Matthew 6:13

Matthew 6:13 (KJV) concludes the well-known Lord's Prayer, a model of petition and praise taught by Jesus Christ. This verse contains a crucial plea for divine protection and a powerful affirmation of God's supreme authority.

Context

This verse is the final part of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples during His Sermon on the Mount. Following petitions for God's kingdom to come, for daily sustenance, and for forgiveness, this concluding request addresses the spiritual dangers faced by believers. It transitions from asking for God's provision and mercy to seeking His active intervention against spiritual harm. The full prayer begins in Matthew 6:9.

Key Themes

• Divine Guidance and Protection: The request "And lead us not into temptation" is not an implication that God actively tempts people (as James 1:13 clarifies). Instead, it's a humble plea for God to guard us from situations where we might be overwhelmed by trials or enticed to sin. It acknowledges our inherent weakness and need for His guiding hand to navigate life's challenges without falling.
• Deliverance from Evil: The phrase "but deliver us from evil" seeks rescue from both general wickedness and, more profoundly, from "the evil one" (Satan), who is the orchestrator of temptation and spiritual opposition. It's a prayer for spiritual victory and protection from the schemes of the adversary, emphasizing God's power to provide deliverance from all evil.
• God's Sovereignty and Glory (Doxology): The concluding doxology, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen," is a powerful affirmation of God's supreme reign, omnipotence, and inherent majesty. While this specific phrase is not found in the very earliest Greek manuscripts of Matthew, it was widely adopted in early Christian liturgy and reflects a profound biblical truth, echoing Old Testament prayers of praise like 1 Chronicles 29:11. It shifts the focus from human need back to God's ultimate worthiness, reminding us that prayer is rooted in His ultimate authority and ability to answer.

Linguistic Insights

• "Temptation" (peirasmos - πειρασμός): This Greek word can mean both "testing" or "trial" and "temptation" (enticement to sin). The prayer isn't asking God to avoid testing our faith, but rather to prevent us from being led into situations where the temptation to sin is too great for us to resist, or to provide a way of escape as 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises.
• "Evil" (ponērou - πονηροῦ): This genitive form can be understood in two ways: as neuter, meaning "from evil" (abstract wickedness, sin, calamity), or as masculine, meaning "from the evil one" (referring to Satan). Both interpretations are valid and encompass the comprehensive protection sought.

Practical Application

Matthew 6:13 teaches us profound lessons about prayer and reliance on God:

• It encourages a posture of humility, acknowledging our vulnerability to sin and spiritual attack.
• It reminds us to actively seek God's guidance and intervention in our daily lives, trusting Him to lead us away from pitfalls.
• It reinforces the truth that God is sovereign over all circumstances, including temptation and evil, and has the power to deliver us.
• The doxology serves as a powerful reminder that our prayers should always conclude with praise, magnifying God's kingdom, power, and glory, recognizing that all answers and deliverance come from Him alone.