Lead Us Not
Enjoying the Protection of A Disciple’s Prayer
There is a danger in Christendom. There is a movement of making changes to the Word of God which appear to be good ones.
Here is one of the latest: A respected religious leader changed the phrase in Matthew 6:13 from, “lead us not into temptation” to “do not let us fall into temptation.” They believe the original translation implies that God induces temptation. The article continues with, “…officials say [the second phrase is closer to the original intent of the prayer]. Their explanation: “I am the one who falls, it is not Him pushing me into temptations to then see how I have fallen.”
1.) Their explanation on God does not tempt us to sin is correct.
2.) Their assumption, “do not let us fall into temptation,” is closer to the heart of the prayer than, “…lead us not into temptation” is inaccurate.
Let us first reflect on the truth in James 1:13, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me,’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” What is tempting us to sin in thought, word and action are desires we need to let the Lord, through the Holy Spirit cleanse from our heart.
It is true Satan, the world view and the sinful nature is the key sources which entice people to live in a way which breaks the heart of God. What is apparently misunderstood in Matthew 6:13 is, some believe the Scripture as originally written is saying it is God who leads people to be tempted to sin. Just what is the truth of the Scripture?
The Truth of the Plea
There is a reason why most translations of the Bible keep the passage saying, “Lead us not.” There is a subtle change from the truth “Lead us not” and “do not let us fall…” There is a slight deception which is keeping the children of God from fully enjoying the protection of this prayer.
Many call Matthew 6:9-15 the Lord’s Prayer when actually it is the disciples prayer – a pray guide if you will for the people of God to become holy as the Lord is holy. For Christians who want to surrender their minds and hearts to the Lordship of Christ, there is a desire to avoid what enabled to them live in the sin which held them captive. Matthew 6:13 in The New Testament, An Expanded Translation says, “And do not lead us into the place of testing where a solicitation to do evil would tempt us to sin…”
It is imperative we understand the disciple’s prayer in Matthew 6:13 is not a prayer to keep us from trials and testing which would prove our character, like God did Abraham and Christ Himself. God is not going to keep us from trials, testing and temptations which are meant to mature us, to test us and strengthen our faith in Him. Rather, it is a prayer from a spiritual heart, which fears and distrust ones self-motives. Matthew 6:13 is not a prayer against yielding to temptation, thus being equivalent to a prayer of deliverance when being tempted. It is a prayer against being where one could be sucked or drawn into the temptation. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1638). Peabody: Hendrickson.)
Matthew 6:31 is a heart cry from Christians who recognize their spiritual weakness as they pray for deliverance from being allowed to face sinful temptations. (Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The heart cry in Matthew 6:13 is [to be led] (e?sf??? eisphéro) meaning to bear or bring into.” (Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.)
This cry from the heart comes from the understanding of God. The Bible says, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being…’” (Acts 17:24-28)
The disciple’s prayer of protection from being led to a place where he could be tempted comes from the understanding that nothing comes to pass except through what God does or allows to happen. This prayer of protection comes from a reverent fear of the Lord, frighten that God may give a person what he wants, instead of what he needs or turn him over to himself.
The disciple’s prayer expresses the heart of King David, “Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you. I say to the LORD, ‘You are the Lord, my only source of well-being.’ …LORD, you give me stability and prosperity; you make my future secure. It is as if I have been given fertile fields or received a beautiful tract of land. I will praise the LORD who guides me; yes, during the night I reflect and learn. I constantly trust in the LORD; because He is at my right hand, I will not be upended. So my heart rejoices and I am happy; My life is safe. You will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit. You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.” (Psalm 16)
Practical Applications: The disciple’s prayer does not say, protect me in the house of sin, but from entering into it. This prayer does not say, protect in my drunken condition, but protect from drunkenness. This prayer does not say, protect me in my folly, but keep me from foolish action. This prayer does not say, deliver me from the consequences of sinful acts, but protect me from the acts of the sinful nature.
The Danger of the Human Heart
Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things… Who can understand it.”
This passage of Scripture is a wisdom passage. The child of God who prays the disciple’s prayer knows that sin effects the entire human race, all in this world has been infected by it. Thus, the human race is jaded by the world view, and God must lead every step of the way. The heart has an unlimited capacity for wickedness and deceit of which human resources are incapable of dealing with it. His prayer of protection, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.” (Ecclesaistes 5:1)
A guarded heart finds his joy in the Holiness of God.
The Joy of His Holiness
Exodus 15:11 says, “Who is like you O Lord…majestic in Holiness…” Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
The heart of a person which holds fast to the truths of the disciple’s prayer walks in the fear of the verses to the song sung by Steve Camp, “Looks like the boys in trouble again. Living much to close to the edge of sin. Now he finds himself where should not have been. …Although I call you Lord, I must confess, I am a stranger to your holiness.”
It is this heart cry which opens the door of the heart to the joy of His holiness. Holiness is total devotion to the Lord. The person who walks in God’s holiness is not selfish, does not insist on his own rights, will be gentle because the Holy Spirit is at hand, guiding and empowering someone to live for the Lord, Jesus Christ. The person who walks in the holiness of the Lord is not disturbed by worldly things. Their mind is clear and calm and they rejoice in the having His ever present help and guidance. Wicked desires do not enter the heart and peace and understanding will follow him in all his days.
The blessedness of God’s holiness is having an army of angles around you at all times. There is the privilege of holy thoughts, holy memories, holy hopes which protect from the snares of Satan. Being hungry for the holiness of God blesses us in Jesus Christ, enjoying the sphere of His influences flowing from His amazing grace and His atonement. (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Philippians (pp. 161–162). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)
The prayer of the true disciple of Christ is a healthy fear, “Lord led me not” to the place where temptations would overtake me. The heart of the prayer is to enjoy the Lord’s leading not the deliverance from being in the wrong place by my own choices. This comes only when seek His entire leading.
