Lead Us Not

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:7-15)

According to news reports, Pope Francis supports changes to the wording of the Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father. Instead of saying, "Lead us not into temptation," Catholics might say, "Do not let us fall into temptation," The pope said he thought the English translation of the prayer was not correct. "It is not a good translation because it speaks of a God who induces temptation. I am the one who falls. It’s not him pushing me into temptation to then see how I have fallen."

I prefer to stick with the way the Our Father addresses temptation.  I can appreciate the reasoning for an alternate wording and meaning.  However, I have my own reasoning based on Matthew 4:1 that reads: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” 

Then the devil took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” 

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

The key part of these passages is: “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”  The Holy Spirit led Jesus to temptation prosecuted by the devil.  Jesus passed the tests.  He shouted, “Get away, Satan!”  Therefore, God did lead Jesus into temptation – serious temptation with Satan being the tempter.  

Unlike Jesus, God leading us into similar temptation likely would have a bad result for most of us weak-willed humans.  Many of us would worship Satan (perhaps unwittingly) if our reward was “all the kingdoms of the world,” even far less.  Satan can be well disguised.  We may not recognize him because he might wear a tie and white shirt and play on our fears to create division and hatred.  Satan especially prefers our ignorance and self-delusions.

So, I will always say – because I am somewhat weak-willed at times – “Do not lead us [me] into temptation.”  Satan is called our adversary for good reason, and we too easily can fall prey to him and his minions.

Deacon David Pierce