### 127. Q. What does the sixth petition mean?

**A**. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” means: We are so weak that we cannot stand on our own for a moment,<sup>1</sup> and our sworn enemies—the devil,<sup>2</sup> the world,<sup>3</sup> and our own flesh <sup>4</sup>—never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not be defeated in this spiritual fight,<sup>5</sup> but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory.<sup>6</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Ps. 103:14-16](/get-passage/Psalms+103:14-16); [John 15:1-5](/get-passage/John+15:1-5)
<sup>2</sup> [2 Cor. 11:14](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+11:14); [Eph. 6:10-13](/get-passage/Ephesians+6:10-13); [1 Pet. 5:8](/get-passage/1+Peter+5:8)
<sup>3</sup> [John 15:18-21](/get-passage/John+15:18-21)
<sup>4</sup> [Rom. 7:23](/get-passage/Romans+7:23); [Gal. 5:17](/get-passage/Galatians+5:17)
<sup>5</sup> [Matt. 10:19-20](/get-passage/Matthew+10:19-20); [26:41](/get-passage/Matthew+26:41); [Mark 13:33](/get-passage/Mark+13:33); [Rom. 5:3-5](/get-passage/Romans+5:3-5)
<sup>6</sup> [1 Cor. 10:13](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+10:13); [1 Thess. 3:13](/get-passage/1+Thessalonians+3:13); [5:23](/get-passage/1+Thessalonians+5:23)