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Matthew 6 · a question people ask

"Bring us not into temptation" (6:13). Does God bring people into temptation?

In the text

Matthew doesn't explain these words. Jesus gives them as a request to "Our Father in heaven" (6:9), and the request goes on, "but deliver us from the evil one" (6:13) (tap temptation). Other verses speak of temptation, and these notes set them beside it. Matthew tells that "Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" (4:1). In Gethsemane Jesus says, "Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation" (26:41). James writes, "Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one" (James 1:13). These notes don't make one verse explain another, and go no further than the words.

The verses

“Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
Matthew 6:9 · World English Bible
“Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’”
Matthew 6:13 · World English Bible
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Matthew 4:1 · World English Bible
“Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.””
Matthew 26:41 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 6

Matthew 6: In secret

Jesus says the same thing three times, of giving, praying and fasting: the hypocrites "have received their reward" (6:2, 6:5, 6:16), but "your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (6:4, 6:6). The prayer he gives comes between the second and the third (6:9-13). And his words on prayer and on being anxious give the same reason: your Father knows what you need (6:8, 6:32).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions