Matthew 6:10 Meaning and Explanation
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →We ask that God's reign and His good will would take hold here, just as they already do above.
The Context of Matthew 6:10
From the Lord's Prayer, the pattern Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount when teaching His disciples how to pray. It follows the opening, 'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name,' and turns from worship toward longing for God's purposes.
What Does Matthew 6:10 Mean?
After we have addressed God as Father and honored His name, Jesus teaches us to ask for two things that are really one. 'Thy kingdom come' is a prayer for God to reign, for His rule to spread until it fills the world. 'Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven' is the same hope spelled out: that down here, life would finally match what already happens above, where God's will meets no resistance. It is a bold thing to want, and Jesus puts it near the front of prayer.
This is the longing Jesus carried in His own body. In the garden, with the cross before Him, He prayed, 'thy will be done' (Matthew 26:42), and meant it to the end. He did not only teach the words; He lived them. And the prayer looks forward, because the kingdom He began will one day come in full, when His will is done on earth as completely as it is in heaven, and every tear is wiped away.
Matthew 6:10 in the Original Language
basileia (βασιλεία), 'kingdom' -- God's reign and rule, His kingship breaking into the world He made.
How to Apply Matthew 6:10 Today
This single line teaches us to want what God wants more than we want our own way. We can pray it over our homes, our work, and our own divided hearts, asking that God's good will would take hold here as fully as it does in heaven. It is the prayer Jesus both taught and lived.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 6:10
What does Matthew 6:10 mean?
We ask that God's reign and His good will would take hold here, just as they already do above.
What is the context of Matthew 6:10?
From the Lord's Prayer, the pattern Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount when teaching His disciples how to pray. It follows the opening, 'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name,' and turns from worship toward longing for God's purposes.
How can I apply Matthew 6:10 today?
This single line teaches us to want what God wants more than we want our own way. We can pray it over our homes, our work, and our own divided hearts, asking that God's good will would take hold here as fully as it does in heaven. It is the prayer Jesus both taught and lived.