Pray That You May Not Enter Temptation

"Pray that you may not enter temptation"
Luke 22:40, 46

The account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is familiar to most Christians and we often hear messages from the passage. As I read these verses I’m impressed that the book of Luke begins and ends this story with the phrase "Pray that you may not enter temptation." When something is repeated it is an indication of its importance

Reading the passage in Luke it is easy to interpret that as indicating that we should pray for protection against temptation, or that we would not be tempted. I don’t disagree that it is appropriate for us to ask for protection against temptation but Matthew and Mark quote this passage slightly differently. Matthew 26:41 says "Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Notice there is a comma after the word "praying". G. Campbell Morgan takes that comma as being very significant and explains that what is really meant is that the activity of prayer and worship will keep us from temptation.

We can interpret that statement in a couple of ways. One way is that an active and vibrant prayer life will greatly help us avoid temptation because that lifestyle is an indication that we are walking in a close relationship with the Lord. Another interpretation is that if we are engaged in prayer (or worship) we are less likely to sin. The Luke passage could indicate that if we are exposed to sin we should immediately ask God to keep us from entering it.

Jesus knew that the disciples, and all Christians, are going to face temptation. He wanted us to expect it and be prepared for it. Satan knows that if he can get us to yield to temptation our relationship with our Savior will be negatively impacted and our witness to the world will be less effective. It is critical that we also recognize that and be prepared to deal with it. Temptation itself is not sin; yielding to it is. The best way we can face temptation is to turn toward Christ.