Lead us not into temptation

Lead us not into temptation

Scripture:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1

Observation:

Continuing along Matthew, we now come to the great testing of Jesus which occurred directly after the Lord’s baptism. We read first that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights where He was tempted by the devil. In the first of the great temptations, the tempter tempts Jesus to use His divine power to sate his physical hunger. And the Lord answers the devil with a great quotation from Deuteronomy, stating that man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from God.

There are three principles about temptation that we can learn from this passage.

Firstly, God allows us to be tempted. Note that Jesus was led by the Spirit into that difficult period of testing and temptation. In the Lord’s prayer, He asks us to pray “lead us not into temptation”. Still, in James 1, it is written that God does not tempt anyone and in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul teaches that the Lord will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Looking at Scripture as a whole, we can conclude that God does not tempt anyone but He does allow us to be tempted. In the garden of Eden, He allowed Adam and Eve to be tempted by placing the tree of knowledge of good and evil to be accessible to them, and also allowing the snake to be there to entice them.

Secondly, there is a purpose in temptation. But what is this purpose? After Jesus emerged victorious from overcoming His temptation, He began His ministry with great effectiveness and power. Somehow, temptation is part of the human experience. It is like a test, where those who overcome will receive reward while those who fail will suffer consequences.

Thirdly, we can overcome temptation. But how do we overcome temptation? Jesus was fully human in every way, and the only way out, even for Jesus, was to depend on the power of God’s Word. Paul’s words also serve to encourage us in that “no temptation has seized us except what is common to man”, and “God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear”. The more we read and remember God’s Word, the stronger we become in resisting temptation. 

Application:

Recognize that temptation is part of life, and all of us have to face it, some way or another. No one should think he is above temptation but humbly pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation. When we are tempted, recognize that God’s purpose is in it, and when we overcome, there is reward. Being human, we fail time and again, but do not give up. Forget what is behind, press on and strain towards what is ahead. Build up our knowledge and meditation of Scripture, which is the only great defense to temptation. Remember even the Lord’s words to Peter “Do you love me more than these?” Meditating on the Lord’s love towards us and our love reciprocated to Him does well in helping us overcome.

Prayer:

Thank You, O Lord, for Your Scripture which teaches us that temptation is a necessary part of life. We humbly pray O Lord that You lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Even in the times when I am tempted, help me see O Lord, that You have a purpose in it, and that it is Your good will not to harm us but to prosper us and give us hope and a future. Pick me up O Lord, even when I fail. Let Your Word abide strongly in Me. Lead me from glory to glory even as You help me overcome. Let me remember Your love always O Lord, which will guard me from temptation. Praise be to Your Holy name. In Jesus name, Amen.