An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism · Martin Luther
HOW WE ARE TEMPTED.
GOD INDEED TEMPTS NO ONE TO SIN: for He wishes us to do good, and not evil. But He leads us into circumstances in which we are _tried_, and must decide for or against Him, for good or for evil. This is the sense in which the Bible speaks of God as tempting persons. [Gen. 22:1] He tries or tests us. Remembering that we are weak, we pray in this petition that God would spare us such trials as much as is possible according to His will, and strengthen us in them, that we may be faithful. _The Devil, the World, and our own Flesh tempt us to Sin_. These are the great enemies of our souls, who will lead us to destruction if we do not earnestly resist them and repel their temptations.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.