“And lead us not into temptation” – Should this be changed?

Pope Francis wants to change a portion of the “Lord’s Prayer” to mean something else.

The issue is in regards Matthew 6:13: “And do not lead us into temptation” seems to suggest that God is seen as responsible for an individual falling into temptation.  Pope Francis suggests this change: “Don’t let us go into temptation.”   At least with this change (he thinks), it seems to convey that God is not the one who causes people to sin.

While I can see the concern, we should keep in mind what was said of Jesus went He was tempted by the devil.

Matthew 4:1: “And Jesus was led up by the Spirit (God) into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Luke 4:1-2:  “And Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan was led about by the Spirit (God) in the wilderness for forty days being tempted by the devil.”

As you can plainly see, both passages show that God directly led Jesus to the devil to be tempted.   Therefore, does this mean that God wanted Jesus to sin?

Check out how Mark words it: Mark 1:12-13:  “And immediately the Spirit (God) impelled Him (Jesus) to go into the wilderness.  And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan. . .”

The word “impelled” that Mark uses in his gospel means “to drive.” Thus is could be translated, “The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”  Here the sense is more forceful than the word “led.”

Here’s something else to consider.  The word “temptation” comes from the Greek word, “peirasmon,” which can be translated, “testing” (cf. 1 Peter 4:12) “temptation” (cf. Matt. 6:13; 26:41; Mark 14:38) or “trials” (James 1:12).  Context determines which is used.

In other words, “peirasmon” is a neutral word.  It can refer to something positive, such as being “tested” or entering to a “trial.”  It can refer to something negative, such as “temptation.”

The difference between a “test” and “temptation” is noteworthy.  “Temptation” means “a solicitation to do evil.”  Whereas the word “test” means, “to analyze or example” the quality of one’s faith or character, whichever part is being tested.

So the context determines now “peirasmon” is used. In Matthew 6:13, temptation is a good translation.  But when you compare this word on how it’s used in the rest of the Bible, what Jesus is saying is, “protect” us when we are tempted by evil. 

Here let me explain the prayer this way:  “God, when I enter into a ‘trial’ or

‘test,’ please help me not to allow it to turn into a temptation to do evil.”

God does test His people (Gen. 22:1; Deut. 8:2, 16).  He uses “trials” as a means to “test our faith” so as to produce endurance, so that we may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

So, I believe the wording, “lead us not into temptation,” simply means, “when we enter into a test, lead and protect us from allowing the test (that’s meant to build our character) to change into a temptation (as a solicitation) to do evil.”

What is needed is not the change the wording of Scriptures, but to better explain them.