What is the significance of praying, "on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10)?

from the old testament

• When God created, everything was “very good” (Genesis 1:31), meaning the earth was perfect like heaven. However, Adam’s and Eve’s sin brought God’s curse upon both humanity and creation (Genesis 3:16–19). From that point until now, earth and the world systems have not been righteous like God and the heavenly realm.
• However, the Old Testament anticipated a coming King and Kingdom that would be perfectly and eternally righteous. For example, Daniel 7:13–14 reads, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
• This and other related passages (e.g., Isaiah 2:2–4; 11:6–9; 65:17–25) reflect the idea of a “kingdom come,” in which the earth will no longer be marked by evil but by righteousness.

from the new testament

• Matthew 6:10 reads in full, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Scholars debate whether the “kingdom come” language is a separate petition from “your will be done,” or whether the two are connected. How one understands that connection is how one understands the phrase, “on earth as it is in heaven.”
• For those who separate the two petitions, then Jesus is saying to pray that God’s ongoing will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Scripture often refers to God’s will as righteousness or doing righteousness (e.g., 1 John 2:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3) with believers being told that as their minds are transformed, they will be able to “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Thus, this is a reasonable view of this passage, that the prayer is that God will cause His righteous will to show itself on this sinful earth.
• Conversely, for those who view Matthew 6:10 as a single, related petition, see “your will be done” as being “your kingdom come.” Rather than “will” being specifically moral, they view it as referring to God’s ultimate plans for Jesus' return and the establishment of His eternal kingdom on earth.
• Contextually, the second view is perhaps stronger given the proximity of “kingdom come” in the verse. However, both views reflect Scriptural truths: God works His good pleasure in this life (Philippians 2:13), but wickedness, not righteousness, will continue to reign until Jesus returns (2 Timothy 3:1–5; Revelation 19:11–16).

implications for today

God is holy (Isaiah 6:3) and hates sin (Habakkuk 1:13). And yet, looking around, we see unholiness everywhere and people seemingly free to sin without ramifications. This prayer reminds us that the gap between heaven’s righteousness and earth’s unrighteousness is real, but not eternal. God’s kingdom is coming, and His righteousness will fill the earth (Isaiah 11:9). However, right now, He has chosen to delay its final arrival to give people opportunity to repent (2 Peter 3:9).

What are we to do, then, during this period until evil is finally destroyed and God’s Kingdom does come? We are to pray. We are to pray that God gives us righteous peace in this land (1 Timothy 2:1–2). We are to pray that the Holy Spirit continues to convict the world of its sin (John 16:8). We are to pray that God restrains what sin there is (2 Thessalonians 2:6–7). We are to pray that we live lives that display His righteousness to the world (Matthew 5:16).

Beyond praying, believers are called to live as citizens of God’s coming Kingdom while we wait for its fullness. We are to surrender our own lives to God’s will, allowing Him to transform our hearts and actions so we reflect His righteousness to a world that recognizes it is broken and desperately needs Him. We are to be a light in this broken world, displaying God’s character through our words, choices, and love for others. We are also called to proclaim the hope of His Kingdom by sharing the gospel with those who have not yet turned to Him (Matthew 28:19–20). One day, God will right all wrongs, and as we wait for the day when Christ will fully restore all things, we trust His timing and live as representatives of the Kingdom we are praying will come (Revelation 21:1–5).

As we do these things, let us be thankful that God's Kingdom promise is true and thank Him for His mercy in delaying its fulfillment so our family and friends may have more time to hear and respond to the Gospel before it does come!