Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For your is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Pardon for past is followed by implored grace for the future. I. TEMPTATION GENERALLY, as belonging of necessity to the condition of moral agents. The word temptation suggests moral experiment for good or evil. It has come to mean invitation to sin. Exposure to illusory suggestions is only what the analogy of natural government would lead us to expect. In our ordinary worldly interests what attractiveness appears to hang about a wrong course of conduct, whilst difficulty seems ever to dissuade us from what is right. We find that men are free to stand or fall. II. IN WHAT SENSE GOD CAN BE SAID TO LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION, 1. When God brings us providentially into the neighbourhood of hurtful influences. 2. When He allows temptations to come upon us with all their unmitigated force without restraining influences. God never leads us into temptation to make us fall. III. How much of the leading into temptation is DUE TO OURSELVES. 1. The blame is our own when we without cause expose ourselves to any moral hazzard. 2. When we allow ourselves to be carried away by sinful conformity to the world. 3. When we do not habitually restrain those tendencies and appetites, without which any temptation would be powerless. IV. The BENEFICIAL ENDS for which our temptations may be permitted. 1. In order to the trial of our religious sincerity. 2. In order that God may get honour to Himself by our successful resistance. 3. The mercifulness of those permitted trials, in that our very failures may conduce to our greater spiritual humility. We should never separate the prayer for deliverance from the pledge to keep ourselves. (D. Moore, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. |
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