I take to be tempted' as being presentation of inducement to sin. I take to enter into temptation' as the further step of consenting to it.
Perhaps there may be hovering in the words of the petition a half-conscious allusion to a captive being led into a prison.
What we should chiefly desire is that God would lead us not into, but through and out of, temptation.
To pray simply for exemption from trial is--
1. To Ask What Is Impossible.
All scenes of life, all stages, both sexes, all relations, all professions, are and ever will be full of inducements to sin.
Whether any given circumstance will tempt you or not depends on what you are. If there is nothing adhesive on you, it will not stick.
2. To Ask What Would Not Be For Our Good.
Effect of conquered temptation on the Christian life. Effect on character. The old belief that the strength of a slain enemy passed into his slayer is true in regard to a Christian's overcome temptations.
Effect on grasp of truth.Effect on consciousness of relation to God.
So then we ought to desire not so much exemption from temptation, as strength in it.
And He will always be at our side to grant us this. We should seek not freedom from furnace, but His presence in it; not to be guided away from the dark valley, but through it. His prayer is our model; His life is our pattern, who was tempted though He were the Son'; His strength is our hope. He is able to succour them that are tempted.'
We identify ourselves in such a prayer with all who have sinned, and knowing that we are men of like passions, and that we may fall like them, we cry load us not.'
He who offers this prayer from such motives will best and most willingly meet temptation when it comes. The soldier who goes into the field with careful circumspection, knowing the enemy's strength and his own weakness, is the most likely to conquer. It is the presumptuous men, confident in their own strength, who are sure to get beaten.
