A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This common phrase is well known and recitable, but I wonder how many people know what it means; “that it is better to hold onto something one has than to risk losing it by trying to get something better.”¹ Similarly, the Lord’s prayer has become a common recital for many, such as (Matt. 6:13), “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Reciting this prayer is great! But do we know what we are praying?

Lead us Not into Temptation

This prayer recognizes one’s susceptibility to sin. We all have weaknesses and given the right situation, the right amount of pressure, we may give in to sin. Therefore, Jesus taught us to ask God to bring us away from situations where we may succumb. We look to God in our frailness and vulnerability and ask to be spared from situations that are too much for us at this time.

A man who struggles with lust may practically pray, “Lead me not into places with images that are too much for me.” “Lord, lead me away from vile and mind staining images.” A woman who struggles with contentment may practically pray, “Lord, protect me from going onto social media and playing the comparison game.”

Simply, when we pray this, we are asking God to lead us away from sin. Leon Morris says it well, “[T]he worshiper knows his own weakness and in this prayer seeks to be kept far from anything that may bring him to sin.”²

But Deliver Us from the Evil

However, we may find ourselves in such a situation and need deliverance. The hot water we hoped to avoid is now a reality that we need deliverance from.³ We look to the Lord and ask for His grace to take us out of the wiles and schemes of the devil. We pray with urgency and intensity as the verb “deliver” is in the imperative mood. And we pray before it happens as well as when it happens.

Thus, Jesus prepares us to pray concerning “future sin.”⁴ R.T. France states it succinctly, “The stress in both clauses is on the vulnerability of disciples and their consequent dependence on God for avoiding sin.”⁵ Although we are forgiven of our sins on account of the blood of Jesus Christ, and although we have been delivered from sins reign, we still have the presence of sin in this world and need God’s protection from it.

Bibliography

Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.

Carson, D. A. “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8., 61‐599. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

France, R. T. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985.

Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992.

Nolland, John. The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2005.