When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Thy will be done.” Do you know what that means? Luther’s Small Catechism explains that “God’s will is done when he breaks and defeats every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh... And God’s will is done when he strengthens and keeps firm in his Word and in the faith as long as we live.” God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Every time we pray this petition of the Lord’s Prayer, we believers are saying...

1. SOME WANT THEIR WILL TO BE DONE.

Not everybody wants God’s will to be done. That becomes very clear as we read the words of our Savior again. Jesus said, (16-17) “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” The Jews of Jesus’ day wanted to call the tune. They wanted their will to be done. They wanted John the Baptist and Jesus to do whatever they wanted. They wanted to have it their way. There used to be a commercial, “Have it your way at Burger King.” It was a catchy idea. “Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us,” the commercial said. That’s what many people want at church. If the pastor calls a sin a sin, they want to be able to tell him to stop talking about that. “Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce!” Stop talking about my sins! That’s what the Jews were doing with John and Jesus. Those people wanted THEIR will to be done, not God’s.

John preached convicting messages of the law. They wanted him to dance to their tune, but John would not do that. Jesus rejoiced and partied with repentant tax collectors and sinners. The Jews wanted him to stop that, but he didn’t. They always wanted to have it their way, not God’s way! Jesus explained, {18-19} “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” John the Baptist didn’t act like them. He ate locusts and wild honey. They said he was demon-possessed. They rejected John. Jesus acted like everybody else, yet was without sin. Jesus went to parties. Jesus ate and drank with the people. They said he was a glutton and a drunkard, but Jesus was neither. Jesus did eat, and he did drink wine, but their charge was false. Jesus was not a glutton and he was never drunk. He used alcohol, but never abused it. Jesus never sinned.

These wicked people were fickle and never satisfied. They blamed John and Jesus for their unbelief. Today, people still blame God’s messenger. If they made up things about John and Jesus, they are certainly going to do it with any minister of God today. He’s too crabby or too smiley. He’s too serious or too easy going. It’s too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry. Unbelievers use these lame excuses for not repenting of their sins.

2. JESUS WILL CONDEMN ALL WHO REJECT HIM.

Jesus will not accept any excuses on Judgment Day. We read: {20} Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. Jesus did many miracles, but these wicked people did not repent of their sins! They refused to have Jesus as their Savior! So they will be condemned. I suppose people might say, “Well, more people would repent today if we didn’t have this lousy pastor.” But look what happened when Jesus was the preacher. People did not repent!

Jesus said: {21} "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. {22} But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.” Jesus really tore into those people for not believing. He will be the Judge on Judgment Day. He said that Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago! These towns will have it worse. There will be different degrees of punishment in hell. All of hell is terrible, but some are going to have it worse. Those who had every opportunity to hear the gospel and rejected it will have it the worst. Jesus continues: {23} “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies [heaven]? No, you will go down to the depths [hell]. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. {24} But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” This was Jesus’ spent a lot of time in Capernaum, just to the north of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus said that Capernaum was going to hell, and they will have it even worse than the wicked city of Sodom. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, but Capernaum will have worse. They had more chances and did not repent! Let this be a warning!

The ones who will be punished most severely are those who heard the gospel and rejected it. How terrible it will be for all eternity for those who heard God’s Word in Sunday School and Christian Day School and then grew up to spit on the cross and walk away from Jesus. These people will have it the worst. May they repent now before it is too late, for Jesus will condemn ALL who reject him.

3. GOD’S REVEALS HIS TRUTH TO “LITTLE CHILDREN.”

There is a difference between being childish, and having “child like faith.” The fickle crowds were childish. But God reveals his saving truth to people he calls “little children.” {25} At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. {26} Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Some people think that they know it all. They think they are so “wise and learned” that they can lecture God on how things should be. Their minds are closed to God’s Word, and they will perish. Others, by God’s grace, are led to see their sins and their Savior, Jesus Christ. Today’s Epistle (1 Cor 1:26f) makes it very clear that God has chosen some to be believers. Jesus said that “Many are invited, but few are chosen” (Mat 22:14). Saving faith is a gift of God. We can take no credit for the fact that we believe. God gives us faith. But notice what he says about us. We are “little children.”

It takes child-like faith to approach God with the words, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.” We have sinned. We deserve God’s condemnation. And yet, Jesus lived a perfect life for us and died on the cross paying for all of our sins. You are forgiven through Christ! May we all believe, with child-like faith, that Jesus saved us. May we all approach God’s Word with proper humility and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

God has revealed his greatest truths and wisdom to people who are considered “mere babes” in this world. Do you realize that our little children know more about how this world came to be than many great scientists and professors? Do you realize that our little children know more about the way to heaven than most of the world’s most powerful people? Do not, for a moment, think that we deserve to have that kind of wisdom! But we have it from God, for we have received it from his Word. The next time you are tempted to lecture God or criticize his chosen messengers, pause and think, “God’s will be done.” God’s will is always best. He gives us exactly what we need, exactly what is best for us. Our Lord Jesus put it best when he said that it is God’s will is to give you the kingdom! May we praise our Savior-God forever! Amen.