Scripture: Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
A pastor parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was in a hurry and couldn't find a metered space. He put a note under his windshield wiper saying, "I've been round this block ten times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses." On his return, he found a ticket along with this note: "I've been round this block for ten years. If I don't give you a ticket I'll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation."
This part of the Lord's Prayer - "and do not lead us into temptation" - highlights the ongoing reality of temptation. Temptation comes in various forms on a daily basis.
The question here is: Why does Jesus phrase it in this way? Asking the Father not to lead us into temptation implies that if we don't pray this prayer, He will lead us into temptation.
Thankfully, there's a reasonable explanation. Jesus is using a figure of speech called a "litotes." The Oxford Dictionary definition of a litotes is an "ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary."
Which probably doens't help you very much!
So here are some examples: The expression "not a few" means "many." "I won't be sorry" means "I will be glad." "She's not a beauty queen" means "She's pretty ugly."
So when Jesus says to pray "and do not lead us into temptation," it's a prayer for the Father to lead us out of temptation.
Which fits in with the next request to deliver us from the evil one.
If there's one thing we know about the devil it's that he's constantly active. In John 10:10, Jesus give both His, and the devil's, mission statement. Satan's has never changed. His only purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. This is why we need to pray this prayer. Without God's help, we have no defence.
Jesus' mission statement also never changes. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Obviously, we won't experience abundant life if we're routinely giving in to temptation and letting the enemy get the upper hand.
So don't forget to begin each day with this simple prayer for protection: And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Just click the link to hear a message by Pastor Tony Llewellyn on the Lord's Prayer.
Please note that all Scripture quotations, unless otherwise stated, are taken from the New King James Version ®. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.