St. Paul's Sarver
Coffee Talk 1.27.25
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.
-Martin Luther’s Small Catechism
What is the will of God?
God’s will is that all people come to know him as their Father and live under the rule of his Son. In short, his will is that his name will be hallowed and his Kingdom will come.
-John 6:40 “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
-1 Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
-1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification…”
What do ask and seek from our Father for in this petition?
We are praying that
A. God will restrain Satan;
-2 Thessalonians 3:3 “The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
-See also Psalm 23:4-5, 1 Peter 1:5
B. God will strengthen us with his Word so that we can endure the sufferings that will come;
-1 Peter 2:20-21 “But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
“As God’s name must be hallowed and his kingdom come whether we pray or not, so also his will must be done and succeed. This is true even though the devil with all his followers raise a great riot, are angry and rage against it, and try to exterminate the gospel completely. But for our sakes we must pray that, even against their fury, his will be done without hindrance among us also. We pray so that they may not be able to accomplish anything and that we remain firm against all violence and persecution and submit to God’s will.” -Martin Luther’s Large Catechism
C. God will strengthen us with his Word so we will live holy lives, surrendering our will to his.
-Romans 12:1-2 Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
-See also Colossians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:3
“As Christians we pray here that God would not allow any obstacle to stand in the way of his gracious will—namely that his Word and kingdom be extended.”
-Explanation of the Small Catechism
Praying this Petition
-It calls for confession of sin, for we often chose Satan’s, the world’s, or own will over his.
“In the first place, we judge and accuse ourselves with our own words, declaring that we are disobedient to God and do not do his will. For if we really did his will, this petition would not be necessary.” Martin Luther “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer”
-It teaches us to ask God, our Father, for grace and help.
“In the second place, righteousness consists of this, that having known and judged ourselves, we do not despair before God’s judgement seat, before which we plead guilty in this petition, but that we seek refuge in God’s mercy and firmly trust that he will deliver us from our disobedience to his will.” Ibid
