Prayer - Part 28

The final index sentence of our Lord's Prayer --

Matt 6:13 (NASB) 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'

Then:

James 1:13 (NASB) 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.

Why did Jesus tell us to pray this way if God does not tempt us to evil?

1. Lead us not into temptation

• lead => "eisphero" -- 'to bring to' (aorist active subjunctive verb)

• aorist tense -- 'punctiliar' action, occurring at on specific time
• active voice -- subject produces the action of the verb (i.e. it is God Who brings or does not bring us into temptation)
• subjunctive mood -- a mood of probability and expresses an action which may of should happen, but which is not necessarily true at present

"God I am asking you not to bring us into temptation at any point in time"

• temptation => "peirasmos" - a word that must be interpreted according to context

trial/testing/temptation

• James 1:2,12 à a trial we are to rejoice in
• James 1:13-14 à connected with sin and a temptation to be avoided

What is Matthew 6:13 saying --

NOT: "God, don’t lead me into sin." -- contrary to God's character

A reminder or call to "preventive" prayer.

Let God know your heart is set on righteousness, that you do not want to fail, to fall.

Not counting a trial as "joy" (James 1:2) you are often tempted to give in to your flesh.

I do not want to be caught in the devil's snare.

Read Matthew 26:36-44

1. What is the cup Jesus wants His Father to remove? Compare with John 18:11.

 

 

 

2. How many times does Jesus ask God to remove it?
3. When Jesus asks God to remove the cup, what is His prayer?

 

4. Do you see any parallel(s) between this prayer and "the Lord's Prayer"?
5. What is Jesus' instruction during this time to the disciples and Peter?

 

6. Can you see any parallel between Jesus' instruction in Matthew 26:41 and the index sentence on deliverance in "the Lord's Prayer"? If so, note below:

1Pet 5:8 (NASB) Be of sober [spirit,] be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Luke 22:31 (NASB) "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded [permission] to sift you like wheat;

1Cor 10:13 (NASB) 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.

Our final prayer is for deliverance.

• out of a poverty of spirit (Matt 5:3)
• out of grief for falling short of His standard for holiness (Matt 5:4)
• out of meekness (Matt 5:5)
• out of a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt 5:6)
• out of a purity of heart (Matt 5:8)

We are in warfare.

Ephe 6:18 (NASB) With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

"Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever, Amen"

2Cor 2:14 (NASB) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.