Lead Us Not Into Temptation

[CrimsonThorn]

Now I realize God gives us crosses and trials in order for us to grow and in order to test our faith and sometimes that can include spiritual dryness and allowing us to be tempted. But if we ask Him, fearfully and desperately, NOT to lead us into temptation in His own prayer, why does He continue to allow it?

 

[fred_conty]

Now I realize God gives us crosses and trials in order for us to grow and in order to test our faith and sometimes that can include spiritual dryness and allowing us to be tempted. But if we ask Him, fearfully and desperately, NOT to lead us into temptation in His own prayer, why does He continue to allow it?

First, we know that God does not tempt anyone. So “lead” dosen’t mean tempting us.

It rather means that he give us the light and strength not to fall for temptation.
The light to see temptation for what it is. And the strength to say “no”.

It has been explained, the word “lead” is from the Greek and difficult to translate into the English. So it sounds a bit clumsy in English.

 

[R_C]

Does God tempt people?

Genesis 22:1 says 'temptavit Deus Abraham", and yet James 1:13 states: “nemo cum temptatur dicat quoniam a Deo temptor Deus”, that is “Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God”. One could argue that while the same word is used, it is used with two separate meanings. For instance, in the letter to the Hebrews we read that God *tested *Abraham. And we learn from Christ to pray to God: “Lead us not into temptation.”

From Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible:

The original here is very emphatic: והאלהים נסה את אברהם vehaelohim nissah eth Abraham, “And the Elohim he tried this Abraham;” Though the word tempt, from tento, signifies no more than to prove or try, yet as it is now generally used to imply a solicitation to evil, in which way God never tempts any man, it would be well to avoid it here. The Septuagint used the word επειρασε, which signifies tried, pierced through; and Symmachus translates the Hebrew נסה nissah by εδοξαζεν, God glorified Abraham, or rendered him illustrious, supposing the word to be the same with נס nas, which signifies to glister with light, whence נס nes, an ensign or banner displayed. Thus then, according to him, the words should be understood: “God put great honor on Abraham by giving him this opportunity of showing to all successive ages the nature and efficacy of an unshaken faith in the power, goodness, and truth of God.”

From Barnes’ Notes on the Bible:

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God - See the remarks on the previous verse. The apostle here seems to have had his eye on whatever there was in trial of any kind to induce us to commit sin - whether by complaining, by murmuring, by apostacy, or by yielding to sin. So far as that was concerned, he said that no one should charge it on God. He did nothing in any way with a view to induce men to do evil.

From Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible:

Lest the former sentiment should be misapplied, as the word temptation has two grand meanings, solicitation to sin, and trial from providential situation or circumstances, James, taking up the word in the former sense, after having used it in the latter, says: Let no man say, when he is tempted, (solicited to sin), I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he (thus) any man. Thus the author has explained and guarded his meaning.

St. Thomas Aquinas had quite a lot to say on the petition of the Pater Noster “and lead us not into temptation”, as we can read f.ex. here.

 

[CrimsonThorn]

Hi guys,

I realize I’m responding a bit late to this, I’ve been busy.

Now I know God Himself would never lead anyone astray or tempt us, but what I said in my original post was that He obviously allows us to be tempted.

Now I suppose I made this thread out of frustration, because I deal with the same constant temptations day in day out, 24/7. They are tiring and I am not willing to let them keep me in sin and overwhelm me, but I feel stuck and often times confused as to my sincerity in going to Confession (which I’m about to do in a couple of minutes after I finish typing this ).

But that’s not my issue, my question is why if we ask God desperately to protect us from evil and temptations (and ask fearfully because we know what the consequences of getting caught off guard with unrepented mortal sin are), that they keep returning.

The obvious answer is that temptation will forever be with us as long as we’re alive, but that scares me. I’m scared of the bad decisions I’ve made and will make in the future. For the most part, I’m not tempted by a lot of things, but I do have a couple of weak spots that could seriously jeopardize my relationship with God. I wish God could give me the strength to resist the two temptations that I struggle with just as He’s given me the strength to resist temptation of stealing for example (it wouldn’t even be considered a temptation because it never crosses my mind) or the same disinterest I have for stealing.

 

[fred_conty]

There are three sources of temptation, the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The temptations depend on the person’s own weaknesses. As you mentioned stealing not being a weakness for you. Women are particularly prone to gossip. Men have a tendency to anger. But weaknesses may also be associated with different age groups. With teens it seems to be lying. Young girls vanity.

As dirty harry said in the movie, “a man has got to know his limitations.”

Sometimes it is greed or a “know it all”. For others alcohol, drugs, or porn.
Some are big and others small. Some are blatant and some very suttle.
It is important to p(name removed by moderator)oint what our own weaknesses are. It is easy to find out what they are, just ask your spouse or friend, they know if you don’t.

Sometimes we are blind to our own faults. Those are the ones that are hard to weed out.
For example, a person may think that they have good will toward all, yet they do not see how racially predjudice they are. They avoid being near certain types of people. They look down on the social level of some or that they are poor and beneath them. Or their next door neighbor wears a brand of clothes which we cast judgement on which is reflected in our cold attitude.

