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Understanding the Meaning of "Your Kingdom Come" in Prayer

The petition "Your kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10) is a central request in the Lord's Prayer, reflecting a desire for God's sovereign rule to be fully realized both spiritually and eschatologically [1, 8, 12]. This phrase, found in Matthew's account of the Lord's Prayer, encapsulates a broad range of theological meanings concerning God's present and future reign [1, 9].

The concept of "kingdom" (Hebrew: מַלְכוּתְ, malkut) in the Old Testament refers to royal authority or dominion [4, 10]. For instance, Psalm 145:11 speaks of the "glory of Your kingdom" [4, 17], and various passages refer to the "kingdom of your king" or "the kingdom" [2, 3, 5]. In the New Testament, the "kingdom of God" or "kingdom of heaven" refers to Christ's mediatorial authority, the blessings derived from His rule, and the collective body of His subjects, the Church [7]. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that these terms are used interchangeably to denote the same reality under different aspects [7].

The petition "Your kingdom come" carries multiple layers of meaning:

  1. Spiritual Reign in Believers: The Heidelberg Catechism interprets this petition as a prayer for God to "Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you" [9]. This emphasizes the internal, spiritual aspect of God's kingdom, where believers increasingly yield to His will [9]. Augustine similarly suggests that to pray for God's kingdom to come is to ask Him to make us worthy of it, so that it "may also come to us" [14, 15]. This implies a personal transformation and sanctification [13].

  2. Growth and Preservation of the Church: The petition also encompasses the visible establishment and expansion of God's kingdom on earth through the Church [6, 9]. The Heidelberg Catechism includes the request to "Preserve your church and make it grow" [9]. This aligns with the understanding that the kingdom of God is manifested through the community of believers [7].

  3. Defeat of Evil and Opposition: A significant aspect of praying for God's kingdom to come is the desire for the defeat of evil and all forces that oppose God's rule [9]. The Heidelberg Catechism explicitly states, "Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your holy Word" [9]. This reflects an anticipation of God's ultimate triumph over sin and rebellion.

  4. Eschatological Fulfillment: Ultimately, "Your kingdom come" points to the full and final establishment of God's kingdom at the end of time [9]. This is when God "will be all in all" [9]. Charles Hodge notes that while the kingdom of God was established after the Fall, the New Testament announces a "new kingdom as consequent on his advent," referring to Christ's role as the administrator of this kingdom [10]. The "coming of Christ" can refer to His first advent, His second coming, or even the metaphorical introduction of the gospel into a place [6]. The prayer anticipates the time when Christ will execute judgment on the wicked and fully manifest His glory [6].

John Gill suggests that the ancient Jewish expression for this petition was "the kingdom of thy Messiah come," but Christ altered it to "Thy kingdom come" to signify that the Messiah had arrived and that the kingdom was the Father's, manifested through His grace in the souls of men [11]. Augustine views the petitions of the Lord's Prayer as encompassing both eternal and temporal blessings, with the request for God's kingdom to come falling under the category of eternal blessings [16]. He also clarifies that while God's kingdom will come regardless of human prayer, the petition is a request for individuals to be included among those to whom it comes [15].

