What does God mean by “Done on Earth as it is in Heaven”?

The phrase “done on earth as it is in heaven” comes from the Lord’s Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. This phrase is part of the petition “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” To understand what God means by this, let’s break down the key components:

Context and Meaning

1. God’s Kingdom: The “kingdom” refers to God’s sovereign rule and reign. When Jesus speaks of God’s kingdom, he refers to both the present reality of God’s rule breaking into the world through his ministry and the future fulfillment of God’s plan.
2. God’s Will: God’s will encompasses His desires, purposes, and plans for creation. It includes moral commandments, the flourishing of His creation, and the ultimate redemption and restoration of the world.
3. Heaven: In this context, heaven is where God’s will is perfectly done. It represents the realm where God’s reign is fully acknowledged and where there is complete harmony with His purposes.

Interpretation

• Alignment of Earth with Heaven: The prayer expresses a desire for the earth to reflect the perfect order, justice, love, and peace that exist in heaven. It is a call for the values and purposes of God’s heavenly kingdom to be realized in the earthly realm.
• Transformation and Restoration: This phrase emphasizes the hope and expectation that God’s transformative power will bring about change on earth, aligning it more closely with divine intentions. It involves justice, mercy, peace, and righteousness prevailing in human affairs.
• Active Participation: Praying “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is also a commitment to actively participate in God’s work. It is not just a passive wish but an active alignment of the believer’s life with God’s purposes, working towards justice, love, and compassion.

Practical Implications

1. Living Out God’s Will: Believers are called to live in a way that reflects God’s will, demonstrating love, justice, and mercy in their daily lives. This involves personal transformation and ethical living.
2. Social and Moral Responsibility: It implies working towards societal changes that reflect God’s justice and compassion. This could include addressing issues like poverty, injustice, and inequality.
3. Hope for the Future: This prayer reflects an eschatological hope that, ultimately, God’s will shall be fully realized in a renewed creation, as described in prophetic visions of the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1-4).

Summary

“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is a profound petition for the alignment of the earthly realm with the divine order and purposes of heaven. It encompasses a call for personal and societal transformation, active participation in God’s mission, and a hopeful anticipation of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for creation. It reflects a desire for God’s perfect will—characterized by justice, love, and peace—to be manifest in the world.