Week 8 - Matthew 6:13b
"...But deliver us from the evil one."
Well, we've come to the end of the Lord's Prayer. We've learned to live by this prayer. It's a prayer that petitions and commands God's will to earth as it is in heaven. It's a prayer that glorifies God and humbly confesses our weakness.
This final phrase leads to a couple of common questions.
-Should the phrase be translated "deliver us from evil" or "deliver us from the evil one?" That's quite a difference and the Greek is not clear on its own.
-Why do most modern translations remove "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."?
Ultimately, these questions aren't faith altering. Many Christians aren't aware of how difficult translation and textual criticism truly is. There are dozens of verses that are hotly debated by scholars. The great thing is that none of these variances have anything to do with the core of the gospel. The gospel has been clearly handed down. Don't let these questions ruin your faith!
A study of the Evil One is also an interesting study throughout Scripture. There seems to be some movement between the Old Testament and New Testament on how people thought about evil and the source of it. But there is certainly not enough space here to discuss all of these issues.
So, let's get to the questions.
As you dwell in Matthew 6:13b, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Should we pray for God to deliver us from evil generally or deliver us from the evil one? Which seems to make the most sense in light of Scripture?
2) Read Matthew 4:1-11. How was Jesus' prayer already answered during his time of temptation in the desert?
3) Read Ephesians 6:10-13. How do these verses change our perspective about our true enemy? What other parts of the Sermon on the Mount might become easier if we come to a clearer understanding of these verses?
4) In what areas of your life do you need God's deliverance to show up most today?
5) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 7
Week 7 - Matthew 6:13a
"And do not lead us into temptation..."
Now, this passage makes you ask all kinds of crazy questions.
-"Wait, God can lead us into temptation?"
-"Are we powerless if God puts temptation in front of us?"
-"Does God's sovereignty include this?"
The first thing I did was go to the Greek to try to prove there all of our English bibles somehow blew this translation. No luck so far.
Then I thought, "Should this passage be preached without the second half of the verse? Maybe it makes sense in the context of its parallel."
I'll be struggling until Sunday (and long after) with these questions.
But as we've seen throughout the Lord's Prayer, we are not taught to pray this prayer without follow up action. We don't pray the Lord's Prayer when we get to the end of ourselves. We pray this prayer as a call to enlistment in God's kingdom dream for the world.
So, we don't merely pray for God to keep us from temptation. We must also do our part in not walking into situations that clearly will tempt us. Too many times we blame God for problems that he couldn't help. He doesn't override our will to sin.
As you dwell in Matthew 6:13a, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) What are God's promises related to temptation? (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; 2 Corinthians 12)
2) Is there any connection between this prayer and examples of God hardening Pharaoh's heart in the book of Exodus? (Also, see Hebrews 3:12-13)
3) What are some areas of temptation in your life that you should be diligent to stay away from as you pray this prayer for God's help?
4) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
"The Good life" - Week 6
Week 6 - Matthew 6:12, 14-15
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
Forgiveness is so easy in theory, but so incredibly difficult in practice.
If you find forgiveness easy, then get down on your knees and thank God that great hurt has not been introduced into your life.
I hear many people say, "My bad," but I hear few people in our culture asking and giving forgiveness. Which can only mean that true forgiveness is one of the most countercultural traits we could model on behalf of the world.
The world knows revenge. The world knows broken relationships. The world knows warfare. The world has even lost the language of reconciliation and forgiveness.
And if there is any question about the importance of forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer, continue reading in verses 14-15.
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
That pretty much sums it up. Forgiveness isn't an option. It's demanded of every Christ-follower.
As you dwell in Matthew 6:12, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Is forgiveness a salvation issue? What do verses 14-15 add to our interpretation?
2) What parables of Jesus remind you most of what a kingdom outlook on forgiveness looks like?
3) What is involved in forgiveness? Is forgiveness forgetting past wrongs done to you? Is forgiveness looking sins in the eye and naming them?
4) Think of a person whom you need to forgive? What makes it so hard for you to forgive him/her? What would you lose if you were to forgive him/her for what they have done to you?
