281. What is the focus of this particular petition?
It focuses on the constant attempts of our spiritual enemies to lure us away from God and into the captivity of sin, and ultimately into unbelief and despair.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
James 1:13-14 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
2 Timothy 3:1-4 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Read Genesis 3, where the devil tempted Eve to doubt and disobey God; John 13:2 and Matthew 27:4-5, where Satan tempted Judas to betray Christ and to despair; Luke 22:54-60, about Peter's denial of Jesus; and 2 Samuel 12:9, where David's sinful nature led him to commit adultery and murder.
Eventual commentary
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