“Lead us not into temptation” Lord’s Prayer, Seventh Petition

Temptation – it’s all around us, isn’t it? Most of our modern advertising is centred around tempting us to purchase a product or service that we might not otherwise consider. The fashion industry relies on the appeal and temptation of the human body. Even our dear grandmothers, heaven bless them, are known to say, “Can I tempt you with another piece of cake, dear?”

Our culture responds to temptation in two ways. First, as with the above examples, temptation is trivialized as something affecting only the body and mind. After all, what harm is there in one more chocolate or glass of wine, or in a little casual flirtation at the office? Is it really so bad if the lyrics of our music, the necklines of our clothing, or our latest big purchase are a bit questionable? After all, we do draw the line somewhere – right? On the other hand, our culture also responds with the mantras of self-help and self-control. No temptation is so large that our advanced human intellect and will-power cannot control and overcome. This understanding results in a parade of perpetual slimming, debt counsellors, psychotherapists, and multitudes of self-help authors on every topic imaginable.

Now, don’t get me wrong, many of these modern institutions provide great blessings to our temptation-riddled world, and Scripture itself assures us that self-control is a God-pleasing attribute. But, neither trivialization nor the power of the human will provide the answers to temptation. This is because temptation is rooted deeper than the world can perceive : it is rooted in sin – in being our own spiritual masters, rather than servants of our Lord. Likewise, the outcomes of temptation are much more far-reaching than a thickening waistline or an angry burst of temper. Ultimately, temptation distances us from our loving Father and from one another. The root and the result of temptation are spiritual and have profound effects on our Christian faith.

We only have to skim Scripture to see the serious spiritual aspects of temptation: Satan tempts Eve to disobey the Lord in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3); Jesus is tempted for forty days in the desert (Matthew 4 and Luke 4); Judas, Peter and the other disciples are tempted to deny and betray Jesus (Matthew 26 and 27). Likewise, our Small Catechism asserts that the devil, the world, and our own sinful natures try to mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great sins.

Our own efforts to make light of or resist temptation are so easily overcome. But, Jesus’ efforts to resist temptation were successful. He withstood every temptation of His earthly life – even the temptation to avoid death, the grave, and the separation from His Father that awaited Him at the cross. Jesus is victorious over temptation on our behalf. Moreover, He does not just leave us with this knowledge as small comfort. In Luke 22, we see that Jesus prayed for Simon Peter when he was about to face the temptations to deny His Saviour. 1 Corinthians 10 assures us that God is faithful and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear – He provides a way out so we can stand up under temptation. In His Word and Sacraments, and in the encouragement and counsel of our Christian brothers and sisters, Christ addresses the root and the result of our temptations just as surely as He did on the cross and in His prayers for His disciples. When we pray this petition of the Lord ’s Prayer – “lead us not into temptation” – we pray for these blessings that Christ has promised us, and assert our faith that He will faithfully provide them.

Jesus, we thank You that You did not give into temptation, even unto the cross. We pray that we would not be led into temptation but that we would walk in Your ways; to the glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.