And
lead us not into temptation. Matthew 6.13
So, what’s so odd about this? I think
that this question will answer that. Would the Father actually lead us into
temptation? Evidently so. Why else would Jesus teach us to pray like this, to
ask Him not to?
By itself, that raises some
interesting questions. But it gets worse when you connect this petition with
another bit of Scripture.
Let
no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be
tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. James 1.13
That sounds pretty clear. God never
tempts anyone.
So, on the one hand, the Father could
lead us into some temptation, into some situation where we will be tempted,
something that we are to ask Him not to do. But then, on the other hand, we are
also told that He would never do something like that. There seems to be a
conflict here. Would the Father bring about our being tempted, or wouldn’t He?
It seems that we have two bits of Scripture that don’t fit together.
Some see this and conclude that what
we have here is another contradiction that proves that the Bible’s just another
fallible book. Others, not wanting to do that, tell themselves that they’ll
never figure out what’s going on and just move on to the next passage. But this
kind of situation is one way that Scripture teaches us, one way that it tries
to get our attention about something. This is Scripture saying, ‘Look more
closely. It’s worth your while’. You can gain great insights into God and into
your life when you take the time and effort to investigate these kinds of
situations.
So, what’s going on? The key has to do
with the basic meaning of the word translated ‘temptation’. This word has to do
with putting someone to the test. In fact, it is sometimes translated with that
word, ‘test’, instead of the word ‘temptation’. One factor in deciding how to
translate it has to do with the intention of the person behind the testing.
So, there are times when someone is
put to the test with evil intent. This Scripture should sound familiar from the
beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
And
when the devil had ended every temptation,
he departed from [Jesus] until an opportune time. Luke 4:13
There’s our word, translated here as ‘temptation’.
And Satan’s intent is obvious.
However, there are times when someone
is put to the test with holy intent.
Beloved,
do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange
were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12
There’s our word, but translated here
as ‘test’. God sends tests your way, but His intention is for your good.
So, what we have is a single word that
can be translated in two rather different, though related, ways.
Now, let’s go back and answer our
question. Would the Father lead us into temptation? Let’s say that a bit
differently. Would the Father put us to the test? The answer is ‘Yes’. But He
does that for our good. Satan, on the other hand, also puts us to the test but
with the opposite intention. He wants us to fail, to sin, to rebel.
There are times when the same test is
being presented by both the Father and Satan, but with very different
intentions. Think Job.
The classic example of this has to do
with that tree in the midst of the Garden, the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil. The Father set the situation up as a test when He forbade Adam and
Eve to eat from it. Now, His intention was for good. He wanted them to grow
from that test. By passing the test they would come to know, in the right way,
the difference between good and evil. Thus, the name of the tree. But, as you
know, Satan was also involved. He took advantage of the situation and schemed
so that by failing the test Adam and Eve would come to know that difference in
the wrong way and would join him in rebelling against their Creator.
What happened at that tree was the
backdrop of another test set up by the Father and used by Satan: Jesus’ being
tempted in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. Jesus, the new Adam
of a new humanity, was facing a test. Like the first Adam, His basic loyalty
was being tested with the consequences of the test affecting those who are His.
And thanks be to God, He passed the test. That’s why He could become Lord in
the way that Adam was supposed to, having dominion over all creation. The
Father’s intention was fulfilled and Satan’s intention was frustrated.
So, you see, it’s the intention of the
person behind the test that makes the difference.
Now, all of this leads to another
question. Why would the Father do such things? Why would He test us? I’ve
touched on the answer to this, but I want to go a bit deeper here. The answer
is that He wants us to mature as people. Listen to James.
Count
it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness
have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1.2-4
Your faith is tested by the various
trials that come your way by the will of the Father. It is in those situations,
in those tests, that you have a choice to make. Will you trust the Father or
not? It always boils down to this, whether we’re talking about Adam at that
tree, Jesus in the desert or you in some situation last week. Will you trust
the Father? He has given you plenty of reasons to trust Him. He has made it
clear that He is your Father who is so very for you. Consider the many promises
that He has made to you. Bear in mind that He has always come through. But the
question is still a live question. Will you trust Him? At every test you have a
choice to make.
What happens as a result of that
choice? If you choose wisely, good things follow. James refers to ‘steadfastness’
as one result. Now, if there ever were a church word, it’s ‘steadfastness’. So,
we have to translate it. What are some real words for this? How about ‘patient
endurance’? It is, in fact, translated in that way in a couple of places.
Life is hard. We need to recognize
that. And what is needed to make it through life in any kind of good shape is
endurance; keeping at it, taking one step and then the next and the next. But
it’s not just any kind of endurance. You can endure all the problems of life
but with a terrible attitude. What James is talking about is the kind of
endurance that patiently deals with all the stuff that life throws at you. If you
look closely, you’ll pick up the scent of contentment. James is talking about
patient endurance.
