And lead us not into temptation.

What is meant by this Petition?

God, indeed, tempts no one to sin; but we pray in this petition that God would so guard and preserve us, that the devil, the world, and our own flesh may not deceive us, nor lead us into error and unbelief, despair, and other great and shameful sins; and that, though we may be thus tempted, we may nevertheless finally prevail and gain the victory.

As children of God we must not only seek forgiveness for past sins, but be anxious to avoid sin in the future. We therefore pray that, as far as is possible according to His gracious will, God would keep us from being tempted, and would give us strength to overcome when we are tempted.

If we are in earnest in praying this Petition, we will not run into temptation ourselves, [Matt. 4:7] nor lead others into it.

GOD INDEED TEMPTS NO ONE TO SIN: for He wishes us to do good, and not evil. But He leads us into circumstances in which we are tried, and must decide for or against Him, for good or for evil. This is the sense in which the Bible speaks of God as tempting persons. [Gen. 22:1] He tries or tests us. Remembering that we are weak, we pray in this petition that God would spare us such trials as much as is possible according to His will, and strengthen us in them, that we may be faithful.

The Devil, the World, and our own Flesh tempt us to Sin. These are the great enemies of our souls, who will lead us to destruction if we do not earnestly resist them and repel their temptations.

1. That we may not be Deceived or Misled by these Enemies.

THE DEVIL, who puts evil thoughts into our hearts, [Gen. 3:4, 5, II Cor. 11:3]

THE WORLD (wicked persons in the world), [Prov. 1:10+, John 15:18] which tempts us by example, allurements, and threats,

AND OUR OWN FLESH (our natural heart), [Rom. 8:7+] which inclines and urges us to sin,

MAY NOT DECEIVE US, by promising us happiness in the paths of sin, while in reality such paths lead only to misery and destruction. [Matt. 7:13, 14+]

NOR LEAD US INTO ERROR AND UNBELIEF, and thus into ruin, since our salvation depends on believing the truth as it is in Jesus; nor into

DESPAIR; because we are lost if we despair of God's mercy, instead of believing His precious promises in Christ;

AND OTHER GREAT AND SHAMEFUL SINS, in addition to the error, unbelief, and despair mentioned above.

2. That we may Overcome these Enemies and be saved,

QUESTIONS.—1. Why do we pray this petition? 2. What do we mean by it? 3. If we are in earnest in praying it, what will we not do? 4. In what sense does God tempt? 5. Who tempts us to sin? 6. What do we pray against these enemies? 7. How does the devil tempt us? the world? our own flesh? 8. How do they try to deceive us? 9. Into what do they try to mislead us? 10. How long must we fight against these enemies? 11. If we fall, what should we do? 12. How may we overcome these foes? 13. When only shall we be completely victorious over them?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.—Prov. 1:10. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Rom. 8:7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Matt. 7:13, 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I Tim. 6:12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I Cor. 10:12. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

READING.—Peter denying the Lord, Luke 22:54-62; or, The Temptation of Jesus, Matt. 4:1-11.