The Sixth Petition of the Lord's Prayer
Week 26
Posting every Tuesday at 3PM CST
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean?
God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
Small Catechism
Temptation … is of three kinds: of the flesh, of the world, and of the devil. For we dwell in the flesh and carry the old Adam about our neck.… The old Adam encourages us to have all kinds of evil lusts, which cling to us by nature and to which we are moved by the society, the example, and what we hear and see of other people. … [The world] offends us in word and deed. It drives us to anger and impatience. … No one is willing to be the least. Everyone desires to sit at the head of the group and to be seen before all.… [The devil] especially agitates matters that concern the conscience and spiritual affairs. He leads us to despise and disregard both God’s Word and works.
Large Catechism III 101–104
“Lead us not into temptation” … refers to times when God gives us power and strength to resist the temptation [1Corinthians10:13]. However, the temptation is not taken away or removed. While we live in the flesh and have the devil around us, no one can escape his temptation and lures. It can only mean that we must endure trials—indeed, be engulfed in them [2Timothy 2:3]. But we say this prayer so that we may not fall and be drowned in them.
Large Catechism III 106
