Today I’m inviting you to reflect on the phrase “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”.  This is a plea for the future and how we will live our lives as Christians in the time to come. But before looking closely at the phrase, it’s worth considering just how much the Lord’s Prayer can help us, particularly as we are in another national lockdown. You may be feeling a sense of dread or even despair. It can feel really hard to find and feel close to God in the midst of these troubled times. Praying may feel more difficult than usual, but the simplicity of saying the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples, will bring you comfort and closeness to God.

Today’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is the vibrantly sung Caribbean version, which I am listening to:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

(Hallowed be thy name)

thy kingdom come; thy will be done;

(Hallowed be thy name)

on the earth as it is in heaven.

(Hallowed be thy name)

Give us this day our daily bread.

(Hallowed be thy name)

And forgive us all our trespasses,

(Hallowed be thy name)

Only as we forgive those who trespass against us.

(Hallowed be thy name)

And lead us not into temptation;

(Hallowed be thy name)

Oh no but deliver us from all that is evil.

(Hallowed be thy name)

Everybody sing, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

(Hallowed be thy name)

for ever and for ever and ever.

(Hallowed be thy name)

Matthew and Luke have slightly different versions of Jesus teaching them his prayer. Luke chapter 11 says, “He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.

    Your kingdom come. 

Give us each day our daily bread, 

And forgive us our sins,

  for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.

    And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

In the Matthew chapter 6 version, it is Jesus who instigates the discussion, saying: “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ……..Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Our Father in heaven,

    hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

    Your will be done,

        on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts,

        as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us to the time of trial, 

        but rescue us from the evil one.”

Returning to the phrase “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” raises questions about what temptation actually is and whether we believe that God deliberately leads us into temptation. Yet every year before Lent we are reminded that Jesus went into the wilderness “to be tempted by the devil.” It is challenging to think that the loving God we know, and worship is instrumental in our temptation. Yet temptation is part of our everyday life and part of what makes us human. It leads us away from doing the right thing and towards sin. In Matthew we hear about the Scribes and Pharisees unsuccessfully trying to trap Jesus and lead him into sin. 

Much is spoken of temptation in the bible. Paul's words from 1 Corinthians, “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” 

James 1 12-13 says: “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”  Temptation can be seen as a test, in which God will not test us beyond what we can bear. We need strength to not be disturbed or distracted by the temptations of the world. It will be tough, but when we ask God “lead us not into temptation” we are asking for His help and the strength to resist temptation and bring about His good in the world.

“Deliver us from evil” raises many questions about the nature of evil, Satan and the devil, which I will not attempt to answer in this reflection.  Evil causes a breach between man and God; the devil is a force that causes a break in the relationship. None of us want to be in the place where true evil exists and I pray that none of you ever encounter real evil. 

When we say “lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil”, the petition is accepting that it can be difficult to always do the right thing, we freely confess the inadequacy of our human resources to deal with these things and God’s protective power will give us strength to fight temptation and to keep us out of danger.

You may have noticed that this is the sixth and what originally would have been the final reflection, but next week there will a seventh and final one as we reflect on the very important epilogue to the Lord’s Prayer.

With blessings

Rev Rona