Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Scripture Overview Anticipating the season of Lent, the testing of Jesus in the wilderness takes center stage. The story of Jesus’ temptation and the accompanying texts often set the tone for this season in which we reflect on areas of our lives where we are tempted to place our desires over God’s. We are invited to imagine what difference it makes that Jesus himself was tempted and consider how our own times of testing manifest in our lives of faith. The Genesis texts, frequently referred to as “The Fall” or “The First Sin,” point to the beginning of sin entering the human story. In the passage from Romans, Paul tackles the relationship between our sin and Jesus’ death and resurrection. The psalmist speaks to the importance of the confession of sins. Jesus’ model of prayer to not be led into temptation (Matt. 6:13) becomes a daily discipline for our journey through Lent.

Read Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7. Which commands of God do you find particularly difficult to follow? Why do you think Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation to disobey God?
Read Psalm 32. Remember a time when you were forgiven, or forgave someone, for a transgression. What did that forgiveness feel like?
Read Romans 5:12-19. How do you understand the differences Paul draws between Adam and Christ? How do those differences relate to your own experiences of having your sins forgiven?
Read Matthew 4:1-11. How does Jesus’ experience of temptation help you take comfort or make you question your ability to resist temptation?