What does Matthew 6:13 mean?
What is the meaning of Matthew 6:13?

And

- The prayer doesn’t start over here—it keeps flowing. “And” reminds us that every request in the Lord’s Prayer is part of a single conversation with our Father (Matthew 6:9-12).

- We ask for daily bread, forgiveness, and now protection; none of these stands alone (Philippians 4:6-7).

- The simple connective urges us to keep talking to God about every need, big or small (1 Thessalonians 5:17).


lead us

- We are asking God to guide every step, confident He “leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).

- His leading is personal: “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

- By inviting His leadership, we admit our dependence and reject self-reliance (Proverbs 3:5-6).

- Practical picture:

• Decisions we face today

• Relationships that influence us

• Opportunities that look harmless but carry hidden danger (Psalm 25:4-5)


not into temptation

- We ask to be steered away from situations that lure us to sin. God never entices anyone to do evil (James 1:13), yet He may permit testing that refines faith (1 Peter 1:6-7).

- The plea is for the fork in the road to tilt toward obedience. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man…He will also provide an escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

- Real-life application:

• Choosing wholesome media over corrupting content

• Walking past the gossip circle instead of joining in

• Closing the laptop when purity is threatened (Job 31:1)


but deliver us

- A rescue request: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

- Deliverance is both immediate (help in the moment) and ultimate (eternal security, 2 Timothy 4:18).

- God’s pattern:

• He rescued Israel from Egypt (Exodus 14:29-30).

• He saved Daniel from lions (Daniel 6:22).

• He pulls believers from sin’s pit today (Colossians 1:13).

- We lean on His promise: “Because he loves Me, I will rescue him” (Psalm 91:14).


from the evil one

- The threat is personal. Scripture identifies “your adversary the devil” (1 Peter 5:8) who schemes against us (Ephesians 6:11-12).

- Jesus prayed the same protection for His disciples: “Keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).

- Our defenses:

• The armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).

• The blood of Christ that already overcame Satan (Revelation 12:11).

• The indwelling Spirit greater than the enemy (1 John 4:4).

- The petition recognizes spiritual warfare yet rests in the Victor: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).


summary

Matthew 6:13 teaches us to rely daily on God’s leadership, to ask for detours around moral snares, and to trust His active rescue from the devil’s attacks. The verse invites us to walk in humble dependence, confident that our Father guides, shields, and triumphs for every child who calls on Him.

Why is forgiveness emphasized in Matthew 6:12?
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