And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just give a list of requests; He begins by directing our hearts to God's identity: "Father." This immediately invites us into a relational dynamic, not just a transactional one, where we approach God with the confidence of a child who knows they are loved and cared for.
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
English Standard Version (ESV)
A disciple, seeing Jesus in prayer, asks Him to teach them how to pray, just as John the Baptist had taught his own followers. In response, Jesus provides a model prayer, beginning with an address to God and the first petitions. This prayer, similar to one taught earlier, serves as a guide for how believers should approach God in their petitions.
Why did Jesus' disciples ask to be taught to pray? It wasn't just about words, but about approaching God with a new understanding of who He is.
The disciples saw Jesus in prayer and were so moved they asked Him to teach them. This shows prayer isn't just a religious duty, but a response to encountering God. When Jesus begins this prayer with "Father," it unlocks a new relationship. It's not a distant, intimidating deity, but a loving Father who invites us into His presence. This intimate address is the foundation for all our prayers, rooted in His fatherly love and our identity as His children through Christ.
Before asking for anything for ourselves, Jesus directs our hearts to something far greater. What does it mean to hallow God's name and desire His kingdom?
The first two requests—'Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.'—are profoundly significant. 'Hallowed be your name' means recognizing and treating God's name (which represents all of who He is) as holy, set apart from everything else. It's about acknowledging His supreme worth and majesty in our thoughts and words. 'Your kingdom come' is a longing for God's rule and reign to be fully established on earth, just as it is in heaven. This isn't just about a future hope, but about actively desiring God's will to be done now in our lives and in the world. These petitions remind us that our prayers should first be focused on God's glory and His purposes, not just our own needs.
Understand the original words
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Patēr · Greek Noun
A title used for God that emphasizes His personal, paternal relationship with believers, conveying intimacy, trust, and the authority of a caring parent.
hagiazō · Greek Verb
To treat as holy, set apart, or revere as sacred; it signifies acknowledging the supreme sanctity and incomparable worth of God's character and reputation.
basileia · Greek Noun
Refers to God's sovereign rule, reign, and redemptive authority; it encompasses both His eternal dominion and the manifestation of His will and salvation in the world.
The Lord's Prayer, as taught by Jesus, was not intended as a rigid script but as a pattern for prayer, reflecting the intimate, fatherly relationship believers have with God and prioritizing His desires above our own.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches the Disciples to Pray
Jesus is asked by his disciples to teach them how to pray, similar to how John the Baptist taught his own disciples. In response, Jesus provides a model prayer, emphasizing the importance of addressing God as 'Father' and focusing on His glory and kingdom.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount
Earlier, Jesus had delivered the Sermon on the Mount, which also included a version of the Lord's Prayer. The inclusion in Luke's Gospel suggests the importance and ongoing relevance of this prayer model for Jesus' followers.
c. 40s-50s AD
Luke Compiles His Gospel
The Gospel of Luke is written, documenting Jesus' life and teachings. Luke includes the Lord's Prayer in this account, likely drawing from eyewitness testimony and earlier written sources.
c. 80-90 AD
Matthew Compiles His Gospel
The Gospel of Matthew is written, also including the Lord's Prayer, though in a slightly more expanded form. The differences in wording between the two Gospels highlight that Jesus likely taught the prayer on more than one occasion, emphasizing its core message over exact phrasing.
This passage records the same prayer given by Jesus, highlighting its importance as a foundational teaching on how believers should approach God.
1 Kings 18:36Elijah's prayer demonstrates a direct appeal to God's name and kingdom, mirroring the petitions in the Lord's Prayer and showing a historical precedent for this type of focused petition.
Daniel 2:44This prophecy speaks of God establishing a kingdom that will never be destroyed, which directly relates to the petition 'Thy kingdom come,' showing the ultimate fulfillment of this prayer request.
1 Corinthians 1:10Paul urges believers to agree in what they say, emphasizing unity in prayer and doctrine, which aligns with the communal nature of the Lord's Prayer taught by Jesus.
calvinLuke 11:1-4: "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
- Pray ye therefore thus: Our Father who art in heaven, may thy name be sanctified. 10. May thy kingdom come. May thy will be done, as in heaven, so also in the earth. 11. Give us to-day our daily bread. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13. And lead us not into temptation, but…
wesleyLuke 11:2: "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth."
11:2 When ye pray, say - And what he said to them is undoubtedly said to us also. We are therefore here directed, not only to imitate this in all our prayers, but to use this very form of prayer. Mt 6:9.
Jesus doesn't just give a list of requests; He begins by directing our hearts to God's identity: "Father." This immediately invites us into a relational dynamic, not just a transactional one, where we approach God with the confidence of a child who knows they are loved and cared for.
A disciple, seeing Jesus in prayer, asks Him to teach them how to pray, just as John the Baptist had taught his own followers. In response, Jesus provides a model prayer, beginning with an address to God and the first petitions. This prayer, similar to one taught earlier, serves as a guide for how believers should approach God in their petitions.
A disciple, seeing Jesus in prayer, asks Him to teach them how to pray, just as John the Baptist had taught his own followers. In response, Jesus provides a model prayer, beginning with an address to God and the first petitions. This prayer, similar to one taught earlier, serves as a guide for how believers should approach God in their petitions.
"And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come." — Jesus doesn't just give a list of requests; He begins by directing our hearts to God's identity: "Father." This immediately invites us into a relational dynamic, not just a transactional one, where w…
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Last reviewed October 2026