5) How does an unwillingness to forgive affect us?
6) Are you willing to offer forgiveness to someone in your life who needs it? What actions will you take this week to show forgiveness to others?
7) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
Forgiveness is so easy in theory, but so incredibly difficult in practice.
If you find forgiveness easy, then get down on your knees and thank God that great hurt has not been introduced into your life.
I hear many people say, "My bad," but I hear few people in our culture asking and giving forgiveness. Which can only mean that true forgiveness is one of the most countercultural traits we could model on behalf of the world.
The world knows revenge. The world knows broken relationships. The world knows warfare. The world has even lost the language of reconciliation and forgiveness.
And if there is any question about the importance of forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer, continue reading in verses 14-15.
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
That pretty much sums it up. Forgiveness isn't an option. It's demanded of every Christ-follower.
As you dwell in Matthew 6:12, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Is forgiveness a salvation issue? What do verses 14-15 add to our interpretation?
2) What parables of Jesus remind you most of what a kingdom outlook on forgiveness looks like?
3) What is involved in forgiveness? Is forgiveness forgetting past wrongs done to you? Is forgiveness looking sins in the eye and naming them?
4) Think of a person whom you need to forgive? What makes it so hard for you to forgive him/her? What would you lose if you were to forgive him/her for what they have done to you?
5) How does an unwillingness to forgive affect us?
6) Are you willing to offer forgiveness to someone in your life who needs it? What actions will you take this week to show forgiveness to others?
7) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 5
Week 5 - Matthew 6:11
"Give us this day our daily bread."
My prayers don't usually sound like that. I don't know about yours.
Mine are usually a bit more...more...bold.
"God, don't leave us here in want. Give us more than we can ask or imagine."
"Father, we're expecting big things! We know you are a God who does the impossible."
"Lord, break open the storehouses of heaven and make it abundantly clear you are active."
Matthew 6:11 seems like a minimalist prayer. Just today, provide. Tomorrow will have enough trouble of its own. So, give us ENOUGH for today.
Scarcity and fear are two narratives in our culture that leave us feeling helpless.
But let's remember, scarcity isn't God's problem. It's ours. He created abundance. We created scarcity through our storehouses and greed. Perhaps there is a bit of action that we commit to when we pray this prayer.
As you dwell in Matthew 6:11, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) For a people who know where tomorrow's meal is already coming from, how do we, as Americans, pray this prayer?
2) Is this request a spiritual request? A physical request? How does our situation cause us to interpret this prayer?
3) Think of all of the uses of bread as a symbol throughout Scripture. How is this image used explained further by the rest of the Bible?
4) What are the pronouns "us" and "our" referring to? How broad is this request? How do these pronouns demand our participation?
5) Read Proverbs 30:8-9. How does this proverb further prompt us to pray in relation to Matthew 6:11?
6) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
"Give us this day our daily bread."
My prayers don't usually sound like that. I don't know about yours.
Mine are usually a bit more...more...bold.
"God, don't leave us here in want. Give us more than we can ask or imagine."
"Father, we're expecting big things! We know you are a God who does the impossible."
"Lord, break open the storehouses of heaven and make it abundantly clear you are active."
Matthew 6:11 seems like a minimalist prayer. Just today, provide. Tomorrow will have enough trouble of its own. So, give us ENOUGH for today.
Scarcity and fear are two narratives in our culture that leave us feeling helpless.
But let's remember, scarcity isn't God's problem. It's ours. He created abundance. We created scarcity through our storehouses and greed. Perhaps there is a bit of action that we commit to when we pray this prayer.
As you dwell in Matthew 6:11, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) For a people who know where tomorrow's meal is already coming from, how do we, as Americans, pray this prayer?
2) Is this request a spiritual request? A physical request? How does our situation cause us to interpret this prayer?
3) Think of all of the uses of bread as a symbol throughout Scripture. How is this image used explained further by the rest of the Bible?
4) What are the pronouns "us" and "our" referring to? How broad is this request? How do these pronouns demand our participation?
5) Read Proverbs 30:8-9. How does this proverb further prompt us to pray in relation to Matthew 6:11?
6) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
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