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Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil

Matthew 6:13 NIV

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

I. TWO PETITIONS, ONE REQUEST (v. 13)Two Aspects of One Plea

"The sinner whose evil in the past has been forgiven longs to be delivered from its tyranny in the future."John Stott

Think about the flow of the Lord's Prayer:

• We've prayed for forgiveness for past sins (v. 12)

• Now we pray for deliverance from future sins (v. 13)

The Natural Flow

1. God's holiness to be respected (v. 9)

2. God's kingdom to be realized (v. 10)

3. Our daily needs to be met (v. 11)

4. Our forgiveness to be received (v. 12)

5. Our victory over temptation and evil (v. 13)

II. THE NATURE OF EVIL (v. 13b)Evil or The Evil One?

The Greek word translated as "evil" is ponēros. This word can be translated:

• “Evil” (as in evil in general)

• “The evil one” (as in Satan specifically)

The Reality of Evil

Whether or not Satan is behind all the evil in the world doesn't change the fact that there is evil in the world.

God as Our Protector

The source of protection from such evil is God, whose kingdom believers are taught to pray will be realized on earth.

III. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION (v. 13a)

"Lead us not into temptation..."

A Theological Puzzle

Does God tempt us?

James 1:13 NIV

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

The MeaningTrials vs. Temptation

James 1:2 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Here's the key: Trials are not the same as temptation.

• Trials = External circumstances that test our faith (can strengthen us)

• Temptation = Enticement to sin (can destroy us)

IV. WE NEED A GUIDE (v. 13)Trusting the Guide

• We don't know the way on our own

• The journey is long and we're tempted to doubt

• We need a guide who knows the terrain

• We're asking God to be that guide

V. DELIVERANCE (v. 13b)

"...but deliver us from evil."

God as Our Deliverer

Not:

• "God, make sure I never face hard times"

• "God, give me a comfortable life with no challenges"

But:

• "God, when I face trials, deliver me"

• "God, when temptation comes, give me a way out"

• "God, when evil threatens, protect me"

The Promise of Deliverance

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

VI. WHO DO YOU TURN TO? (Application)Two Paths

PATH 1: Turn to God

Result: The trial strengthens your faith, deepens your dependence on God, and refines your character.

PATH 2: Turn to Something Else

Result: The trial leads you into sin, distances you from God, and damages your soul.

The Critical Moment

The critical moment is that first moment of adversity—when the trial hits, when the temptation comes, when the hardship begins.

Building the Habit

This is why Jesus teaches us to pray this prayer daily.

The Complete Prayer

Matthew 6:9–13 KJV 1900

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:14–15 NIV

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Forgiveness isn't optional for Christians. It's essential.

I. JESUS'S TEACHING ON FORGIVENESS WAS UNIQUE (v. 12)

The Daily Prayers in Jesus's Time “Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed; for You are a pardoner and a forgiver. Blessed are You, O Lord, the gracious One who abundantly forgives.”

Why Does This Matter? You can't compartmentalize your relationship with God from your relationships with others. The two are inseparable.

II. DEBTS, TRESPASSES, AND SINS (v. 12)

"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

The Language of Forgiveness The Aramaic Word Khoba khoba meant both sin and debt.

"The faithful need to remember they are asking for forgiveness for failing to forgive what God requires of them (debts) and for their failure to do the right thing when they did act (trespass)." Ken Bailey

What We're Confessing

• We have sinned against his holiness
• We have failed in what he requires of us
• We need mercy, not justice

III. FORGIVENESS IS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE (v. 12)

"Forgive us our debts..."

Food for the Soul John Stott writes:"Forgiveness is as indispensable to the life and health of the soul as food is for the body."

Make It A Regular Practice Notice Jesus teaches his disciples to pray for forgiveness regularly. This isn't a one-time prayer. It's a daily prayer.

IV. THE TERRIFYING CONNECTION (vv. 12, 14-15)

As We Have Forgiven

Matthew 6:14–15 NIV

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Let's be clear about what Jesus is saying:

• Your forgiveness from God is connected to your forgiveness of others
• If you refuse to forgive, you demonstrate you don't understand forgiveness

An unforgiving heart reveals an unforgiven heart

Why Is This So Serious? Because forgiveness is the very essence of the gospel.

Romans 5:10 NIV

Romans 6:23 NIV

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

Colossians 2:13–14 NIV

The Demonstration of Repentance

Luke 7:47 NIV

Romans 5:6 NLT

PRACTICAL APPLICATION Is Your Prayer Life Marked by Forgiveness or Vengeance? Who Do You Need to Forgive?

Forgiveness is NOT:

• Saying what they did was okay (it wasn't)
• Excusing their behavior (it's inexcusable)
• Pretending it didn't hurt (it did)
• Putting yourself back in harm's way (boundaries are healthy)
• Reconciliation without repentance (forgiveness is one-sided; reconciliation requires both parties)

Forgiveness IS:

• Releasing your right to revenge
• Entrusting judgment to God
• Refusing to let bitterness poison your soul
• Choosing mercy over vindictiveness
• Extending the grace you've received

The Hard Work of Forgiving

Let me be honest: Forgiveness is hard. But Jesus is saying: For your sake, for the health of your soul, you must forgive.

The Challenge

1. Make a list of people you need to forgive

2. Pray for them by name every day

3. Ask God to help you forgive from your heart

4. If possible and appropriate, take a step toward reconciliation

Matthew 6:9–13 KJV

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.