“Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10; all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible.

Some Bible teachers view Matthew 6:10 as two different petitions. However, they are closely related, so we will look at them together.

Both petitions are guaranteed to come true because God is sovereign and all-powerful. His kingdom has already come and will be fully visible one day, whether or not we recognize or desire it. Likewise, God shall achieve His will, whether or not we want it to happen. The only question is whether we will enjoy its benefits or suffer its consequences.

So, our prayer does not determine whether God’s kingdom will come or His will be done. When we say this prayer, we align our will with God’s. God’s will becomes our will. God’s plan guides our lives.

There is a “now and not yet” quality to God’s kingdom. We assume God’s kingdom will come when we are in heaven. While it is true that we will experience it completely there, without the intrusion of sin, sickness, or suffering, we encounter part of it in this life as we follow Jesus. The kingdom of God exists wherever His will is done. When God’s will guides our lives, the kingdom of God is at hand—we can touch it!

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2; John the Baptist speaking).

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15).

When we repent and follow Jesus, we begin to pursue God’s will. We enter His kingdom. His kingdom has come. As we grow in faith, we learn to pray that we may live according to God’s will. Traditionally, we say, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The words are so familiar, the rhythm and tempo so comfortable, that we might overlook the meaning. We are essentially saying, “Lord, I want Your will done in my life, my community, my family, my church, and the entire world—exactly as the angels do it in heaven. Let it begin with me!”

How can we see God’s kingdom come and His will done in our lives? In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther wrote that it happens, “When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow God’s name nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh, but strengthens and preserves us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.”

Let us pray that God’s kingdom would be revealed in and through our lives and that we would know and do His will in all things. His kingdom will come, whether we like it or not. He will succeed in accomplishing all of His plans for creation. Will we be aligned with His will? May our prayers bring our wills and lives in sync with God’s kingdom and plans.

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Lord, we yield our hearts to You. May our souls and lives be provinces of Your kingdom. May our plans and efforts be guided by Your will. May Your kingdom infiltrate our communities through us as we try to do Your will “on earth, as it is in heaven.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How has God’s kingdom and will affected your life? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.

Copyright © 2024 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.