For Thine Is the Kingdom

This section examines the Lord's Prayer line by line through the words of eminent theological commentators. The prayer concludes with a doxology, or hymn of gratitude to God. This is not included in all versions of the Lord's prayer, as many biblical experts feel it was added later.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

The conclusion: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.  According to some, this is a reference to David's doxology in 1Ch 29:11. The greatness, O Lord, is yours. It is, first and foremost, a type of plea for the enforcement of the preceding petitions. It is our responsibility to plead with God in prayer, to fill our mouth with reasons (Job 23:4), not to move God, but to impact ourselves; to strengthen the faith, to arouse our fervency, and to demonstrate both. Now the most effective petitions in prayer are those drawn from God himself and from what he has revealed about himself. We must contend with God in his own strength, both in terms of the nature of our arguments and the manner in which they are urged. The plea here is directed specifically at the first three petitions: "Father in heaven, thy kingdom come, for thy is the kingdom; thy will be done, for thy is the power; hallowed be thy name, for thy is the glory." 

And in terms of our own personal duties, the following are encouraging: "Thine is the kingdom; thou hast the administration of the world and the protection of the saints, thy willing subjects;" God gives and saves in the manner of a king. Thine is the power to sustain and support that dominion, as well as to fulfil all thy obligations to thy people." Thine is the glory, as the culmination of everything given to and done for the saints in response to their prayers; for their acclaim awaits him. This is a question of consolation and holy trust in prayer. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible, Volume V (Matthew to John)

Adam Clarke's Commentary

For the kingdom is thine,] Wetstein, Griesbach, and the most famous critics deny the entirety of this doxology. The authorities against it are Griesbach and Wetstein, particularly in the second edition of Griesbach's Testament, who is adamant that it was never incorporated into the sacred text. It is spelled differently in multiple MSS. and is omitted by the majority of Greek and Latin fathers. 

Given that the doxology is at least very ancient and was in use among the Jews, as are all the other pleas in this great prayer, it should not, in my opinion, be excluded from the text just because some MSS. omit it and others write it differently. See Lightfoot and Schoettgen for several versions of this doxology derived from ancient Jewish writers. By kingdom, we may comprehend that Mt 6:10 was mentioned and Mt 3:2 was clarified. Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary. 

Albert Barnes's Commentary

Thine is the Kingdom. That is, mine is the reign or dominion. Thou hast dominion over all these things, and canst so regulate them as to answer these prayers. Source: Barnes' New Testament Notes

Read Also: The Power and The Glory

                          For Ever and Ever. Amen