Catechism Question 91
What is the second request in the Lord’s Prayer and what does it teach us regarding prayer?
The second request is “Your Kingdom come.” In it we learn to pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed, that God’s Kingdom of grace and righteousness would be advanced through us, and that it would come in its glorious fullness quickly.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
This is the fourth in a series of questions on the Lord’s Prayer. In this question, we ask what is the second request in the Lord’s prayer and what it teaches us. Every question regarding each petition in the Lord’s Prayer will follow a similar format, asking for each successive part of the prayer, and what that part teaches us regarding prayer. It is important to not only remember the words of the Lord’s Prayer itself, but to understand what those words mean, and how they should be put into practice in our own prayers. Additionally, as we saw in the previous question, when we pray for this specific thing, we are also committing ourselves to work for it. It would not be possible to pray with the attitudes we saw in question 86 and then not labor to see these things done in our own life.
The answer to this question tells us three key things. First, we are to pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed. If God’s Kingdom is to advance, this necessarily means that the kingdom of Satan must be destroyed. Second, we are asking that God’s Kingdom (which is characterized by grace and righteousness) would be advanced in and through us. Finally, in praying this we are asking that God’s Kingdom would come in its fullness – and quickly. God’s Kingdom is already here among us, but it is not yet fully realized – but we are to pray that it will be fully realized, and soon.
Additional Questions:
What is the second request Jesus taught us to pray, and what does it teach us?
What do we learn to pray in the second request?
What do we learn to pray in the second petition?
Scripture References:
Matthew 6:9–13
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Luke 11:1–4
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Psalms 103:19
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Philippians 3:20–21
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
2 Peter 3:11–13
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Questions for Further Discussion:
What does it mean to pray for God’s Kingdom to come?
In what sense is God’s Kingdom already present? In what sense do we still pray for it to come?
What things characterize Satan’s kingdom? What things characterize God’s Kingdom?
Can we help to advance God’s Kingdom? Can we bring about the Kingdom by our own efforts, or is that the work of God?
Why do we pray that God’s Kingdom would come quickly? What things will be better when the Kingdom of God has fully come?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 123 of the Heidelberg Catechism and question 102 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg or Westminster Shorter Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teachings “Praying To Our Father In Heaven” (January 5, 2014), “Christ – The Risen Lord of All” (April 5, 2015), and “New Testament Eschatology – The Now But Not Yet” (June 24, 2007).
Suggested Worship Song:
Sing To the King (Billy Foote)
(This song reminds us that Jesus is already our King, but that we still await the fulness of His Kingdom, and that we now are praying and preparing for that day.)
Sing to the King Who is coming to reign
Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain
Life and salvation His empire shall bring
And joy to the nations when Jesus is King
Come, let us sing a song
A song declaring that we belong to Jesus
He is all we need
Lift up a heart of praise
Sing now with voices raised to Jesus
Sing to the King
For His returning we watch and we pray
We will be ready the dawn of that day
We’ll join in singing with all the redeemed
‘Cause Satan is vanquished and my Jesus is King