Lord’s Day 49
Q124. What does the third petition mean?
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven means: help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Matthew 7:21
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 16:24–26
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Luke 22:42
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
Romans 12:1–2
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Titus 2:11–12
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
1 Corinthians 7:17–24
“But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use rather. For he that is called in the Lord, a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.”
Ephesians 6:5–9
“Servants, be obedient to them that are masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”
Psalm 103:20–21
“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.”
Modernized Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
The second part of the Lord's Prayer now follows, containing six petitions. The petition "Hallowed be thy name" comes first because it captures the end and purpose of all the others: the glory of God should be the ultimate goal of everything we do, everything we pursue, and everything we pray for. The end of any endeavor is also the first thing in a person's mind and intention, even if it's the last thing to be accomplished. This is why we should seek the goal of the other petitions first, if we want to seek them rightly, in keeping with Christ's command: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you" (Matt 7:33).
When considering this petition, two questions need to be addressed:
I. What is the name of God?