What Does It Mean to Pray for God's Kingdom and Will to Be Done on Earth?

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A Study of Matthew 6:10 and the Nature of Submissive Prayer

In the midst of Jesus’ instruction on prayer, commonly known as the “Lord’s Prayer,” we find a profound petition that reveals the spiritual priorities every disciple should possess. Matthew 6:10 reads: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” These words, spoken by Jesus during his teaching in Galilee around 30 C.E., are more than poetic language or liturgical formula. They express a deep theological truth and a pattern of submission that undergirds the entire Christian life. This verse confronts the believer with two fundamental concerns: the coming of God’s kingdom and the accomplishment of God’s will—not merely in heaven, but tangibly and visibly on earth.

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:9–13 was given to correct the empty and hypocritical prayers of the religious leaders who prioritized public show over sincere devotion. His model prayer is brief, direct, reverent, and focused on the purposes of Jehovah rather than the desires of man. When Jesus says, “your kingdom come,” he is not referring to a physical, geopolitical kingdom, nor is he calling for any sort of human social order or political movement. This is a request for the reign of God to be increasingly manifested and acknowledged, first in the hearts of individuals through submission to his Word, and ultimately in the future return of Christ when that reign will be fully realized.

The word “kingdom” in Greek is βασιλεία (basileia), which in the New Testament always refers to God’s sovereign rule and authority, never a literal earthly nation. Jesus’ preaching from the beginning of his ministry emphasized the urgency of this kingdom. Matthew 4:17 records, “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” His message demanded that individuals recognize the authority of Jehovah and align their lives accordingly. The kingdom was “at hand” in the sense that Jesus, the appointed Messiah, was inaugurating its arrival in spiritual form through his teaching, healing, and fulfillment of prophecy.

To pray “your kingdom come” is to align oneself with this divine agenda. It is a rejection of self-rule and an affirmation of God’s sovereign authority. It reflects a longing for Jehovah’s rule to be increasingly accepted in the world through the spread of the gospel and the obedience of his people. This part of the prayer also anticipates the final return of Christ and the establishment of his unchallenged reign, as described in 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10, when Jesus returns from heaven with his angels in flaming fire, bringing justice to those who do not obey the gospel.

The next phrase, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” follows logically and necessarily. It expresses the desire that God’s moral and redemptive purposes be fulfilled among men with the same perfection, immediacy, and completeness as they are carried out in the heavenly realm. In heaven, God’s will is never questioned, delayed, or ignored. The angels serve with unbroken obedience (Psalm 103:20–21), and the glorified beings worship without hesitation. This is the standard Jesus sets before believers—not partial or occasional submission, but wholehearted, immediate obedience.

The Greek word for “will” is θέλημα (thelēma), referring to God’s desire, pleasure, or purpose. Praying for God’s will is not merely resigning to divine providence but actively desiring that what God commands in Scripture would be done among people with willing hearts. This includes the spread of the gospel, the growth of the church in sound doctrine, the rejection of sin, and the sanctification of believers. It is the opposite of the self-centered petitions that often dominate prayer. James warns in James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” True prayer is shaped by God’s Word, not personal agendas.

To say “on earth as it is in heaven” is not poetic imagery but a request for transformation. The world, as it currently stands, is in rebellion against God. 1 John 5:19 says, “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” The moral decay, false religions, and disobedience to divine commands are all manifestations of a world resisting God’s will. Yet, believers are called to live in contrast—to do the will of God joyfully and fully, setting an example of heaven-oriented obedience in the midst of a corrupt age.

This part of the prayer also demonstrates the essential link between belief and action. One cannot sincerely pray for God’s will to be done while neglecting to obey it personally. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” It is not enough to acknowledge God’s authority in prayer while resisting it in practice. The petition must translate into daily submission.

The fulfillment of God’s will also depends on knowing what that will is. Jehovah has not left mankind in darkness. He has revealed his will through the Spirit-inspired Word, which is complete, authoritative, and sufficient. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 declares, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Christians cannot pray effectively or obey properly unless they immerse themselves in Scripture. Feelings, traditions, and subjective impressions are no substitute for the objective truth of God’s written Word.

This prayer, then, is a declaration of war against all that opposes God’s rule and a personal pledge of loyalty to his revealed purposes. It is an acknowledgment that this world is not as it should be, and a plea that God would act decisively to bring about righteousness through his people. It includes the expectation of divine justice and the hope of eternal reward, all under the righteous reign of Jehovah.

This verse is also a rebuke to any attempts at self-sovereignty. The human heart, apart from God’s grace, desires to rule itself. This was the sin of Adam in Genesis 3:6—trusting his own judgment over the command of God. That same rebellion is repeated every time someone resists the clear teachings of Scripture in favor of personal preference or cultural pressure. To pray “your kingdom come, your will be done” is to crucify that rebellious instinct and to live as a willing servant under divine authority.

Matthew 6:10 is not a request for mystical experiences or temporary emotional peace. It is a call to advance the cause of God’s righteousness in a fallen world. It challenges every believer to reorder priorities, submit to Scripture, reject sin, and pray not for what is comfortable, but for what is holy. It is a prayer that longs for divine rule in the present through gospel obedience and looks forward to the day when that rule will be fully manifested in the return of Christ.

Until then, the Christian’s daily cry must be for the Word of God to govern every thought, every decision, and every area of life, as it is perfectly obeyed in heaven. This is not the language of ritual—it is the expression of a heart committed to truth, eager for obedience, and expectant of Jehovah’s final victory.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).