And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a passive plea to avoid hardship; it's an active request to be delivered from "the evil one" (Satan) and his snares, recognizing that we are not meant to face him alone. It’s a prayer that acknowledges our weakness and cries out for God's rescue, not just prevention.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This petition is the sixth in Jesus' model prayer, immediately following the request for daily provision and forgiveness. It's a cry for divine protection against spiritual dangers—not just outright sin, but the trials and tests that can lead us astray, and ultimately from the grip of the Evil One himself. The prayer concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's sovereign authority, power, and glory, underscoring that all these things belong to Him, from whom all help and deliverance ultimately come.
Ever feel like God is 'testing' you in ways that feel unfair or even wrong? This prayer grapples with that.
Let's look closer at what Jesus means by 'temptation'.
When Jesus says, 'lead us not into temptation,' the word 'temptation' (Greek: peirasmos) is bigger than just being lured into sin. It can mean any kind of trial, testing, or affliction that puts our faith to the test.
It's About the Test, Not Just the Temptress
Ask a follow-up
If temptation is a 'test,' then who or what is the real enemy we need saving from?
This prayer has a very specific target in mind.
The second part of the petition, 'but deliver us from evil,' zeroes in on the ultimate source of destructive temptation: Satan, the 'Evil One.'
More Than Just 'Bad Stuff'
Understand the original words
peirasmos · Greek Noun
A trial, test, or enticement to sin. It refers to situations that challenge a person’s faith or circumstances that might entice one to act against God’s will.
rhuomai · Greek Verb
To rescue or set free from danger, bondage, or the influence of the wicked one. In the context of the Lord's Prayer, it is a cry for God to protect His people from the sphere of wickedness.
ponēros · Greek Adjective/Noun
Referring to the essence of moral corruption or the personified force of wickedness (the Devil). It characterizes that which is contrary to God’s nature and destructive to human life.
This passage echoes the prayer's sentiment by highlighting how trials, when met with perseverance, can build character and spiritual maturity, showing that God uses testing for our good.
1 Corinthians 10:13It directly addresses the issue of temptation, assuring believers that God will provide a way out, which directly relates to the prayer for deliverance and not being led beyond what we can bear.
Jesus Himself models this prayer, pleading with His Father to remove the cup of suffering, demonstrating the appropriateness of asking God not to lead us into overwhelming trials, even as He submitted to God's will.
This passage speaks of the 'evil one' and how believers are born of God and protected from his influence, reinforcing the plea for deliverance from evil and the power of Satan.
Psalm 141:3-4David's prayer here shows a deep awareness of vulnerability to sin and evil, asking God to guard his heart and actions, paralleling the plea in Matthew 6 not to be led into temptation or evil deeds.
vincentMatthew 6:13: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Temptation (πειρασμόν)It is a mistake to define this word as only solicitation to evil. It means trial of any kind, without reference to its moral quality. Thus, Genesis 22:1 (Sept.), "God did tempt Abraham;" "This he said to prove him" (John 6:6); Paul and Timothy assayed to go to Bithynia (Acts 16:7); "Examine yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Her…
barnesMatthew 6:13: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
And lead us not into temptation - A petition similar to this is offered by David, Psalm 141:4 ; "Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with the workers of iniquity." God tempts no man. See James 1:13 . This phrase, then, must be used in the sense of "permitting." Do not "suffer" us, or "permit" us, to be tempted to sin. In…
This isn't just a passive plea to avoid hardship; it's an active request to be delivered from "the evil one" (Satan) and his snares, recognizing that we are not meant to face him alone. It’s a prayer that acknowledges our weakness and cries out for God's rescue, not just prevention.
This petition is the sixth in Jesus' model prayer, immediately following the request for daily provision and forgiveness. It's a cry for divine protection against spiritual dangers—not just outright sin, but the trials and tests that can lead us astray, and ultimately from the grip of the Evil One himself. The prayer concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's sovereign authority, power, and glory, underscoring that all these things belong to Him, from whom all help and deliverance ultimately come.
This petition is the sixth in Jesus' model prayer, immediately following the request for daily provision and forgiveness. It's a cry for divine protection against spiritual dangers—not just outright sin, but the trials and tests that can lead us astray, and ultimately from the grip of the Evil One himself. The prayer concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's sovereign authority, power, and glory, underscoring that all these things belong to Him, from whom all help and deliverance ultimately come.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." — This isn't just a passive plea to avoid hardship; it's an active request to be delivered from "the evil one" (Satan) and his snares, recognizing that we are not meant to face him alone. It’s a pray…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026