Long ago, one of Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). The gospels of Matthew and Luke record His response, which carries profound lessons.
One lesson about an important aspect of our conversations with our Heavenly Father comes in the very first request of Jesus’ model prayer, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus taught that this request is one of the first and most important elements of a Christian’s prayers, and much of the Bible explains that it should be a heartfelt part of our supplications before God. Asking God that His Kingdom may come, and come soon, should be one of our most frequent and fervent requests of our Father.
“Your kingdom come” expresses our fervent desire for God to send His Son to establish His Kingdom on earth—that most vital part of His plan for the future of this world. The Apostle John expresses this desire at the very end of the Bible: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). This simple request contains profound meaning because it expresses a longing, a pursuit, and a hope for a better world.
We might wonder why Jesus taught His followers to pray this, and why it’s even the very first part of the model prayer after addressing and honoring God the Father. One reason is that He wants His disciples to share His desire to relieve the world’s suffering and to feel the compassion and empathy He shares with God the Father (Lamentations 3:22; Matthew 9:36; Philippians 2:4–5). As much as we may yearn, God the Father and Jesus Christ yearn even more for the time when they will end the world’s suffering; “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
“Kingdoms” That End Only in Suffering
For generations, mankind has endured extreme suffering caused by the plagues of war, violence, hunger, sickness, and death. No king, president, government, nation, or empire has been able to cure these intractable problems. We all see suffering every day—in our own lives, in our neighborhoods, in our countries, and as reported in the news around the world.
Suffering doesn’t just happen on a large scale, as when thousands or millions are affected by wars, natural disasters, man-made catastrophes, unrest, or persecution. Sometimes, it’s helpful to consider the individual suffering that many endure, day in and day out, through all the familiar woes—health, finances, and personal tragedies alike. This reminds us that real people have real tears and feel real pain. Consider the millions around the world who are still suffering from the horrid effects of war, to which our modern century is clearly not immune.
Talking some years ago with an elderly individual who was dealing with physical pain caused by health challenges, I heard this person make a simple comment that has stayed with me. After a description of some recent physical struggles came a remark made plainly and without exaggeration: I don’t like pain. Surely, every human being—no matter one’s nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion—can relate to that simple statement. Having empathy for others and remembering that no one wants to suffer or experience pain can motivate and remind us to often pray those important three words Christ taught many years ago to a disciple who asked Him how to pray: “Your kingdom come.”
Our world is suffering under the sway of a rebellious influence, which the Bible identifies as Satan, the devil (Genesis 3:1–7; Revelation 12:9). Disobeying God is sin (1 John 3:4), and sin always causes human beings to suffer. Satan’s way doesn’t work, and as the temporary ruler of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), he has created a “kingdom” of suffering and evil. Many passages in Scripture explain how the Kingdom of God will rule a world where there is no suffering—the opposite of our current world (Isaiah 35; Revelation 21:4). Satan’s influence and his kingdom will be replaced by a Kingdom that will be infinitely superior in every way.
Never-Ending Righteousness
The Kingdom of God is one of the Bible’s central topics, the focus of many prophecies. It has been the ultimate hope of God’s people throughout the centuries since Christ walked this earth, for it was the heart of the message He preached (Luke 4:43) and the subject of many of His parables. Jesus said we must seek it first, above all else (Matthew 6:33). He said it is like a treasure hidden in a field and that procuring that treasure is worth giving up everything else. He compared it to a beautiful pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44–46). It’s what He will bring when He returns as the King of kings (Revelation 11:15; 19:16).
Not everyone knows about the Kingdom of God, but everyone wants what it will bring—peace, prosperity, truth, health, righteous leadership, and relief from pain. The suffering and evil we see in the world should drive us to yearn for that Kingdom to come soon. These reasons and many more are why we should fervently pray, every day, “Your kingdom come.”