~ Versus ~
Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
James 1:2 - "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." In this letter, James is addressing his “brethren,” which are the Christians to whom the letter is written. Why would James say that when we fall [Christians] into divers temptations that we should count it all joy?
The answer is in the very next verse of James 1:3,4, which says, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But, let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (KJV)” In other words, be happy because “for when the way is rough your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything (TLB).”
1 Peter 1:6-7 confirms James 1:2-4 by stating, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (KJV)” In other words, “be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here. These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure (TLB).”
Versus
Matthew 6:13 says, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." This is a part or a section of a model prayer that Jesus is teaching His disciples on how to pray. Jesus is not saying that we won’t come into temptation, because every man is tempted by his own lust. But, Jesus is saying that we should ask the Father that He should not tempt us into evil but guide us into righteousness.
Referring to this specific part of the model prayer, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary states, “We are taught to hate and dread sin while we hope for mercy, to distrust ourselves, to rely on the providence {the wisdom, care, and guidance} and grace of God to keep us from it, to be prepared to resist the tempter, and not to become tempters of others.”
Furthermore, in the book called Christian Prayer for Dummies, concerning Matthew 6:13 Richard Wagner states, “The final request Jesus includes is to ask the Lord to guide you through the narrow road of life without getting detoured into temptations brought on by the “evil one” (Satan) that take you away from Him. This passage is more than just a nice wish. God actually promises to back up that prayer with the power to resist. Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 10:13 when he writes, “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful , who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Does God tempt us? No, not like in the way of Satan. James 1:12-15 says, “God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. 14 Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. 15 These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death. (NLT)”
An example of the kind of temptations from God are:
Hebrews 11:17 - “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him (NLT).”
An example of the kind of the temptation from the devil or our flesh are:
2 Samuel 11:2-4 “ Late one afternoon David got out of bed after taking a nap and
went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he
noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out
who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the
wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent for her; and when she came to the
palace, he slept with her. (NLT)”
James is speaking of the kinds of trials that we fall into in order to build our faith. God uses us in the situations we fall into to test us. The misfortune isn't from God but it can be used by God to teach us and build our trust and faith in Him.
Matthew is speaking of the kinds of temptations that the devil or our flesh gets us into to cause us to sin.
This is why it’s important for Atheists to fully read the passages surrounding the topic. That way, the full context is understood. If you just pull one verse out of a passage without understanding the situation and circumstances, you will be misled and unintentionally deceive others with your ignorance. If you are intentionally trying to mislead people away from God and His Word, then you’re much more of a fool than I will give you credit for.
Concerning the greatest in God’s kingdom, Jesus says in Matthew 18:6, “ But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck. (NLT)” In other words, this is a warning to you people who intentionally try to cause those who believe in Christ to lose faith. If you succeed or even plant seeds of doubt, you might as well have committed suicide.
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