Why Did Jesus Teach Us to Pray, “Deliver Us from Evil”?

Jesus teaches this prayer because we are not meant to face temptation and spiritual evil in our own strength.

What Jesus means

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus first teaches us to call God “our Father,” ask for his kingdom, daily bread, and forgiveness. Then he teaches dependence in the places where we are especially vulnerable:

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).

“Evil” can mean evil generally, but the wording strongly allows—and likely points to—the evil one, Satan. Jesus is teaching us to ask God to guard us from the devil’s lies, accusations, temptations, and destructive work.

This is not fearfulness

Jesus does not tell us to pray this because God is eager to trap us. Scripture says God does not tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13).

Rather, we live in a world where temptation is real, our hearts can be weak, and evil opposes God’s good purposes. So we pray:

• that God would keep us from situations where we are likely to fall;
• that he would give us a way to endure when temptation comes;
• that he would rescue us from sin’s power and the evil one’s schemes.

God is faithful: with temptation he provides “a way of escape” so that we may endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The deeper confidence

Jesus himself faced the devil’s temptations and overcame them (Matthew 4:1–11). Through his cross and resurrection, he has decisively defeated the powers of evil, even though we still experience their opposition.

So this prayer is not, “God, I hope evil is not stronger than you.”

It is: “Father, keep me near your Son, protect me, and carry me through the battle.”