Sources

  1. Matthew “Matthew 6:10 (Geneva1599) — Thy Kingdome come. Thy will be done euen in earth, as it is in heauen.”
  2. MACULA Hebrew “Deuteronomy 28:36 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: יוֹלֵ֨ךְ יְהוָ֜ה אֹֽתְ ךָ֗ וְ אֶֽת מַלְכְּ ךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּקִ֣ים עָלֶ֔י ךָ אֶל גּ֕וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא יָדַ֖עְתָּ אַתָּ֣ה וַ אֲבֹתֶ֑י ךָ וְ עָבַ֥דְתָּ שָּׁ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים עֵ֥ץ וָ אָֽבֶן Word-by-word: יוֹלֵ֨ךְ (yôlēḵ) = "bring" [1980] Vhi3ms; יְהוָ֜ה (yəhwāh) = "LORD" [3068] Np; אֹֽתְ [0853] To; ךָ֗ = "you" [3509b] Sp2ms; וְ (wə) = "and" [2050b] C; אֶֽת (ʾeṯ-) = "(et)" [0853] To; מַלְכְּ = "king" [4428] Ncmsc; ךָ֙ = "your" [3509b] Sp2ms; אֲשֶׁ֣ר (ʾăšer) = "whom" [0834] Tr; תָּקִ֣ים (tāqiym) = "set" [6965] Vhi2ms; עָלֶ֔י = "over" [5”
  3. MACULA Hebrew “1 Kings 1:17 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: וַ תֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗ וֹ אֲדֹנִ י֙ אַתָּ֨ה נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתָּ בַּֽ יהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨י ךָ֙ לַֽ אֲמָתֶ֔ ךָ כִּֽי שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנֵ֖ ךְ יִמְלֹ֣ךְ אַחֲרָ֑ י וְ ה֖וּא יֵשֵׁ֥ב עַל כִּסְאִֽ י Word-by-word: וַ (wa) = "and" [2050b] C; תֹּ֣אמֶר (tōʾmer) = "said" [0559] Vqw3fs; ל֗ = "to" [3807a] R; וֹ = "him" [2050c] Sp3ms; אֲדֹנִ = "lord" [0113] Ncmsc; י֙ = "my" [2967a] Sp1cs; אַתָּ֨ה (ʾattāh) = "you" [0859] Pp2ms; נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתָּ (nišbaʿətā) = "swore" [7650] VNp2ms; בַּֽ (ba) = "by" [0871a] R; יהוָ֤ה (yhwāh) = "LORD" [3068] Np; אֱלֹהֶ֨י = "God" [0430] Ncmpc; ךָ֙ ”
  4. MACULA Hebrew “Psalms 145:11 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: כְּב֣וֹד מַלְכוּתְ ךָ֣ יֹאמֵ֑רוּ וּ גְבוּרָתְ ךָ֥ יְדַבֵּֽרוּ Word-by-word: כְּב֣וֹד (kəḇôḏ) = "glory" [3519] Ncbsc; מַלְכוּתְ = "kingdom" [4438] Ncfsc; ךָ֣ = "your" [3509b] Sp2ms; יֹאמֵ֑רוּ (yōʾmērû) = "speak" [0559] Vqi3mp; וּ (û) = "and" [2050b] C; גְבוּרָתְ = "power" [1369] Ncfsc; ךָ֥ = "your" [3509b] Sp2ms; יְדַבֵּֽרוּ (yəḏabbērû:) = "tell" [1696] Vpi3mp”
  5. MACULA Hebrew “1 Kings 11:31 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לְ יָֽרָבְעָ֔ם קַח לְ ךָ֖ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה קְרָעִ֑ים כִּ֣י כֹה֩ אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הִנְ נִ֨י קֹרֵ֤עַ אֶת הַ מַּמְלָכָה֙ מִ יַּ֣ד שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וְ נָתַתִּ֣י לְ ךָ֔ אֵ֖ת עֲשָׂרָ֥ה הַ שְּׁבָטִֽים Word-by-word: וַ (wa) = "then" [2050b] C; יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ (yyōʾmer) = "said" [0559] Vqw3ms; לְ (lə) = "to" [3807a] R; יָֽרָבְעָ֔ם (yārāḇʿām) = "Jeroboam" [3379] Np; קַח (qaḥ-) = "take" [3947] Vqv2ms; לְ = "for" [3807a] R; ךָ֖ = "yourself" [3509b] Sp2ms; עֲשָׂרָ֣ה (ʿăśārāh) = "ten" [6235] Acmsa; קְרָעִ֑ים (qərāʿiym) = "pieces" [7168] ”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Coming of Christ — (1) with reference to his first advent "in the fulness of the time" (1 John 5:20; 2 John 1:7), or (2) with reference to his coming again the second time at the last day (Acts 1:11; 3:20, 21; 1 Thess. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 9:28). The expression is used metaphorically of the introduction of the gospel into any place (John 15:22; Eph. 2:17), the visible establishment of his kingdom in the world (Matt. 16:28), the conferring on his people of the peculiar tokens of his love (John 14:18, 23, 28), and his executing judgment on the wicked (2 Thess. 2:8).”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingdom of God — (Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:43) = "kingdom of Christ" (Matt. 13:41; 20:21) = "kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5) = "kingdom of David" (Mark 11:10) = "the kingdom" (Matt. 8:12; 13:19) = "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 13:41), all denote the same thing under different aspects, viz.: (1) Christ's mediatorial authority, or his rule on the earth; (2) the blessings and advantages of all kinds that flow from this rule; (3) the subjects of this kingdom taken collectively, or the Church.”
  8. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Prayer — the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) "In this prayer our Lord shows his disciples how an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions. It embodies every possible desire of a praying heart, a whole world of spiritual requirements; yet all in the most simple, condensed and humble form, resembling, in this respect, a pearl on which the light of heaven plays."--Lange. "This prayer contains four great general sentiments, which constitute the very soul of religion,--sentiments which”
