Luke 11:4, commentary and pictures

This prayer teaches those who say it to ask God to pardon their wrongs as they pardon all who have wronged them, and to ask Him for protection from temptation and rescue from evil.
God's pardon can only be received by those who forgive others, for an unforgiving spirit shuts the heart against His mercy, so even deep injuries must not be clung to but pardoned as pardon is hoped for.
The wronged need not wait for confession or repentance before showing compassion and forgiving, since repentance remains the offender's own responsibility.
The plea for guidance away from temptation does not mean that God leads people into temptation, but acknowledges that He may permit testing by Satan, which those who trust in their own strength will fail while those who admit helplessness and trust wholly in Him will be given a way of escape.
That prayer must be joined with watchful action, for it gives no excuse for running into danger, but calls for shunning tempting company, removing stumbling blocks, and seeking Christ's strength and defense through obedience to His word.

Setting and Form of Prayer

Jesus gave this prayer after He had been praying in a certain place, when one of His disciples said, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples, and Jesus answered, When ye pray, say. It was given in response to the disciples' request for instruction in prayer. It speaks directly to the soul's necessities and daily needs, and each person may also bring personal needs and thanks to God.

It repeats a prayer Jesus had already taught the multitude. It was a prayer whose depth of meaning the disciples had not yet fully understood.

It is short and expressed in simple, direct words rather than high-flown or elaborate language, dealing directly with the soul's daily needs. It is a model for prayer rather than a form to merely repeat, illustrating what prayer should be — simple, earnest, and comprehensive. Family prayers should likewise express needs and gratitude to God.

It is a concise, brief yet comprehensive pattern for public and assembled prayer rather than lengthy prayers that tire listeners. Prayers in small assemblies should be short, direct, and to the point, asking God's blessing on those assembled then and there and not ranging all over the world. Approach to God in public means coming in sore need, telling Him just what is needed then and there, and trusting the heavenly Father just as a child trusts its earthly parents. The full burden of the heart belongs in private closet prayer alone with God. Bringing long, wandering, sermon-like, oratorical prayers that preach to God into the assembly is out of place, kills interest, and makes the meeting tedious.

It is to be prayed daily and lived out throughout the day. Its principles are the foundation of right action, and carrying them out makes people receptive to God's control and guidance. It is a lesson of highest value to be studied through the day, added to every prayer, and answered by good works. Repeating it must be joined to daily effort to live by it through cleansing of soul, examination of conscience, and a clear mind to distinguish good from evil, so that the Holy Spirit renews mind and heart and gives strength for high and holy purposes.

It embraces everything for the inhabitants of the earth. Christ tells people to call upon Him, so this prayer is a fitting way to do so in times of need.

Forgive Us Our Sins

The petition teaches those who pray to ask God to forgive their sins while they themselves forgive everyone indebted to them. Its words carry deep meaning, and it illustrates what prayer should be — simple, earnest, and comprehensive — rather than a form merely to be repeated. It also joins that plea for pardon to asking not to be led into temptation and to be delivered from evil.

Receiving God's forgiveness is bound up with forgiving others, for God's love draws people to Him and when it touches the heart creates love for others. An unforgiving spirit closes the heart and cuts off the channel through which God's mercy is received. However deeply others have wounded them, believers must not cling to grievances or dwell on injuries, but are to pardon others as they hope God will pardon their offenses. One who has been injured need not wait for the offender to confess or repent before showing compassion and forgiving, since confession and repentance are the offender's responsibility.

The petition teaches confession of sins to God and claiming His mercy according to His promise. Prayer is not to be for self alone but must include others, for calling God our Father recognizes all people as members of one family, so petitions for blessing should embrace neighbors as well as the one who prays. Its appeal for forgiveness stands connected with forgiveness through Christ, not with pardon purchased with money, for Christ is the propitiation and deliverer and sin is to be condemned. Exposition of this prayer was circulated among ordinary people as a means of spreading religious light.

Lead Us Not into Temptation

The verse teaches believers to ask God for protection from temptation and for deliverance from evil. Its words carry deep meaning. The petition does not mean that the Lord leads people into temptation. A person who trusts God is given clear discernment and stays alert against danger. Criticism, resentment, and refusal to accept correction can place a person in the path of Satan's temptations, not because God led that person there but because the person chose the channel of darkness.

Asking not to be led into temptation means recognizing that God may allow Satan to test His children. Those who rely on their own strength will fail, but those who admit helplessness and trust wholly in God will be given a way to escape. Even when danger and corrupting influences cannot be avoided, dependence on God leads to continual prayer for strength to resist and grace to overcome, and such conflicts strengthen the soul for more severe trials. Temptation is permitted as a trial that prepares believers to resist evil, and God overrules Satan's schemes for His purposes. Believers are never safe from Satan's snares without prayer and must pray continually for God's protection in reliance on Him.

Praying not to be led into temptation must be joined with guarding one's own steps and actively shunning temptation as far as possible, for the prayer does not excuse exposure to temptation. Success comes through Christ's grace and obedience to His word as believers seek His strength and defense. They are to remove stumbling blocks that bring sorrow to themselves and others. This includes avoiding company that draws them away from God. The prayer not to enter temptation and to be delivered from evil is especially needed when Satan draws people step by step toward sin by making worldly desires attractive, while appetite and passion press for gratification and reason and conscience warn against it.