As we prayed in the First Petition concerning
the honor and name of God that He would prevent the world from adorning its
lies and wickedness with it, but cause it to be esteemed sublime and holy both
in doctrine and life, so that He may be praised and magnified in us, so here we
pray that His kingdom also may come. But just as the name of God is in itself
holy, and we pray nevertheless that it be holy among us, so also His kingdom
comes of itself, without our prayer, yet we pray nevertheless that it may come
to us, that is, prevail among us and with us, so that we may be a part of those
among whom His name is hallowed and His kingdom prospers.
But what is the kingdom of God? Answer: Nothing
else than what we learned in the Creed, that God sent His Son Jesus Christ our
Lord, into the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, and
to bring us to Himself, and to govern us as a King of righteousness, life and
salvation against sin death, and an evil conscience, for which end He has also
bestowed His Holy Ghost, who is to bring these things home to us by His holy
Word, and to illumine and strengthen us in the faith by His power.
Therefore we pray here in the first place that
this may become effective with us, and that His name be so praised through the
holy Word of God and a Christian life that both we who have accepted it may
abide and daily grow therein, and that it may gain approbation and adherence
among other people and proceed with power throughout the world, that many may
find entrance into the Kingdom of Grace, be made partakers of redemption, being
led thereto by the Holy Ghost, in order that thus we may all together remain
forever in the one kingdom now begun.
For the coming of God's Kingdom to us occurs in
two ways; first, here in time through the Word and faith; and secondly, in
eternity forever through revelation. Now we pray for both these things, that it
may come to those who are not yet in it, and, by daily increase, to us who have
received the same, and hereafter in eternal life. All this is nothing else than
saying: Dear Father, we pray, give us first Thy Word, that the Gospel be
preached properly throughout the world; and secondly, that it be received in
faith, and work and live in us, so that through the Word and the power of the
Holy Ghost Thy kingdom may prevail among us, and the kingdom of the devil be
put down, that he may have no right or power over us, until at last it shall be
utterly destroyed, and sin, death, and hell shall be exterminated, that we may
live forever in perfect righteousness and blessedness.
From this you perceive that we pray here not for
a crust of bread or a temporal, perishable good, but for an eternal inestimable
treasure and everything that God Himself possesses; which is far too great for
any human heart to think of desiring if He had not Himself commanded us to pray
for the same. But because He is God, He also claims the honor of giving much
more and more abundantly than any one can comprehend, -- like an eternal,
unfailing fountain, which, the more it pours forth and overflows, the more it
continues to give, -- and He desires nothing more earnestly of us than that we
ask much and great things of Him, and again is angry if we do not ask and pray
confidently.
For just as when the richest and most mighty
emperor would bid a poor beggar ask whatever he might desire, and were ready to
give great imperial presents, and the fool would beg only for a dish of gruel,
he would be rightly considered a rogue and a scoundrel who treated the command
of his imperial majesty as a jest and sport, and was not worthy of coming into
his presence: so also it is a great reproach and dishonor to God if we, to whom
He offers and pledges so many unspeakable treasures, despise the same, or have
not the confidence to receive them, but scarcely venture to pray for a piece of
bread.
All this is the fault of the shameful unbelief
which does not look to God for as much good as will satisfy the stomach, much
less expects without doubt such eternal treasures of God. Therefore we must
strengthen ourselves against it, and let this be our first prayer; then,
indeed, we shall have all else in abundance, as Christ teaches [Matt. 6, 33]:
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things
shall be added unto you. For how could He allow us to suffer want and to be
straitened in temporal things when He promises that which is eternal and
imperishable?