BibleProject | the Lord's PrayerSample

Deliver Us From the Evil One

Today, we’ll look at the second line of the final request in the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from the evil one.”

Both lines in verse 13 work together. The first line teaches us to ask God to not lead us into tests. Even though tests can strengthen our character and deepen our trust in God, sometimes a deceitful, evil voice can tempt us to turn away from God’s ways. Therefore, the next request implies that if God does lead us into a test, he is able to deliver us from the evil one.

So what does it look like to be delivered from the evil one in the midst of a test? And who is the evil one exactly? To answer these questions, we need to go back to the beginning of the biblical story.

In Genesis 1-2, God appoints humans as his representatives to rule the world, and that opportunity presents them with a test. Will they partner with God and rule by his wisdom—symbolized by eating from the tree of life—or will they break away from God and operate by their own wisdom—symbolized by eating from the tree of knowing good and bad?

While God intends for this test to strengthen the humans, there’s another voice in the garden that twists God’s good test and tempts humans to trust their own wisdom. That’s the voice of the serpent, who is later called “the satan,” which means “the adversary” (Rev. 12:9; also compare Gen. 3:15 with Rom. 16:20). To be delivered from this evil one is to be prevented from falling prey to his schemes or to be healed of his corruption.

To learn more about this spiritual being and how Jesus delivers us from him, watch the video below.

Now, let’s slowly read and meditate on the whole prayer, making it our own.

Matthew 6:9-15
9 Therefore, when you pray, do it this way:
Our Father who is in the skies, may your name be recognized as holy.
10 May your kingdom come, and may your will be done, as it is in the skies so also on the land.
11 Our daily provision of bread, give to us today.
12 And forgive us our debts, just as we also have forgiven those indebted to us.
13 And don’t lead us to be tested, but deliver us from the evil one.
14 For if you forgive people their transgressions, your Father in the skies will also forgive you.
15 But if you will not forgive people, then neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Reflection Question
Adam and Eve’s decision about whether or not to eat from the tree of knowing good and bad was, at its core, a decision between trusting or rejecting God’s instruction. In the big or small decisions you’re facing today, where do you see this dynamic playing out? Are you facing a choice between rejecting or trusting God’s will? Does anything about the way of Jesus or anything from his teaching help you make your decision?