Pope Francis wants to revise a portion of the English version of what most of us call The Lord's Prayer.
He doesn't particularly like the phrase "lead us not into temptation," suggesting that it should be changed to "do not let us fall into temptation."
Some translations, such as the Spanish one, currently use that phrase. Pope Francis hails from Argentina where Spanish is the primary language.
As recounted in Matthew 6:9-13
Pray like this:Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need,* and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation,* but rescue us from the evil one.*
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, the so-called "Lord's Prayer" was taught by Jesus to his disciples after they asked how they should pray.
Jesus spoke in Aramaic, and his words were later translated into Greek, then other languages such as Latin and English.
The Pope is not suggesting changing the original words of Jesus.
Instead, the Pope believes the phrase "do not let us fall into temptation" is a better translation of what Jesus actually said.
The difference between the two phrases is significant.
The phrase "lead us not into temptation" suggests God tempts humans. However, in James 1:13-14
And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong,* and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
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the Bible tells us God does not tempt. "No one, when tempted, should say, 'I am being tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it."
The phrase "do not let us fall into temptation" suggests God allows us to be tempted by Satan, such as when God allowed Satan to tempt Jesus as recounted in Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil* came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,`People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'*" Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,`He will order his angels to protect you.And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'*" Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, `You must not test the LORD your God.'*" Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me." "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say,`You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'*" Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
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. It also suggests God will help us resist temptation such as in 1 Corinthians 10:13
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
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, which says, "When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
There are more than 70 million Catholics in the United States, making up roughly 22 percent of the country's population. The Pope's suggested change to The Lord's Prayer is optional. However, the Catholic Church in France already approved the clarified phrase for use.
