In the Biblical story, Jesus is the new Adam, who must face temptation as did Adam but now, not in a garden, but in the world which has become a wilderness as a result of the failure of the first Adam. The presence of wild animals are overtones of Genesis chapters 2-3. Jesus succeeded and overcame where Adam failed. This event seems to be a necessity for Jesus to overcome the works of the devil. He proves himself to be the true and faithful son of God.
When we pray not to be led into temptation, we are asking God's protection from the wiles and seductions of the devil.
In short Jesus, temptation was a necessity, and therefore he was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to face it. We are praying for God's protection, to be spared temptations.
Certainly a puzzle! One difference between Jesus and us is that though he was man, he was also God, and James says God cannot be tempted to sin. Jesus was presented with options to sin (tempted) by the Devil, but in his divine character there was not a prospect that he would "succumb." Thus, if I might "gloss" James, "God cannot be successfully tempted to sin."
If you think about it, there are many types of temptations which appeal to some of us but not others and vice versa. I cannot be "successfully" tempted to engage in homosexuality regardless of what my environment might be, whereas there are certainly many other temptations that appeal to me and to which I sometimes fall prey. In Jesus' instance, none of the temptations he faced had any "traction" with him. So, he could be "driven" to face temptation without God "tempting" him ("neither tempts he any man"). Whereas we, on the other hand, can and do fall prey to sin, and hence cry out to God to not put us in the place where we would be tempted.
Nonetheless, not all our prayers are answered with a "Yes," even though they are the right things to pray for. Paul cried out for the thorn to be removed, which wasn't a wrong thing to pray, but God nonetheless said "No," to show "my grace is sufficient for you." So God, though he does not "tempt" us, as James also says (we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed), nevertheless leads us "to the field of battle" sometimes so we can fight and become better soldiers, though we will sometimes get hit by an arrow that does "pierce our skin" in the process--unlike Jesus.
As we pry the Lord's Prayer, we are asking not to be led into temptation. But Our Father know that sometimes we need to be made stronger through temptations, and so sometimes He drives us into a time of testing and trials! This is an uneducated and undocumented opinion.
The early church wrestled with the language of what we call "the Lord's Prayer." So did Benedict XVI, who authorized the use of the language, "Do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us..." Pope Frances has agreed with that. So have many Protestant scholars. So do I.
It seems to me that these are two completely different considerations.
On the temptation: Jesus actually WAS "the spirit" so he knew he had to come to terms with his calling, his charge, his fate. His baptism was ground zero for the mission. He then spent the time it required coming to terms with this, part of which was to anticipate the temptations that he must overcome. It's all portrayed in a very concrete metaphor, with Satan appearing to distill the human temptions down into three categories.
On the Lord's Prayer: This was Jesus final speech to his disciples on the night before he was to launch the new kingdom of God. Part of which would be his death, and resurrection, most importantly. But the big picture was that a new cosmic order was about to emerge. And in the early throes of that, these guys were going to be sorely tested. They didn't know about the resurrection part yet. He urged them to pray for tests/trials that they could withstand and that would not destroy their faith.
I think of the wilderness as the place of demonic activity in the OT, pictured by wild beasts. Mark is the only gospel writer to say Jesus was “driven” and was with the wild animals. Marks audience were believers under persecution. Especially by Nero, who sent them into theaters where wild animals would attack and kill them for their (Roman) entertainment. There has to be a connection? Jesus went where these demonic animals were? Would that have comforted the believers to know He also went first and had victory???
Jesus was hoping people would catch-on to what he was up to. Few have. He did not rail against the Roman occupation, or Roman government and church taxes. He did not force anyone to retire early. He did not seek to influence events and nations by running for high office. He did not trash the reputations of individuals, not even Judas. He did not judge people who were "missing the mark," knowing we are all "mark-missers:). His emphasis was to go within, deep within, make changes deep within himself, knowing this secret: If one of us thinks and acts like our real selves, kind and gentle, loving and all-forgiving, generous and understanding, pure, and holy, we all benefit....it rubs off, and they become attractive. We will even later write books about them. Whatever is outside, started inside:). Whatever is inside, will out!
Reminds me of Twain's "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg". A modern distillation of which is "Use it or lose it". The ministering angels pose the same conundrum raised by Thoreau's sisters and Mom, providing his daily bread while he reveled in the glories of nature and self-reliance.
In the Biblical story, Jesus is the new Adam, who must face temptation as did Adam but now, not in a garden, but in the world which has become a wilderness as a result of the failure of the first Adam. The presence of wild animals are overtones of Genesis chapters 2-3. Jesus succeeded and overcame where Adam failed. This event seems to be a necessity for Jesus to overcome the works of the devil. He proves himself to be the true and faithful son of God.
