I was asked to comment on Matthew 6 concerning the recent controversy in which the Pope suggested that one should not understand this referring to God as the subject of not leading us into temptation.
I thought others have already made some good point of why the Pope shouldn’t make a new interpretation and translation according to exegetical reasons. Instead of re-inventing the wheels I thought these two articles were helpful:
Is the Pope right about the Lord’s Prayer? by
Pope Francis, The Lord’s Prayer, and Bible Translation by Dan Wallace
When I first read the Pope’s comments I immediately wondered if he was referring to Biblically illiterate people who might misunderstand the meaning of “lead us not into temptation”. If that’s the case, he could be right. There are many Biblically illiterate professing believers, both Roman Catholic and Protestant. So, thanks to technology I pulled up a few trusted commentaries:
Barnes
Mat 6:13
And lead us not into temptation – A petition similar to this is offered by David, Psa 141:4; “Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with the workers of iniquity.” God tempts no man. See Jas 1:13. This phrase, then, must be used in the sense of “permitting.” Do not “suffer” us, or “permit” us, to be tempted to sin. In this it is implied that God has such control over the tempter as to save us from his power if we call upon him. The word “temptation,” however (see the note at Mat 4:1), means sometimes “trial, affliction,” anything that “tests” our virtue. If this be the meaning here, as it may be, then the import of the prayer is, “Do not afflict or try us.” It is not wrong to pray that we may be saved from suffering if it be the will of God. See Luk 22.
John Gill
that is, into the power of it, so as to be overcome by it, and sink under it; in which sense the phrase is to be understood here. We are not here taught to pray against temptations at all, or in any sense, for they are sometimes needful and useful; but that they may not have the power over us, and destroy us. There are various sorts of temptations. There are the temptations of God; who may be said to tempt, not by infusing anything that is sinful, or by soliciting to it; but by enjoining things hard and disagreeable to nature, as in the case of Abraham; by afflicting, either in body or estate, of which Job is an instance; by permitting and letting loose the reins to Satan, and a man’s own corruptions; by withdrawing his presence, and withholding the communications of his grace; and sometimes by suffering false prophets to arise among his people: his ends in them are on his own account, the display of his power; grace, wisdom, and faithfulness; on account of his Son, that his saints might be like him, and he might have an opportunity of exercising his power and pity: and on his people’s account, that they might be humbled; their faith and patience tried; might see their weakness, and need of Christ, and be excited to prayer and watchfulness. There are also the temptations of Satan; which lie in soliciting to evil, suggesting hard and blasphemous thoughts of God, and filling with doubts and fears; which are cunningly formed by him, and are very afflictive. There are moreover the temptations of the world, which arise from poverty and riches, from the men of the world, the lusts of it, and from both its frowns and flatteries: add to all this, that there are temptations arising from a man’s own heart. Now, in this petition, the children of God pray, that they may be kept from every occasion and object of sinning; from those sins they are most inclined to; that God would not leave them to Satan, and their own corrupt hearts; nor suffer them to sink under the weight of temptations of any sort; but that, in the issue, they might have a way to escape, and be victorious over all.
JFB
And lead us not into temptation — He who honestly seeks and has the assurance of, forgiveness for past sin, will strive to avoid committing it for the future. But conscious that “when we would do good evil is present with us,” we are taught to offer this sixth petition, which comes naturally close upon the preceding, and flows, indeed, instinctively from it in the hearts of all earnest Christians. There is some difficulty in the form of the petition, as it is certain that God does bring His people – as He did Abraham, and Christ Himself – into circumstances both fitted and designed to try them, or test the strength of their faith. Some meet this by regarding the petition as simply an humble expression of self-distrust and instinctive shrinking from danger; but this seems too weak. Others take it as a prayer against yielding to temptation, and so equivalent to a prayer for support and deliverance when we are tempted; but this seems to go beyond the precise thing intended. We incline to take it as a prayer against being drawn or sucked, of our own will, into temptation, to which the word here used seems to lend some countenance – “Introduce us not.” This view, while it does not put into our mouths a prayer against being tempted – which is more than the divine procedure would seem to warrant – does not, on the other hand, change the sense of the petition into one for support under temptation, which the words will hardly bear; but it gives us a subject for prayer, in regard to temptation, most definite, and of all others most needful. It was precisely this which Peter needed to ask, but did not ask, when – of his own accord, and in spite of difficulties – he pressed for entrance into the palace hall of the high priest, and where, once sucked into the scene and atmosphere of temptation, he fell so foully. And if so, does it not seem pretty clear that this was exactly what our Lord meant His disciples to pray against when He said in the garden – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation”? (Mat 26:41).
Who knows, maybe this will encourage some to really get back into their Bibles and read for themselves. And not just Roman Catholics.
Wow thank you for those Bible commentaries excerpt, may the Lord use this to bring people to study for themselves the Bible as you said and not just hear the Word of God superficially.
Too easy!
Thanks, that’s exactly what I needed.
You’re welcome! It was a great exercise to think through this but then I saw much more able men stated it better and made points that I didn’t consider or knew about. So thanks to you Michael for pointing me to the news of the Pope’s comment.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you for the reblog!
Yankee Whiskey Bravo
Thanks for these resources. In a certain sense, I understand the pope’s frustration with the verse. Many an evangelical pastor has had to stop and clarify the meaning for their congregations. But regular readers of the Bible know Scripture clarifies Scripture. The Lord doesn’t tempt us to sin but does allow trials. This verse is such a huge issue for Roman Catholics because it is one of the few that they know intimately.
Exactly. For my own philosophy of translation, its best not to change the passage to “preach it” but leave it as it should be translated according to syntax and grammar and leave the explanation for the job of preachers and teachers.
This isn’t the only thing the Pope is confused about.
True
Good links. My only thought is not really to the post and it’s just a comment, not looking to start a fight with anybody LOL. I promise. We, in our work, actually don’t refer to this prayer as the Lord’s Prayer, as He didn’t pray it. We refer to it as the Model Prayer, as He was teaching his disciples how to pray. Great links and comments here though!
Wow good title for this prayer. I heard a seminary professor called it the “Disciples’ Prayer” since it is meant for those Jesus was instructing. But Model Prayer sounds better in my opinion!
I have heard Disciples Prayer too and think it guys also.
Pastor Jim, I started with the article by Dan Wallace and it was extremely helpful. Thank you! Hope your planned weekend is going well!
You’re welcome! I’m preaching at the retreat and right now just finished a session and I appreciate your prayers a lot and I see God answering
Praise God! Many praying!