Reflections on a Difficult Gospel Passage: Lead Us Not Into Temptation
By: Saundra L. Washington
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13.
At the outset, let’s understand that God does not lead people into temptation. Read what James has to say about this truth: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. James 1:13. The petition then, may better be understood as a request that believers be exempt from the pressure and torture of temptations.
Stein helps us out here by convincingly arguing against the term “temptation” referring to the eschatological temptation pointing out that the omission in the phrase of the article “the,” makes this interpretation unlikely. He explains that “temptation” in the negative sense in which it is meant in the text refers to inward seductions or enticements to sin. The positive sense, which is evident in other Scripture passages, refers to tests or trials which we should not want to avoid. He feels very strongly that this passage may be understood: “Do not permit me to succumb to temptations” This explanation he suggests, would eliminate textual difficulty.
Barclay agrees with Stein that “temptation” can be understood in two senses but he goes on to suggest that “in the Bible, the verb ‘peirazein’ is often better translated by the word test than by the word tempt.”
Karl Barth holds that “temptation” refers to the work of the Evil One. He asserts that it is the supreme temptation, the superior enemy whom we are unable to resist unless God comes to our rescue. Thus, he translates this petition to mean” “Lead us in such a way that it may be given us to avoid this limit on the left. Shield us from all possibility of evil from which we know not how to preserve ourselves.”
As I reflected over my own interpretation of this petition, it seems that a consideration I and noted sources may have overlooked, is that perhaps the problem lies not as much in the noun “temptation” as it is in the verb “lead.” Perhaps we should not only study the phrase “lead us not” as Stein suggest, but also to study and consult sources to help us determine the original meaning of “lead” in context.
What do you think?
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, though delayed in publication, is expected to be available early 2006.
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