Matthew 6:13 is a prayer request. Jesus teaches his followers to ask God to keep them from being led into temptation and to rescue them from the evil one, then to close by praising God as the one who holds the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. It was spoken by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount, as part of the model prayer he gave to his disciples.
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
Matthew 6:13 (WEB)
What Matthew 6:13 Means
The first petition, “Bring us not into temptation,” asks God not to place us in situations where we would be pulled toward sin beyond what we can bear. The wording does not suggest God tempts anyone. The New Testament elsewhere says God does not tempt people to evil (James 1:13). Instead, the prayer acknowledges that we are weak and that the path ahead can contain traps, and it asks God to steer us clear of them.
The second petition, “deliver us from the evil one,” moves from temptation to its source. The phrase points to the evil one, a personal opponent of God and of God’s people, often identified with Satan. Here we ask for rescue, not merely for strength to endure. The request is about being protected and set free, which is an act of God’s power on our behalf.
The closing words, “For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever,” are a doxology. They do not add a new request. They root the whole prayer in God’s ownership of all things. We can ask for protection because the one we are asking reigns, is able, and is worthy of honor. The verse promises that God is trustworthy and powerful, but it does not promise that believers will never face temptation or hardship.
The Context of Matthew 6:13
Matthew’s Gospel was written for a community of Jewish-background Christians who needed to understand Jesus as the promised Messiah and the authoritative teacher of God’s kingdom. Matthew’s book is traditionally attributed to the apostle Matthew, a former tax collector called by Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount, of which this prayer is part, presents Jesus as the one who teaches a deeper righteousness centered on the heart.
Just before verse 13, Jesus asks God to bring about his kingdom and will, and to provide daily bread and forgiveness of debts. Immediately after, he explains that our forgiveness from the Father is tied to our forgiving others. Read this way, the request to avoid temptation and be delivered from evil sits within a prayer that is about dependence, daily need, and reconciliation. The petition is not a stand-alone wish for an easy life; it is part of a life oriented toward God’s rule.
Key Phrases in Matthew 6:13
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
(WEB)
This verse assures believers that no temptation is beyond what others have faced and that God provides a way out. It pairs naturally with the petition not to be led into temptation, showing that God is faithful to protect and provide an escape when we ask.
Psalm 121:7
The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.
(WEB)
This psalm describes the Lord as a keeper who guards his people from all harm. Reading it alongside Matthew 6:13 reinforces the picture of God as the one who preserves us from evil and watches over our lives.
A Short Prayer From Matthew 6:13
Lord, you know how easily I wander toward what harms me. Please keep me from situations where my weakness would be too much for me, and guide my steps away from temptation. When evil comes near, rescue me from its grip and give me the courage to turn to you quickly. I trust that your kingdom, your power, and your glory are greater than anything I face today. Thank you for being faithful when I am not. Amen.
