without committing sin, and God will not disappoint. He will not give us something we cannot survive.
No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.
(1 Corinthian 10:13 NABRE)
And these trials will make us stronger. These trials will help us bear future trials so that we may not fall into sin when temptation comes.
We know the story of when Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights after his baptism and was tested by the devil with food (as he was hungry), pride (by taunting him), and with power (against his current state), but Jesus went out the desert without committing sin (cf. Matthew 4:1–11). This experience has probably helped Jesus grow stronger spiritually so that when his time came, he was able to say to his Father in the Agony in the Garden:
My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!
(Matthew 26:42 NABRE)
And we know that because of this, God greatly exalted Jesus.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9–11 NABRE)
And so does God's promise for those who persevere to the end:
Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.
(James 1:12 NABRE)
Therefore, the next time we pray the Our Father, let us call to mind our sins and with true repentance say, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation”. And as we do so, may we have the courage to work with God through prayer to correct our desires, our passions, and our weaknesses, so that we may overcome temptation with God’s grace through prayer.
This is the seventh in a series of articles dissecting the Lord’s Prayer beginning with Our Father which was followed by Who Are in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done on Earth as It is in Heaven, Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread and Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass against Us.
