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Matthew 6

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What does Matthew 6:10 mean?

Explanation

[Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.] from Matthew 6:10 is part of the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer, and is found in the Gospel according to Matthew in the New Testament.

The verse is a petition for God's reign and will to be established fully on earth as it already is in heaven.

On a literal level, the prayer asks for God's sovereign rule to be realized in the world of humans.

It conveys a desire for God's purposes and desires, which are perfect, to be carried out on earth.

On a deeper level, the verse reflects a longing for divine order, justice, and peace to prevail, transcending our human imperfections and the brokenness present in the world.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

This verse was spoken by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount, which contains teachings on how His followers should live and pray.

The historical context is the 1st century Jewish society under Roman occupation.

The Jewish people were anticipating the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of the kingdom of God.

This verse reflects that eschatological hope but redefines the kingdom in spiritual rather than political or militant terms.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse sits at the heart of Christian eschatology.

Some interpret "Thy kingdom come" as a reference to the eventual return of Christ and the establishment of a new heaven and new earth. Alternatively, it may refer to the contemporary and ongoing spread of God's rule through the transformation of individual lives and societies.

"Thy will be done" is a call for obedience to God's commandments and an alignment with His character and designs.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse encourages believers to prioritize God's desires over their own, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

It is a call to active participation in bringing God's love and righteousness into every sphere of life, including personal, social, and ecological. By praying these words, one commits to being an agent of God's kingdom in their own life, influencing others around them.

Cross-References

"And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." (Luke 11:2 KJV)

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen." (Matthew 6:13 KJV)

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15 KJV)

Language Study

The key phrases "Thy kingdom come" (ελθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου) and "Thy will be done" (γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημα σου) in the original Greek carry significant weight. "Βασιλεία" (basileia) means kingdom, denoting the realm of royal authority and power. "Θέλημα" (thelēma) reflects the concept of will or desire, indicating that the prayer is for the divine intention or purpose to occur.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In contrast to other ancient myths where deities impose their will through sheer force or manipulation, the Judeo-Christian framework shows a God who desires willing cooperation with humanity.

This contrasts, for instance, with the Divine Mandate in ancient Mesopotamia where kings were believed to be direct representatives of the gods, implementing a divine will that is often inscrutable and arbitrary.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly engage with scientific topics, the invocation for God's will to be done on earth as in heaven engages with the idea of order and laws, which parallels the search for underlying principles and harmonies in the natural world through science.

It acknowledges a higher order, with science often seen as a human endeavor to understand and describe that order.

Commentaries

Commentators offer several perspectives on this verse.

Some, like John Wesley, suggest that praying for God's kingdom implies a personal submission to divine sovereignty.

Others, such as John Calvin, place an emphasis on the future hope of a fully realized kingdom.

Modern theologians might focus on the social implications, suggesting that believers are called to work toward a world reflecting God's justice and peace.

Matthew 6

Matthew 6

What does Matthew 6:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 6:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?