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Matthew 6:13
The English translation of Matthew 6:13 hides what may be the true meaning of this declaration. Underlying “kingdom” is the Greek word basileia, which indeed means “kingdom.” However, it also can mean “dominion,” “sovereignty,” “kingly power,” “authority,” “reign,” “rule,” and “royal dignity.” Here, used alongside “power” and “glory,” it most likely suggests the abstract ideas of dominion and sovereignty rather than a tangible kingdom. As it ends, the Model Prayer reminds the praying individual that God rules over everything. It is reminiscent of what Nebuchadnezzar heard from the angel during his second dream: “. . . the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men” (Daniel 4:17). Nebuchadnezzar himself twice says, “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:3, 34). God controls everything, and nothing happens in heaven or on earth without His oversight. It is a comforting reminder. Next, power is a significant theme throughout the Bible, particularly God's power compared to the power of Satan, men, kingdoms, etc. Its insertion in the Model Prayer reminds the petitioner not just of mere power but of God's power, which is omnipotence. He is the Almighty God, the Old Testament's El Shaddai (Genesis 17:1) and YHWH Sabaōth (“Lord of Hosts”; Psalm 24:10; Isaiah 2:12). He is “the Lord God Omnipotent [pantokratōr, “all powerful”],” as the heavenly host names Him in Revelation 19:6. Because all power resides in Him, He can perform and provide all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose and care for us. Nothing is too difficult for Him to accomplish. The apostle Paul makes God's almighty power personal to us in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens [empowers] me.” Remembering that the God who lives in us possesses all power and will use it for our benefit as He wills can give us great confidence. Jesus' mention of “glory forever” in closing His Model Prayer ends His instruction with a reminder of our goal. Glorification is the final event of the sanctification process (see Romans 8:28-30) that God puts His elect through as He forms and shapes them for eternal rulership in His Kingdom. It is the completion or full realization of salvation. For His firstfruits, this event occurs at the return of Christ (see Matthew 24:29-31; I Corinthians 15:50-54; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; I John 3:1-2; Revelation 11:15-18). Note, however, Jesus' wording in Matthew 6:13: “For Yours is . . . the glory forever.” While His thought includes our eventual glorification, He forces us to remember that God is the Source of all glory and that His entire plan and purpose is for His glory, not ours. As Paul writes in Ephesians 3:21, “. . . to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” As we end our prayers with such words, we praise Him for His awe-inspiring and eternal excellence and splendor while simultaneously humbling ourselves in His august presence. The Hebrew term amen comes from a verb meaning “to be firm” and is thus understood to mean “truly,” “surely,” or “let it be so.” In its frequent usage across the Bible (30x in the Old Testament and 129x in the New), it serves as a declaration of affirmation or agreement, usually to a prayer or doxology. We use it in the same way today. Jesus regularly employs it to mean “truly” or “assuredly” to stress the authority of a declaration He then makes. For instance, He frequently says, “Assuredly [often doubled for added emphasis in John's gospel—translated as “Most assuredly”], I say to you . . .” (see Matthew 10:15; Mark 13:30; Luke 12:37; 21:3; John 3:3; etc.). In these cases, it sometimes marks a surprising statement, reversing what most hearers or readers would expect. The Bible also uses “Amen” as a name or description of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 3:14, He calls Himself “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness.” By doing so, He confirms that He and His Word are trustworthy. We can have faith that His promises, counsel, and judgments are always good and reliable.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The Model Prayer (Part Nine): Kingdom, Power, Glory
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