The devil will use these weaknesses against you. He has a good knowledge of human sins since he has been studying us for thousands of years. He knows all the right approaches.
How much comes for him or from other sources isn’t known. St. Thomas says that he is allowed to tempt us for two reasons: as punishment, and as a test of our love.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Aloysium]

The obvious answer is that temptation will forever be with us as long as we’re alive, but that scares me. I’m scared of the bad decisions I’ve made and will make in the future. For the most part, I’m not tempted by a lot of things, but I do have a couple of weak spots that could seriously jeopardize my relationship with God. I wish God could give me the strength to resist the two temptations that I struggle with just as He’s given me the strength to resist temptation of stealing for example (it wouldn’t even be considered a temptation because it never crosses my mind) or the same disinterest I have for stealing.

you’re in good company: Rom 7:15 “For that which I work, I understand not. For I do not that good which I will; but the evil which I hate, that I do.”

Interestingly, if these temptations were gone, you would be more self-sufficient, and likely unaware of your need for God.

Your prayers are being heard. I imagine that you will grow in love, and that it will be your source of strength to beat this.

 

[Zairra]

I wish God could give me the strength to resist

The devil will use these weaknesses against you.

These two quotes combined give me an impression of a very small kitten with a very big megalomania. Is it possible that no devil is needed for a man to act like a fool? Is it possible that it is in man’s power not to do what he doesn’t want to do? I’ve never seen this before and it amazes me greatly to see that you blame all your soul’s movements on higher powers. There are no temptations outside of your imagination; you’ve created them and it’s quite in your power to defeat them. I cannot understand your position and your need to involve anything or anyone other than yourself. Watch yourself and don’t be a rag doll; there’s nothing else in it.

 

[fred_conty]

These two quotes combined give me an impression of a very small kitten with a very big megalomania. Is it possible that no devil is needed for a man to act like a fool? Is it possible that it is in man’s power not to do what he doesn’t want to do? I’ve never seen this before and it amazes me greatly to see that you blame all your soul’s movements on higher powers. There are no temptations outside of your imagination; you’ve created them and it’s quite in your power to defeat them. I cannot understand your position and your need to involve anything or anyone other than yourself. Watch yourself and don’t be a rag doll; there’s nothing else in it.

I can appreciate your point of view since your only foundation is logic or that which can be seen. But there have been incidents where the devil has been quite apparent in people’s lives.
Here is one.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=296633
One friend told me that she left the church for a time and really “pushed the envelope” with her bad ways. I asked her what brought her back and , her very words, “The devil!” She says that
while she was driving, he told her that he was pleased with her. I think she said it was like a vision, (sorry, it’s been awhile since she told me), It scared her so badly, she almost had a wreck. When she stopped the car, she was in front of a Catholic Church and it was time for confessions!!

And here is another that may tickle your imagination.
Evidence of satan in the modern world
ewtn.com/library/NEWAGE/EVIDSATN.HTM

 

[CrimsonThorn]

These two quotes combined give me an impression of a very small kitten with a very big megalomania. Is it possible that no devil is needed for a man to act like a fool? Is it possible that it is in man’s power not to do what he doesn’t want to do? I’ve never seen this before and it amazes me greatly to see that you blame all your soul’s movements on higher powers. There are no temptations outside of your imagination; you’ve created them and it’s quite in your power to defeat them. I cannot understand your position and your need to involve anything or anyone other than yourself. Watch yourself and don’t be a rag doll; there’s nothing else in it.

Hi,

For the most part I think I can agree with your statement, because I’m not trying to blame anything at all on the devil or on God or on anyone else. As fred_conty stated, a source of temptation can be The Flesh, which is ourselves. I have admitted that I fall to my temptations by my own decision and I’m tired of doing so. I’ve tried for many years and I, myself, am not strong enough to overcome this all on my own. Sometimes a man cannot get himself out of a situation he’s created for himself, such as with addiction for example. One needs help outside of himself, and in this case I need God’s help and His strength just as he’s provided it to me in other areas of my life.

 

[CrimsonThorn]

Thanks for your response. This makes me feel a little better, but at the same time raises more questions for me in my mind.

you’re in good company: Rom 7:15 “For that which I work, I understand not. For I do not that good which I will; but the evil which I hate, that I do.”

Interestingly, if these temptations were gone, you would be more self-sufficient, and likely unaware of your need for God.

I’m scared that if these temptations persist and at least do not decrease in strength, that I may slip completely out of grace and possibly into my old ways again by my own decison of course, but that goes to show you that I do not trust myself or my choices. I don’t imagine that I could ever do that to that extent again, but I don’t want to take a chance and find out either. And furthermore, I don’t want to keep offending God anymore for the sake or risk of not being self-sufficient while I’m waiting to be freed from these temptations and sins.

I

 

[Aloysium]

God is compassion,
He knows your struggles,
He’s on your side

it’s enough to get through each day; the future will be what it will be

i don’t know if any of this applies:

• if this trouble is one of those that benefits form peer support, you want to look into that
  sharing with ppl that know what it is like and having someone to call when you are slipping, helps
• it is very difficult to give up something one really really wants
  it can feel like one is split in two
  bringing God in to help, will make you whole