The Lord's Prayer

When we say: “Deliver us from evil,” we admonish ourselves to consider that we are not yet enjoying that good estate in which we shall experience no evil. And this petition, which stands last in the Lord’s Prayer, is so comprehensive that a Christian, in whatsoever affliction he be placed, may in using it give utterance to his groans and find vent for his tears — may begin with this petition, go on with it, and with it conclude his prayer. For it was necessary that by the use of these words the things which they signify should be kept before our memory.

Whether by the term evil we understand the devil or sin, is not of the least consequence. Satan is indeed the very enemy who lays snares for our life, but it is by sin that he is armed for our destruction. Our petition, therefore, is, that we may not be overcome or overwhelmed with temptation, but in the strength of the Lord may stand firm against all the powers by which we are assailed; in other words, may not fall under temptation: that being thus taken under his charge and protection, we may remain invincible by sin, death, the gates of hell, and the whole power of the devil; in other words, be delivered from evil. Here it is carefully to be observed, that we have no strength to contend with such a combatant as the devil, or to sustain the violence of his assault. Were it otherwise, it would be mockery of God to ask of him what we already possess in ourselves. Assuredly those who in self-confidence prepare for such a fight, do not understand how bold and well-equipped the enemy is with whom they have to do. Now we ask to be delivered from his power, as from the mouth of some furious raging lion, who would instantly tear us with his teeth and claws, and swallow us up, did not the Lord rescue us from the midst of death; at the same time knowing that if the Lord is present and will fight for us while we stand by, through him “we shall do valiantly,” (Ps. 60:12). Let others if they will confide in the powers and re- sources of their free will which they think they possess; enough for us that we stand and are strong in the power of God alone.

And here He calls the devil "the wicked one," commanding us to wage war against him without possibility of truce. He also implies that the devil is not wicked by nature. For wickedness is not from nature but from our own choice. And so the devil is called the preeminent wicked one, because of the excess of his wickedness, and because he wages against us endless war and we cannot injure him. Therefore he did not say, "deliver us from the wicked ones," but, "from the wicked one;" instructing us not to entertain displeasure against our neighbors for any wrongs they do to us, but to transfer our enmity from them to Satan who is himself the cause of all our wrongs.

The conclusion of the prayer is a brief clause, which comprehensively sums up all our petitions and our prayers: “But deliver us from evil.” This describes all the evil things which the enemy attempts to do against us in this world, and against which God will faithfully and surely protect us who pray for his help. And once we have asked for God's protection against evil, and have obtained it, then we stand secure and safe against everything which the devil and the world tries to do against us. After this there is nothing more for which we need to ask. For the man who is guarded by God, there is nothing at all to fear in this life.

113] In the Greek text this petition reads thus: Deliver or preserve us from the Evil One, or the Malicious One; and it looks as if He were speaking of the devil, as though He would comprehend everything in one, so that the entire substance of all our prayer is directed against our chief enemy. For it is he who hinders among us everything that we pray for: the name or honor of God, God's kingdom and will, our daily bread, a cheerful good conscience, etc. 

114] Therefore we finally sum it all up and say: Dear Father, pray, help that we be rid of all these calamities. 115] But there is nevertheless also included whatever evil may happen to us under the devil's kingdom-poverty, shame, death, and, in short, all the agonizing misery and heartache of which there is such an unnumbered multitude on the earth. For since the devil is not only a liar, but also a murderer, he constantly seeks our life, and wreaks his anger whenever he can afflict our bodies with misfortune and harm. Hence it comes that he often breaks men's necks or drives them to insanity, drowns some, and incites many to commit suicide, and to many other terrible calamities. 116] Therefore there is nothing for us to do upon earth but to pray against this arch-enemy without ceasing. For unless God preserved us, we would not be safe from him even for an hour. 

117] Hence you see again how God wishes us to pray to Him also for all the things which affect our bodily interests, so that we seek and expect help nowhere else except in Him. 118] But this matter He has put last; for if we are to be preserved and delivered from all evil, the name of God must first be hallowed in us, His kingdom must be with us, and His will be done. After that He will finally preserve us from sin and shame, and, besides, from everything that may hurt or injure us.

The Seventh Petition. But deliver us from evil. What does this mean?--Answer. We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven. Amen. What does this mean?--Answer. That I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and heard; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray, and has promised that He will hear us. Amen, Amen; that is, Yea, yea, it shall be so.

"But deliver us from evil." This means, deliver us from the “evil one," who is unquestionably Satan, who is called the prince and god of this world. He who works powerfully in the children of disobedience, but all who are the children of God by faith are delivered out of his hands. He will fight against them, but he cannot conquer them unless they betray their own souls. He may torment them for a time, but he cannot destroy them, because God is on their side, and God will not fail to "avenge his own elect, that cry unto him day and night" in the end. 

Lord, when we are tempted, do not allow us to enter into temptation! Make a way for us to escape, that the wicked one may not touch us!