"The Good Life" - Week 8

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?