By these sentences in James’ letter,
the Father is promising to those who pass these tests a growing ability to deal
with life well because of this patient endurance that He grants. Such people
grow to be ‘perfect and complete, lacking in nothing’. Or to say it
differently, these people become more human, according to the Father’s original
design. And that, for sure, is one thing that the Father wants for all of His
kids. It’s one reason why He sends the tests.
There is another benefit to facing and
passing these tests. Listen to John.
And
by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 1
John 2.3
Now, you might be thinking, ‘There’s
nothing here about any test. Our word isn’t anywhere in sight’. But think about
it. All too often, choosing to obey comes in the midst of a test. Will you
trust the Father? In a sinful world like ours, keeping God’s commandments is
all about making that choice. And John is teaching that those who choose
wisely, who pass the test and keep the commands, are given a gift from the
Father, a precious gift. The Father blesses them with a
greater certainty that they really do know Him as their God. And doubt fades a
little more. A growing assurance is another result of passing those tests.
It’s another reason why the Father sends them.
I think that you can see why James
teaches us to ‘count it all joy’ when we meet these trials that the Father
sends our way. So much good can come out of it. If you want to mature as a
person, to live well, to become more human, then expect the tests that the
Father sends your way. And rejoice in them. Choosing to do that is itself
passing a test.
Next question. What are the ways that
we are tested? I raise this question because it is too easy to think of being
tested only by evil things coming your way. To be sure, evil does come your
way, and you are being tested when that happens. Jesus being tempted by Satan
is an example of this.
But you also need to see that you are
put to the test, tempted, by good things that come your way. Listen to some
wisdom from Moses.
Beware
lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me
this wealth.’ Deuteronomy 8.17
Compared to most of those alive today,
we here are wealthy people, very wealthy people. And why is that? It’s a test.
It’s another opportunity to choose wisely. Where did your wealth come from? It
is so easy, especially in this culture, to simply assume that you enjoy what
you have because of what you have done: educational choices, career moves and
hard work. But you are being tested by the good things that you enjoy. It is
important to see this test because it usually flies under the radar. We don’t
notice it. This is one of Satan’s more common temptations in our society. Don’t
be fooled by it. One way that it will show that you aren’t being fooled here is
your frequent expressions of gratitude to the Father for the many good things
He has granted you. How are you doing at that?
Another question. Now, that you know
what you know about this testing, what would be one good response? What might
you do? This may sound counter-intuitive, but consider it. One good response is
to ask the Father to test you.
Listen to some more wisdom, this time
from David.
Search
me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! Psalm 139.23
That ‘try me’ is David’s request to be
put to the test. David wants the Father to put him to the test so that his
secret thoughts would be revealed to him. Now, why would he want that? He goes
on to explain.
And
see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm
139.24
David wants any wickedness that is in
him to be revealed to him so that it can be removed. He wants any wickedness to
be replaced with the way of life that is everlasting. He wants to become the
holy man he was created to be. He knows that the Father’s tests have a role to
play in his achieving that goal. And that’s true even when he fails some test.
If he can be shown the evil of some choice of his it becomes something that he
can work on. It becomes a sin that he can mortify. So, it makes sense to ask
the Father to put him to the test since, pass or fail, he has the opportunity
to make progress.
I have made David’s prayer one of my
daily prayers. I would encourage you to consider whether you need to make it one
of yours.
That leaves one last question. Listen
again to our petition.
And
lead us not into temptation… Matthew 6.13
Remember where we started. I told you
that this petition is a bit strange. And after the exploring that we have done,
it doesn’t seem any less strange. Think about it. It doesn’t seem to fit with
James’ ‘count it all joy’ or with David’s prayer for more tests. So, why does
Jesus call you to pray about your tests in this way, to pray that you would not be put to the test? Saying it like
this is a way to acknowledge your weakness. It’s saying that you know that if
the Father were to put you to the test there is no reason to think that you would
pass. Do you really think that you would choose wisely, that you would choose
to trust the Father and be able to avoid Satan’s subtle schemes?
Jesus wants you to pray in this way to
remind you of your need of grace. Life is hard. Your sins fight against you.
Satan and his demons are everywhere looking for any opportunity to get you.
Succeeding on your own is a dream. But there is grace for you, abundant grace.
But the first step in gaining that grace is admitting that you need it. Praying
this petition is a reminder of your great need. And that reminder is something
that we all need because we are a very proud people and we live among a very
proud people. We believe the lie that we can do it, whatever it is. All we have
to do is try harder. But that is a lie from Satan. We need the Father’s grace
and we need to be reminded, frequently reminded, that we are in great need of
His grace. And that’s another reason to pray this prayer daily.
But this petition should also be a
reminder of the eagerness of your Father to give you that grace. Remember, He
wants you to pass the tests and enjoy the benefits that come from that. He is
ready to give you all that you need to pass each and every test with flying
colors. After all, He is your Father.
So, pray this part of the Lord’s
Prayer. Pray it thoughtfully. And as you pray it, bear in mind the Scripture’s
teaching about those tests and remember that there is more than enough grace so
that you will pass those tests and become the person that the Father created
you to be. Pray this petition and believe the Gospel.