Thy kingdom come
(Matt. 6:10)
When you pray, “Thy kingdom come,” you are praying for Christ to reign on earth as He already does in Heaven.
When we hear the word kingdom we tend to think of medieval castles, kings, knights, and the like. But “kingdom” in Matthew 6:10 translates a Greek word that means “rule” or “reign.” We could translate the phrase, “Thy reign come.” That gives a clearer sense of what Christ meant. He prayed that God’s rule would be as apparent on earth as it is in heaven.
God’s kingdom was the central issue in Christ’s ministry. He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23) and instructed His followers to make the kingdom a priority in their own lives (Matt. 6:33). He told parables about its character and value (Matt. 13) and indicted the scribes and Pharisees for hindering those who sought to enter it (Matt. 23:13). After is death and resurrection, He appeared for forty days giving the disciples further instruction about the kingdom (Acts 1:2-3).
When we pray “Thy kingdom come,” we are praying for Christ’s sovereign rule to be as established on earth as it is in heaven. In one sense the kingdom is already here—in the hearts of believers. It consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). But in another sense the kingdom is yet future. In Luke 17:21 Jesus says, “Behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (cf. John 18:36). Their King was present but they rejected Him. Someday He will return again to
establish His kingdom on earth and personally reign over it. That’s the aspect of the kingdom we pray for in Matthew 6:10.
Sin and rebellion are now rampant, but when Christ’s kingdom comes, they will be done away with (Rev. 20:7-9). In the meantime, the work of the kingdom continues and you have the privilege of promoting it through your prayers and faithful ministry. Take every opportunity to do so today and rejoice in the assurance that Christ will someday reign in victory and will be glorified for all eternity.
Suggestions for Prayer
-Praise God for the glorious future that awaits you and all believers.
-Pray with anticipation for the coming of Christ’s eternal kingdom.
For Further Study
Read Matthew 13:1-52. What parables did Jesus use to instruct His disciples about the kingdom of
heaven?
John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, chancellor of The Master’s University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Grace to You radio, video, audio, print, and website resources reach millions worldwide each day. In more than five decades of ministry, John has written dozens of best-selling books, including The MacArthur Study Bible, The Gospel According to Jesus, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (thirty-four volumes), and Slave. He and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren.
This article is used with permission, and is available under copyright law, online, here: COPYRIGHT ©2022 Grace to You. Photo of John MacAuthur used with permission from Grace To You Ministries at gty.org
Indeed the Kingdom of God reigns in the hearts of those who follow Christ as Lord.
Praise God and our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord knew life would not be easy for us here on earth. He therefore instructed us in the Bible always to mention ‘Thy Kingdom come” in our Daily prayer.
What I have now come to value is the kingdom of God. If I may describe it in my own words: I understand the kingdom of God to be like growing up with a wonderful mother. During my childhood, I could get whatever I needed from my mum. Whenever I was physically or emotionally hurt, she comforted and calmed me. On the other hand, when I made mistakes, she would rebuke, discipline, and chasten me. I learned that this was just meant to help nurture my moral uprightness. I accepted that in every way I had lived with a mother who really cared for me. And in reality, God cares for us as a mother all the time, and we can never be outside of that care.