Thank you for the interpretive question on the Lord’s Prayer, “When we pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, what does it mean?”
As thought more about your question, I would like to answer it from an exegetical and application viewpoint.
I. Exegetical viewpoint on Matthew 6:10
As one reads the Gospels, John the Baptist, Jesus, and his disciples were proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is near. Matthew 4 said this, “17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Notation that Biblical citations are from the New International Version.
The proclamation was limited to the Jewish people. Jesus further said this in Matthew 15, “24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (NIV).
The Jewish people were looking for the Messiah who will inaugurate the righteous Kingdom of God. Luke 3 says this, “7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (NIV). Thus the Jewish people wanted to prepare their hearts and their actions so that they will enter the Kingdom of God. They were to repent by confessing their sins and doing what the Law commandment of them. Obeying the Law was viewed as doing the revealed will of God. Jews was aware of God’s promise to King David of a coming righteous King and Kingdom (II Samuel 7:11b-16). Thus those Jews who repented thought that the appearing of the Kingdom with her King was imminent. The Lord’s prayer teaches that God’s people are to pray for the return of the King and to bring in the righteous rule of God over his people. This prayer was given to the Jewish people.
II. The practical viewpoint on Matthew 6:10.
In stating the practical application on Matthew 6:10, I want to be very careful here. The viewpoint express is my own and I do not represent other Christians or churches.
The citation of the Lord’s prayer has practical application to Christians. This prayer is beloved by Christians and is often cited in churches and by ourselves. Having said that, the context of the Sermon on the Mount is Kingdom Principles in anticipation of the Kingdom of God.
It is my understanding of the Scriptures that the will of God for the followers of Jesus is different from the will of God for the Jewish people. Jesus commanded his followers to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8) and to make disciples (Matt. 28:18–20). It is not my understanding that Christians are to bring in the Kingdom of God, but to spread the Gospel of redemption to all mankind. I fully realize that there are other Christians who do believe that they are to bring in the Kingdom of God. This is where there are differences of thought on the Sermon on the Mount. Greater study is needed.
The Command to love God with one’s whole being has not changed and is applicable to both Jews and Christians. Again, the difference is that early Christian Jews were to preach the Gospel so that even the Gentiles can be redeemed and become part of the people of God. It is the will of the Father to make both Jews and Gentiles one people in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul says this in Galatians 3, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (NIV).
SUMMARY: The will of God for the Jewish people was to repent and prepare their hearts by living Kingdom Principles in anticipation of their Messiah. The Kingdom Principle of submission to God’s will is true for Christians. They are to obey the commands given by Jesus to his follower: being his witnesses and making disciples as they love God and love each other while on earth.
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