For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Jose camberos
Lead us is the word what your asking him is to direct your steps that your own steps won't lead u to temptation another words you're asking God to help you because there is so much temptation in the world that's how I see it
John Moyo
After much thought and acknowledging that temptations will always be part of human life I have interpreted the phrase "Lead us not into temptation" to mean "Do not let us be overcome by temptation" or "Lead us to overcome temptation".
Danny Hickman
I believe Jesus is saying that we're to ask to be delivered from our commitment to immortality. It's a way of confessing that we're going to have immoral thoughts and practices; it's just who we are. So we're to ask in advance for help when we're tempted to sin. That's it!
If we're honest, we know when we wake up in the morning that we will be tempted in many different ways; not by anything that God does! He's not saying that there's a possibility that our venture into sinful behavior could be inspired by God.
I think he's telling us to admit to God to being unable to stand strong without his help.
He isn't insinuating that there's a possibility that God will dangle something sinful before us and sit back and see what we will do, so we'd better be on guard for it. We are weak little children; God doesn't need to test us to see how weak we are!! He already knows!
Lead us not into temptation, is better translated, 'Lead us AWAY FROM the things that tempt us to sin.' He doubles down when he says, 'but deliver us from the sin that is always present.'
There are some things that should be settled about who God the Father is and how he feels about us. Many of us who claim to be his, aren't quite convinced that he loves us the way he does. That, and maybe a tendency to covertly think 'this is all really his fault; he could fix this if he wanted to.'
Lead us not into thinking that way, O God! He doesn't! It's who sinful people are by nature, with no help from him.
Shirley H
Wow, Mr. Hickman! Great thoughts! To be alive is to face temptation!
But if I may ask, where you say "To be delivered from our commitment to immortality," do you mean immorality?
Because I look forward to being with the Lord forever and ever...and meeting in person all others who love the Lord!
Danny Hickman
Yes Shirley, my spellcheck sabotaged me. I meant 'immorality.' I LIVE FOR immortality, of course!!
My whole point is that Jesus wasn't implying that God the Father tempts us. He has no reason to; it's our default mode of living here..
God will test us; He's strategic in how He develops us. Testing is very normal. Tempting is an evil act. To tempt is to lure into sin; to encourage disobedience and rebellion. God doesn't do that; that's of the enemy!
"Lead us not into temptation," doesn't imply that God has a habit of leading us to sin. Jesus is telling His disciples to ask God to lead us. FULL STOP!! "Guide me, O God." Not into what I'M ALREADY TEMPTED to do, but "O God, deliever me FROM THE TEMPTER" (the evil one).
To test is to offer opposing choices. One will give God glory; the other is an attractive invitation for self glorification. For instance: David wasn't tempted to commit adultery with a married woman; (Bathsheba) no one lured him. But I believe it was an unavoidable test. It was as casual and normal as getting out of bed. There she was... 2 Samuel 11:2
God says, I place before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.. (Deuteronomy 30:19). To live is to be tested; to have a choice to honor the Creator, or go the other route!! God is the source of life, and life is an ongoing test.
There's no need for God to tempt us; it's our standard!! But being tested is what living is all about. There's a big difference in the two.
Danny Hickman
Israel's first two kings couldn't have been more different from one another. Saul was a self-exhalting man. David, conversely, trusted in God's decisions for his life and legacy.
We are constantly put to the test of either honoring God or exhalting self. Cases in point: first, King Saul. God told Saul, "Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey" (1 Samuel 15:3). He failed miserably. He spared the king of the Amalekites, Agag; he kept "all that was good" of the various livestock, but "UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THE PEOPLE!!" (He had a warped sense of what was more valuable). No one tempted him; it was a self-imposed test to do what he was told, or do what pleased himself. He forgot about God!!
David was being hounded by King Saul; Saul was trying to kill him. David caught Saul "with his pants down" in a cave; he could have killed Saul and ended his murderous plan. David spared Saul; he cut off a piece of Saul's robe as proof that he had spared the king's life (1 Samuel 24:11). David had not been given any instructions on how to handle the matter. He chose to honor God. He said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against the king, for he is the LORD'S anointed.' (vs 10)
Two very different approaches to handling the pride of life.
James says that we are tempted when we are drawn away (from God) by our own desires and enticed (James 1:14).
IT'S US!!
Shirley H
Absolutely Dan! I was just clarifying in case someone got the wrong idea! You know people don't always question what you really mean! I know you are looking for life with Jesus forever! That's why I know that all believers will one day have a chance to meet each other! We are one big family in the Lord!
Wouldn't it be great if people really took the time to understand each other! So many things might turn out, (probably would) turn out differently!
I am sorry if you thought I was being picky! I just wanted it to be clear that you are looking forward as I know I am and other people I know are!
God is coming! Yeah!! I am waiting and watching! When? Now?
Danny Hickman
I'm glad you gave me a chance to clear it up, Shirley. I didn't get the impression that you were "'spell policing" or anything like that. I let it hang there like that, hoping it would be obvious what I had meant. But it needed to be corrected. Answers can be edited, but not comments to answers.
Amen@ the 'eternal meeting place' of all the saints of God. As for your musing of people understanding each other, I think the more we realize how much we misunderstand each other, the better is our understanding of each other!!
Yes, Jesus is coming back for us!! Praise God!! Until He gets here, I'm going to continue to spread His eternal truth of just how much He loves a wretch like me!! His love is shared to all, even the world which ignores Him.
But every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10).
Shirley H
Praise God that the day will come soon! We live in a sad, but beautiful world. Life is difficult, yet rewarding. One day, everything will just fall into place. God is giving all the time and chances that He can! I just pray that people open their eyes and see! God is so Grace! and love!
It's really easy to make mistakes! I don't have spellcheck. I only have a Kindle.