  9. Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What does the second petition mean?: Q. What does the second petition mean? A. “Your kingdom come” means: Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you.1 Preserve your church and make it grow.2 Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your holy Word.3 Do this until your kingdom fully comes, when you will be all in all.4 1 Ps. 119:5, 105; 143:10; Matt. 6:33 2 Ps. 122:6-9; Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42-47 3 Rom. 16:20; 1 John 3:8 4 Rom. 8:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 22”
  10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 123: § 3. Nature of Christ’s Kingdom. Although the kingdom of God on earth was set up immediately after the fall, yet as the Messiah was to come to make all things new, and to take into his hands as the Theanthropos the administration of this kingdom, the Old Testament predicted, and the New Testament announces, the establishment of a new kingdom as consequent on his advent. The word βασιλεία is used in Scripture in three senses. (1.) For royal authority or dominion; such dominion as it is the prerogative of a king to exercise. (2.) For those”
  11. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 6:10: Thy kingdom come,.... The form of expression used by the ancient Jews, relating to this article, before the coming of Christ, doubtless was, as it now stands in their prayers (r), , "the kingdom of thy Messiah come". Christ alters the expression, leaves out the word "Messiah", and puts it thus, "thy kingdom come", to let them know that the Messiah was come; and that it was the kingdom of the Father, in the power of his grace, upon the souls of men, they must pray for and expect: however, he conformed to a rule of their's in this, as well as in the former petition (s)”
  12. Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What is this prayer?: Q. What is this prayer? A. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.* For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.1** 1 Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4 *This text of the Lord's Prayer is from the New Revised Standard Version in keeping with the use of the NRSV throughout thi”
  13. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — ON THE LORD'S PRAYER. (part 8): but ye are justified; but ye are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God."(10) He says that we are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. We pray that this sanctification may abide in us and because our Lord and Judge warns the man that was healed and quickened by Him, to sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto him, we make this supplication in our constant prayers, we ask this day and night, that the sanctification and quickening wh”
  14. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — AGAIN ON THE LORD'S PRAYER, MATT. VI. TO THE COMPETENTES. (part 2): pray that His kingdom may come, is nothing else than to wish of Him, that He would make us worthy of His kingdom, lest haply, which God forbid, it should come, and not come to us. For to many that will never come, which nevertheless must come. For to them will it come, to whom it shall be said, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."(2) But it will not come to them to whom it shall be said, "Depart from Me, ye cur”
  15. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — AGAIN, ON THE LORD'S PRAYER, MATT. VI. TO THE (part 2): hallowed in you when ye are baptized. Why will ye offer this prayer after ye have been baptized, but that that which ye shall then receive may abide ever in you? 4. Another petition follows, "Thy kingdom come."(2) God's kingdom will come, whether we ask it or not. Why then do we ask it, but that that which will come to all saints may also come to us; that God may count us also in the number of His saints, to whom His kingdom is to come? 5. We say in the third petition, "Thy will be done a”
  16. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 115.--THE SEVEN PETITIONS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER, ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.: Accordingly, in the Gospel according to Matthew the Lord's Prayer seems to embrace seven petitions, three of which ask for eternal blessings, and the remaining four for temporal; these latter, however, being necessary antecedents to the attainment of the eternal. For when we say, "Hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"(2) (which some have interpreted, not unfairly, in body as well as in spirit), we ask for blessings that are”
  17. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM CXLV.(1) (part 7): when Thy saints bless Thee, what say they? "They shall tell the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy Power" (ver. 11). How powerful is God, who hath made the earth! how powerful is God, who hath filled the earth with good things! how powerful is God, who hath given to the animals each its own life! how powerful is God, who hath given different seeds to the womb of the earth, that they might make to spring up such various shoots, such beautiful trees! how powerful, how great is God! Do thou ask, creation answereth, and by”
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