Lead Us Not Into Temptation: What's Up With That?
"Lead us not into temptation."
It’s a line many of us have said for years—maybe even daily. We learned it from Jesus. But have you ever stopped and thought, "Wait a second—why is God leading us into temptation in the first place?" That feels... off, doesn’t it?
Every time I come back to this phrase, two things pop out. First, why would God tempt us at all? And second, is this line really about the devil? Both are important questions, but let’s start with the first.
The Problem of Divine Temptation
If God is the source of forgiveness—as we talked about last week—then why would God turn around and try to trip us up? That doesn't make much sense. And in fact, it’s been a point of debate for a long time.
Here’s something to consider: the Lord’s Prayer has a kind of logical flow. We ask for forgiveness—past tense—and then immediately we shift to what’s ahead: our future, and the hope that we might avoid sin altogether. It makes sense structurally. But still, why pin the temptation on God?
Because in English, that’s exactly what it sounds like. "Lead us not" implies that God might—unless we ask otherwise. Which brings us to the thorny theological question known as theodicy: In a world created by a good God, where does evil even come from?
What the Scriptures Say
Interestingly, the scriptures offer a range of answers.
James is clear and unequivocal: "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does God tempt anyone." That’s about as straightforward as it gets.
James might be echoing a Jewish text from around 200 BCE, known variously as Sirach or Ecclesiasticus. In it, Ben Sira writes, "Do not say, 'It was the Lord's doing that I fell away,' for God does not do what God hates." And then this powerful image: "God has placed before you fire and water; stretch out your hand for whichever you choose."
In other words, temptation isn’t God’s game. It’s about choice.
Paul, on the other hand, adds a nuance. In 1 Corinthians 10, he writes that while God does not tempt, God does allow temptation—but always with a way out. It’s not that God sets the trap, but perhaps God allows the terrain to include some bumps.
And then there’s Job. That ancient story paints a picture of God and the accuser in dialogue—almost negotiating over Job’s fate. If you’ve ever felt like life’s trials were cosmic in nature, Job gets it.
So where does that leave us? There’s no single, tidy answer in the Bible. Instead, we find a spectrum—from God as entirely uninvolved, to God as one who permits challenge, to God in mysterious dialogue with dark forces.
Re-Translating the Prayer
So how should we understand Jesus’ words?
This has been wrestled with for centuries. Marcion, in the first century, suggested the line should be read as, "Do not allow us to be dragged into temptation." Tertullian, in the second century, went with, "Do not leave us in temptation."
And more recently, French theologian Jean Carmignac argued the Greek verb often translated as "lead" is more accurately "bring"—which shifts the tone. In fact, this became influential enough that a few years ago, the official French Catholic Bible translation was changed. It now reads, "Do not let me fall into temptation."
Pope Francis supported the change, saying, "It is not God who throws me into temptation, to see how I fall. A father doesn’t do that. A father helps you get up."
That’s a deeply pastoral image. One that resonates. God isn’t laying traps. God is guiding us home.
A Prayer of Trust
In the end, maybe the line is not a plea to prevent God from acting against us—but a recognition that our path is full of choices. And what we’re asking is for God to be close, present, and protective as we walk that path.
Because temptation comes. That’s part of life. But God is not the one pulling us toward the edge. God is the one holding out a hand when we find ourselves near it.
And that—perhaps more than anything—is the grace in the prayer.
