September 21: “Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil” (Matthew 6:9-13, James 1:2-4, 12-15)

The Greek word for “temptation” in our text can also mean “trial” or “test.” Though God does not tempt his people, He does test his people. But Satan uses God’s test to tempt us. How can we resist Satan from making God’s test into temptation? Just as Jesus did, we can resist with God’s Word and prayer. The second part of the petition recognizes that we are weak beings who need deliverance. By his death and resurrection, Jesus defeated Satan and delivered us from the power of sin and death. The last phrase “For thine is the kingdom…” was added in the 2nd century because the church recognized that the very deliverance prayed for had been accomplished in Jesus’ death and resurrection.