Matthew 6:13 – “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

This line from the Lord’s Prayer has puzzled many. Why would Jesus teach us to ask the Father not to lead us into temptation—unless that was a real possibility? Most pass over this verse, unsure how to reconcile it with the truth that God never tempts anyone to do evil (James 1:13).

But Jesus’ own story gives us clarity. “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1). The same Spirit who descended at His baptism now leads Him into the fire. Why? Because testing has a purpose.

Four Key Principles from Jesus’ Temptation

1. God may lead us into testing, but never to tempt us to sin.
   The Spirit carried Jesus into the wilderness, but Satan did the tempting. God’s intent was to validate and reveal the righteousness of His Son—not to sabotage Him. The same may be true for us. Testing reveals who we are becoming in Christ.
2. God uses the enemy’s evil intent to showcase His redemptive purpose.
   Satan tempts to destroy, while God tests to display. In Jesus’ case, the wilderness became a stage for obedience, not defeat. God permitted Satan’s involvement but never shared his motives. There is no moral compromise in God using what the enemy means for harm to form something holy.
3. Jesus taught His disciples to pray from a posture of dependence, not fear.
   When Jesus said, “Lead us not into temptation,” He wasn’t implying God might trip us up. He invited us to pray for God’s leadership to keep us from succumbing to circumstances that might falter our faith. It’s not a fear-based plea—it’s a humble surrender to God’s care and protection.
4. The second part of the prayer shows God’s faithfulness to rescue.
   “Deliver us from evil” reminds us that when temptation does come, God is not absent. He is a deliverer. He provides a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). Just as He sustained His Son, He promises to strengthen us in our testing.

Application

• Pray for wisdom in your walk. Ask God to lead you away from situations that may expose your weakness and to walk according to His righteousness when He leads you through them.
• Don’t be surprised by the wilderness. If the Spirit led Jesus into one, He may lead you too—not to destroy you, but to shape you.
• Rely on His deliverance. You’re not meant to fight temptation alone. God’s goal is always redemption, never ruin.

Ultimately, this prayer isn’t about avoiding hardship but trusting the Father in every trial or temptation. Testing will come, but when you are surrounded by temptation, you need to choose to walk through it with the same confidence Jesus had: Not my will, but Yours be done.

Pastor Brad.