When we pray not to be led into temptation, we are asking God's protection from the wiles and seductions of the devil.
In short Jesus, temptation was a necessity, and therefore he was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to face it. We are praying for God's protection, to be spared temptations.
Certainly a puzzle! One difference between Jesus and us is that though he was man, he was also God, and James says God cannot be tempted to sin. Jesus was presented with options to sin (tempted) by the Devil, but in his divine character there was not a prospect that he would "succumb." Thus, if I might "gloss" James, "God cannot be successfully tempted to sin."
If you think about it, there are many types of temptations which appeal to some of us but not others and vice versa. I cannot be "successfully" tempted to engage in homosexuality regardless of what my environment might be, whereas there are certainly many other temptations that appeal to me and to which I sometimes fall prey. In Jesus' instance, none of the temptations he faced had any "traction" with him. So, he could be "driven" to face temptation without God "tempting" him ("neither tempts he any man"). Whereas we, on the other hand, can and do fall prey to sin, and hence cry out to God to not put us in the place where we would be tempted.
Nonetheless, not all our prayers are answered with a "Yes," even though they are the right things to pray for. Paul cried out for the thorn to be removed, which wasn't a wrong thing to pray, but God nonetheless said "No," to show "my grace is sufficient for you." So God, though he does not "tempt" us, as James also says (we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed), nevertheless leads us "to the field of battle" sometimes so we can fight and become better soldiers, though we will sometimes get hit by an arrow that does "pierce our skin" in the process--unlike Jesus.
Mark,
Thank you for taking the time to reply!
I keep reading the issues of the Christian History Magazine in which are printed many of your articles!
They are enlightening and helpful for understanding christian history!
As we pry the Lord's Prayer, we are asking not to be led into temptation. But Our Father know that sometimes we need to be made stronger through temptations, and so sometimes He drives us into a time of testing and trials! This is an uneducated and undocumented opinion.
The early church wrestled with the language of what we call "the Lord's Prayer." So did Benedict XVI, who authorized the use of the language, "Do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us..." Pope Frances has agreed with that. So have many Protestant scholars. So do I.
It seems to me that these are two completely different considerations.
On the temptation: Jesus actually WAS "the spirit" so he knew he had to come to terms with his calling, his charge, his fate. His baptism was ground zero for the mission. He then spent the time it required coming to terms with this, part of which was to anticipate the temptations that he must overcome. It's all portrayed in a very concrete metaphor, with Satan appearing to distill the human temptions down into three categories.
On the Lord's Prayer: This was Jesus final speech to his disciples on the night before he was to launch the new kingdom of God. Part of which would be his death, and resurrection, most importantly. But the big picture was that a new cosmic order was about to emerge. And in the early throes of that, these guys were going to be sorely tested. They didn't know about the resurrection part yet. He urged them to pray for tests/trials that they could withstand and that would not destroy their faith.
And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.
… and lead us not into temptation … (Matthew 6:13)
"I’m wondering how it fits with the line from the Lord’s Prayer."
Perhaps, … "and lead us not into temptation … (Matthew 6:13) followed by...but deliver us from the evil one."
...is a Hebraism that I've heard called a "limited negative." Where it means "not only this but that."
I think of the wilderness as the place of demonic activity in the OT, pictured by wild beasts. Mark is the only gospel writer to say Jesus was “driven” and was with the wild animals. Marks audience were believers under persecution. Especially by Nero, who sent them into theaters where wild animals would attack and kill them for their (Roman) entertainment. There has to be a connection? Jesus went where these demonic animals were? Would that have comforted the believers to know He also went first and had victory???
Jesus was hoping people would catch-on to what he was up to. Few have. He did not rail against the Roman occupation, or Roman government and church taxes. He did not force anyone to retire early. He did not seek to influence events and nations by running for high office. He did not trash the reputations of individuals, not even Judas. He did not judge people who were "missing the mark," knowing we are all "mark-missers:). His emphasis was to go within, deep within, make changes deep within himself, knowing this secret: If one of us thinks and acts like our real selves, kind and gentle, loving and all-forgiving, generous and understanding, pure, and holy, we all benefit....it rubs off, and they become attractive. We will even later write books about them. Whatever is outside, started inside:). Whatever is inside, will out!
Reminds me of Twain's "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg". A modern distillation of which is "Use it or lose it". The ministering angels pose the same conundrum raised by Thoreau's sisters and Mom, providing his daily bread while he reveled in the glories of nature and self-reliance.
Truth:
Psm 119:165
Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.(or be offended, ie sin.)
This is beyond OT "law"; this is the NT "law of love" (1co13).
Sin is always the direct result of a dearth of agape toward God & man.