Midweek Musing- July 9, 2025

The Sixth Musing in a Series on the Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:13b – “But deliver us from evil.”

A few years ago, I had a truly “evil” encounter. And by evil, I mean the moment I opened the pantry looking for a snack and realized that someone—likely one of my beloved daughters, who shall remain nameless—had finished the last pack of Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pies and left the empty box sitting on the shelf like some cruel joke.

Now, I know that’s not actual evil. But in that moment, you’d have thought I’d found a den of thieves instead of an empty wrapper.

Of course, if you take time to think about it. We use the word "evil" for a lot of things. We talk about “evil storms,” “evil traffic,” evil groups or persons,” or “evil villains” in movies. But this is not what Jesus is talking about here.

Indeed, in this short but powerful statement we find in the Lord’s Prayer — “but deliver us from evil” — Jesus is pointing to something far more serious than lost snacks or cartoon villains.

Our Lord is pointing to the real presence of evil in the world: the kind that tears apart communities, breaks hearts, poisons relationship, sows discord, creates conditions for violence to flourish, and leaves people feeling trapped, broken, or alone.

But the good news is Jesus is teaching us that God hears us when we cry out against it

Once again to my old college professor’s delight I am returning to the original text.

The actuals Greek phrase Jesus uses is ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ (alla rhysai hēmas apo tou ponērou). It literally means:

“But rescue us from the evil.”

That word ῥῦσαι (rhysai) is strong—it is actually defined as “to snatch away;” “to pull out of danger.”

This word is not a polite request. It’s a desperate cry—like someone clinging to a lifeguard in the ocean after a boat has capsized in the middle of the ocean.

And ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ (apo tou ponērou)? Well, I believe this phrase is intentionally broad. It can mean:

“Evil” in general or “The Evil One” (the personification of evil, like we call Satan)

Indeed, if I understand the text Jesus leaves it open on purpose—because I believe he recognizes that evil is both out there in the world, and in here in our hearts and even in our social, political, and economic systems.

Friends, sometimes evil is personal. Sometimes it’s societal. And sometimes it’s both.

To fully grasp the weight of Jesus’ words, we also need to remember what ‘evil’ looked like in his time.

Because to Jesus’s original hearers, evil wasn’t a vague spiritual concept—it was blatant, ever-present, and multi-layered. Here are just a few of them:

Political evil: The Roman Empire ruled with harsh violence and cruelty. Crosses often lined the roads. Injustice was normal.

Religious corruption: Some temple authorities colluded with Rome. Others added crushing burdens to already-struggling people.

Spiritual oppression: Demon possession and cosmic spiritual forces weren’t metaphorical; they were seen as real threats.We now know many of these demons were medical conditions; but in that time which did not have such knowledge, such conditions certainly seemed evil. And even now I can only describe things like cancer and pandemics and such evil even if we can explain some of the science behind them.

Socioeconomic evil: Debt slavery, unjust taxation, and land seizure devastated families.

So, when Jesus teaches this prayer, he’s speaking to people who knew firsthand what it felt like.

Therefore, this petition to God Is not just a request for inner peace—it’s a cry for freedom and liberation from all that divides, wounds, corrupts, deceives, and destroys.

It is also important to understand that this cry for deliverance is found throughout the history of the Hebrew people. It is clear from these words as well as the entirety of this prayer Jesus was well versed in both the Psalms as well as the words of the prophets. Indeed, both the Psalms and prophets would often cry out for deliverance and justice from evil

For example, Psalm 23:4 states, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Friends that statement is not about avoiding evil; it’s about having courage in the face of evil because we know God is with us.  Jesus echoes that truth when he invites us to cry for deliverance—not because evil isn’t real, but because God is more real.

And verse 7 of the 121^st Psalm declares, “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”

Additionally, the Psalmist provides encouragement by reminding us of the promise that deliverance assured because God is good and faithful.

Psalm 34:17 assures us that, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

The verb in this verse we translate as deliver is the Hebrew word that is the equivalent of Jesus's Greek verb rhysai. It is that same action of pulling to safety.

Jesus is sharing the same profound understanding in this prayer which goes back to the very foundation of humanity’s relationship with humanity which is that God promises to rescue.

Friends, Jesus knew what evil looked like. He didn’t preach about it from a safe distance. He walked into it. He stood in its path. He absorbed its blows. And in the end, he broke its power—not with violence, but with sacrificial love.

So, when we pray “deliver us from evil,” we are not clutching a last resort. We are placing our lives in the hands of the Rescuer who has already overcome.

Of course, evil today isn’t always obvious.

Sometimes evil comes as bombs and injustice.

Sometimes as shame and lies.

Sometimes as the voice that says you’ll never be good enough.

Sometimes as a system that keeps certain people poor while others prosper without blinking.

That’s why this line in the Lord’s Prayer still matters. Because evil hasn’t gone away nor has our need to be rescued from it.

Because this is the truth of our broken world we must pray this petition with boldness. But also, with vulnerability. And perhaps most importantly with trust.

Now I tried to rewrite everything that this little phrase means and I finally had to stop before it became way, way too long instead of just too long. So here it is.

“God, deliver us from the evil we see and the evil we’ve stopped seeing.

Rescue us from apathy, from fear, from anything that pulls us from your love.

Stand with us in the struggle to do that which we are called to do.

Deliver us into your justice, your peace, so that we might live in the beloved kingdom.”

Yes, it is far too long.

But you see when we say, “deliver us from evil,” we are not just praying to get through the day.

We are praying to live as people of liberation, courage, and hope—trusting the One who leads us through shadowy valleys, breaks the power of death and darkness, restores and reconciles brokenness, and calls us to shine the light of hope and love into this world.

May we indeed seek to live in light of the belief God hears and answers this prayer.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Alleluia. Amen.