The first important lesson from this portion of the Lord’s Prayer is that we are to be delivered from all evil. Idolatry is evil. Lying is evil. But all evil stems from placing things before God (Deut 5:7; 6:4). God delivers us from evil by focusing us on Him.

The word “us” has been studied throughout the Lord’s Prayer. Again here it is used to remind us that deliverance is not individualistic. It is first corporate. Jesus is washing the church to be His bride (Eph 5:25-27) and this bride is made up of many members (1 Cor 12:12-13; Eph 4:4).

Peter says we’ve been ransomed by God’s blood (1 Pet 1:18-19) and escaped corruption (2 Pet 1:4). This has been done for us. And this is how God relates to us. And this is why we can be confident to pray in this way.

We have discussed that temptation is natural to fallen man and we need deliverance. When Christ taught this portion of the prayer it was not spoken in a vacuum. The history of Israel is built upon their deliverance from Egypt (Exo 6-12). Israel was delivered from their bondage to Egypt and the difficulties of their labor.

Given that those in Christ are a “new creation” (2 Cor 5:17), it is important to teach that while we pray for God’s mercy and grace we must also rely on it. This reliance can keep us from both temptation and sin.

Enjoying the blessing of God’s deliverance from temptation is only heightened by a better understanding of temptation. James’ point is that temptation is within ourselves (Jam 1:13-14). Man’s thoughts are perpetually evil (Gen 6:5; 8:21). We are continually in a state of overwhelming temptation when we depart from the grace of God.

We are to pray for this same deliverance from temptation for the entirety of the church. We are to start within our homes, into our church, throughout our denominations and eventually expanding to the church universal which is the true bride of Christ. This is how we are taught to pray.

This is the blessing of being found in God, He promises us things we do not deserve and then instructs us to pray in fulfillment of this promise. Instead of being a request that instills fear, this request of God is meant to bring hope. Those who pray in Christ’s name for His promises will receive them (John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-26).

So when we are left to our own accord temptations appear in us. And this is not uncommon to man. But God is still our deliverer (1 Cor 10:13). So this portion of the prayer is accurately a prayer of deliverance. This is how we should pray.

This petition can seem very difficult. For since “all have sinned” (Rom 3:23) there are many debtors. Many people will hurt us and take things from us. But like God’s forgiveness, our forgiveness must be unearned. Thus Paul instructs us to forgive just as Christ (Eph 4:32).

This part of the petition is difficult for some people. We are only forgiven when we forgive. Forgiving others doesn’t earn us forgiveness. But it is a sign that we have understood our forgiven state when we forgive others.

Though we know to pray for our forgiveness, it is important to full understand why. As God’s creation we are supposed to obey Him. When we don’t we “steal” His glory (Rom 3:23) by exalting ourselves.

To focus on others before ourselves is to relegate to secondary the major issue of this petition, our unmerited forgiveness. The pious sinner remains in sin when his own confession is forgotten (Luke 18:9-14). We must pray with our forgiveness first most on our hearts.

After earthly provision, Christ taught the petition of spiritual restoration. Man is to consider himself from God’s prospective: a sinner working sins (Isa 64:6; Rom 3:23). With this perspective we recognize our need for forgiveness.