June 5, 2019 – Click here to listen
So, Pope Francis has officially changed the wording in the Bible because he believes it is misleading. The change he adopted is in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:13 that replaces “lead us not into temptation” with “do not let us fall into temptation.” The Pope believes the new version is better because the first translation implies that God leads people into temptation, an action that is against His nature as a good and holy God.
The late great theologian and evangelist Charles Spurgeon explained during a sermon that the word “temptation” in Matthew 6:13 actually holds two meanings, both the temptation toward sin and the facing of trials and tribulations. While, Spurgeon agrees that God does not tempt us, he does argue that God will send us into trials and situations in which temptation toward sin is ever-present. “God tempts no man,” Spurgeon said. “For God to tempt in the sense of enticing to sin (is) inconsistent with his nature, and altogether contrary to his known character; but for God to lead us into those conflicts with evil which we call temptations, is not only possible but usual.” The Catholic Church is using the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible to try to determine the best phrasing. But Spurgeon argues in his sermon that he believes the original Greek version, which says “lead us not” is best.
Some like the change and agree with the Pope and others disagree. As for me I’m with Spurgeon. If it is written that way in the original Greek then leave it alone. So many modern religious leaders think they are obligated to change the Bible to a more logical (in their minds) interpretation. In plain English they think the Bible can be changed upon a whim and it really doesn’t mean what it says. Perhaps they should read Revelation 22:18 – I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Changing the Bible is dangerous turf for any mere man. Scripture is “God-breathed.”
According to some modernists everyone should realize that the Bible was written by old men and is not a reflection of our culture today. So, women who according to Scripture may not be allowed to preach to men can do so, and heaven forbid if someone would quote the verse that states that wives should submit to their husbands. Then of course there is the homosexual issue of marriage and clergy somehow being justified and even abortion.
Well meaning preachers simply justify whatever they want to change in order to appease modern congregations. They say what it really means according to the customs of that day is blah blah blah. The Bible is clear that it should not be changed. Changing the original Greek in which it was written is simply wrong in my mind. There is much I do not understand in the Bible, but I don’t try to cut out parts that I don’t understand or like. It is what it is, and the Bible is not some book that gets edited and re-edited and cut and pasted as cultures change. It is the word of God Himself and the main communique from Him to us in this world.
I’m not so worried about what the Pope is changing in this verse, but what he or his successor might change later.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.