Who is the evil one in Matthew 6:13?

Answer

In Matthew 6:9–13, Jesus provides us with an example of how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer, as it is commonly known, consists of six petitions. Each petition serves to glorify God and shield believers from “the evil one” (verse 13). The evil one refers to Satan, whom Jesus describes as “a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” «Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. », (John 8:44, ESV). Understanding that Satan embodies both murder and deceit, what should believers do? We ought to pray to God, following the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer.

When we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” «After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. », (Matthew 6:9, ESV), we are acknowledging God’s supremacy and holiness above all, including the evil one. This acknowledgment strengthens our spiritual defense against the evil one, who is no match for God. Whenever we cry out to our “Abba,” we are simultaneously rejecting the falsehoods, deceit, cunning, and corruption of the evil one. Concerning the name of the Lord, Solomon declares, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe” «The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. », (Proverbs 18:10, ESV). Let us run to the Lord with full assurance that we will be safe from the evil one.

The plea for God’s kingdom to come is a prayer against the rule and dominion of the evil one on earth «Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. », (Matthew 6:10). In the present age, the kingdom of God refers to His kingly presence in the hearts and lives of believers: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21; NKJV). The kingdom of God also refers to the reign of Christ in His church: “He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23; ESV). Though God is “Lord over all” «For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. », (Romans 10:12, ESV), believers must continue to “sanctify the Lord God in [their] hearts” «but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: », (1 Peter 3:15, NKJV) through love and obedience « If ye love me, keep my commandments. », (John 14:15).

We ought to pray for God to accomplish His will: “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” «Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. », (Matthew 6:10).

Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, ESV). By doing so, we align ourselves with God’s will instead of becoming prey to the evil one. The evil one’s sole desire is to “steal and kill and destroy” “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”, (John 10:10, ESV). Consequently, he endeavors to steer us towards sin and rebellion against God. Therefore, by aligning ourselves with God’s will, we thwart the evil one’s efforts to lead us astray.

Praying for “daily bread” acknowledges our reliance on God for all necessities, whether physical or spiritual “Give us this day our daily bread.”, (Matthew 6:11). Conversely, the evil one attempts to entice us towards self-sufficiency and greed. Nevertheless, self-sufficiency and greed are not what God desires for us. Instead, He wants us to rely on Him for everything. There is no selfishness in this prayer. As D. A. Carson aptly stated, “The prayer is for our needs, not our greeds” (Matthew: The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 8, Zondervan, 1984, p. 171).

Seeking forgiveness and the strength to forgive others directly contradicts the evil one’s tactics of discord, disunity, and division “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”, (Matthew 6:12). The evil one thrives in unforgiving and tumultuous environments. However, through this plea in the Lord’s Prayer, we embody the peace and reconciliation of Christ, who established “peace by the blood of his cross” “and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”, (Colossians 1:20, ESV).

(Colossians 1:20, ESV).

Finally, the prayer for deliverance from temptation and evil highlights the reality of spiritual warfare «And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. », (Matthew 6:13). Jesus’ mention of “the evil one” explicitly marks Satan as our principal adversary. This part of the Lord’s Prayer is a conscious appeal for divine intervention against the evil one’s attempts to ensnare us in sin. Though the devil seeks to tempt us into sin, God always provides a way of escape: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” «There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. », (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV). Prayer is one way of escape, providing us with the armor and strategy needed to withstand the schemes of the evil one.