NCF's "The Sunday Sermon" - June 4, 2023

Pope Francis said in 2017 that this sixth and last petition of the Lord’s Prayer should be changed to “do not let us fall into temptation.” I agree with the Pope on that point. Scripture is clear God does not and cannot tempt anyone to sin. The Greek word, however, translated here “temptation” most of the time in the NT is translated “trials” or “testing.” We should pray to the Father to protect us from being tempted. His Spirit helps us to run from temptation and evil. We want the Father to protect us from evil and the evil one. We also want Him to help us through trials and times of testing. Times of trial and testing are a part of life. We cannot be delivered altogether from them in this life. Our Father, however, can give us the strength to triumph over them.