Before I get into the main subject, you need to know something important about the Lord's Prayer. Here it is as many of us memorized it in the King James Version (KJV):
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
How many of you know that the last phrase, underlined for you, is not in the Alexandrian Greek texts, older Greek Byzantine texts, nor the original Hebrew (yes, 30 distinct copies of the Hebrew have been found)? Also note that it was not added to the version in Luke 11.
In some newer translations (see the New American Standard and the Holman Christian Standard) the added phrase is not there or is shown in brackets with notation that the words were are added later.
Why do you think those words were added? I have an answer for you! Let's back up two verses and dissect it a little using the NAS version:
And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Matthew 6:7-8 NAS
Are we totally blind? Didn't He just tell us not to use vain (KJV), meaningless (NAS) repetition in the previous sentence? Then He gives us a prayer 'outline' to model our prayers after saying...
Pray, then, in this way:
Matthew 6:9 NAS
Did he say repeat after me? No! He did not intend us to repeat the exact prayer over and over! Can I say this any stronger!
So why were those words added to the end? Because carnal man's need for 'religion' and works is so strong that someone dared add to the words of God in order to turn it into a liturgy - in the face of the command preceding it!
Let's do ourselves a favor. When asked to recite the prayer in public, don't let it be a meaningless repetition. Change the words a little. Make it personal. If you're shy, whisper it. If you're a rebel against false tradition like me, say it loudly and make folks wonder what you're doing. They may ask, giving you a great opportunity for edification or witness.
Continuing with the body of the model prayer with some Greek words inserted:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead [Eisphero] us into temptation [Peirasmon], but deliver [Rhysai] us from [Apo] {the} evil [Ponerou].
Matthew 6:9-13
If your Bible version translated it as 'from the evil one' - this is incorrect! The word 'one' is NOT in any Greek text!
If your version translated it as 'from evil' - that is also incorrect, because there IS 'definitely' a 'the' in the Greek (sorry for the pun).
Furthermore, 'Ponerou' is singular and in the nominative case denoting a name of a thing, as in 'THE Evil'. But what is this 'Evil' thing?
Here is verse 13 again, but this time I have substituted the English and Greek words with the literal word translations in red:
And do not carry-into us into the proving-trial, but snatch-out-(for-yourelf) us away-from THE perilous-time.
Matthew 6:13
It is my belief that this important, last in sequence, sentence of the model prayer that Jesus gave us is to pray that we would escape the Tribulation via the Rapture! This also harmonizes with other verses that tell an uncomfortable truth, that not all who call themselves Christians will be taken!
Therefore, watch and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:36
The literal version of verse 13 above is quite different from what tradition has given us! Why? Because without the knowledge of the rapture it doesn't make sense so they changed it to something that fits their understanding.
Are there any reasons why it should not be translated as it is traditionally? Consider these verses:
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt any man.
James 1:13
Giving thanks to the Father... who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Colossians 1:12a,13
Why would Jesus tell us to pray to not be tempted by God, something He would never do? Why would he tell us to pray for deliverance, something that He has already done? Why would they translate this to mean something that elsewhere is shown to be completely wrong?
It is because translators try their best to make things sensible to their knowledge, often presumptively changing the message from its literal meaning, not realizing that the message could be for a future time when it would be understood.
Call it what you will; the Harpazo, the Natsal, the Great Snatch, or the Rapture - it is a very radical idea! Even those of us who believe it have a hard time wrapping our heads around the enormity of the miracle.
So - how should it be translated? Let me offer my word-for-word, amplified translation:
And do not bring us into the proving trial, but snatch us for yourself away from that perilous time.
Matthew 6:13
If you arrived here from a link, click here for the chapter index.