Matthew 6:9-10
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The opening "Our Father" isn't just a gentle term of endearment; it's a radical reorientation, shifting prayer from a mere list of needs to a conversation rooted in a profound, established relationship. This immediately establishes the why and how of approaching God, not just the what.
Jesus, having just finished teaching about genuine faith and prayer in contrast to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, provides his disciples with a model prayer. This prayer begins by addressing God as "Our Father" and immediately prioritizes God's honor by asking for His name to be treated as holy. It then moves to God's kingdom and will before addressing human needs.
Ever felt like prayer is a rigid script? Jesus gave a prayer, but was it meant to be recited word-for-word, every single time?
Jesus didn't give his disciples a strict, unchangeable script. The commentaries highlight that he provided a model or a pattern for prayer, not a legalistic requirement.
What the Text Shows:
This understanding frees us to pray authentically, guided by Jesus' example, rather than feeling confined by specific phrases.
Jesus starts prayer by calling God 'Our Father in heaven.' What does this simple phrase reveal about who God is and how we should approach Him?
The opening address, 'Our Father in heaven,' is packed with profound meaning. It sets the stage for our entire prayer.
A Dual Focus:
Understand the original words
hagiazō · Greek Verb
To hold as holy, set apart, or treat with utmost reverence; it signifies acknowledging and declaring God’s character as utterly distinct and glorious.
onoma · Greek Noun
The divine name represents God’s entire being, character, authority, and reputation as revealed to humanity.
basileia · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign and rule of God, encompassing both His present spiritual authority and His future, definitive establishment of His glory over all creation.
thelēma · Greek Noun
God's sovereign desire, purpose, and moral decree for His creation; it is the ultimate standard for human conduct and the unfolding of history.
This passage describes the seraphim crying out 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!' This echoes the petition 'hallowed be your name' by emphasizing God's supreme holiness and the desire for His glory to be recognized universally.
1 Samuel 2:2Hannah's prayer declares, 'There is none holy like the Lord; there is none beside you; there is none rock like our God.' This highlights the unique and absolute holiness of God, reinforcing the reverence and awe implied in hallowing His name.
John 17:6In His high priestly prayer, Jesus says, 'I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.' This shows Jesus actively fulfilling the desire expressed in Matthew 6:9 by revealing God's name and character to His followers.
1 Peter 3:15This verse instructs believers to 'always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, and keep your conscience clear.' This connects to hallowing God's name by showing how our lives and defenses of faith should honor Him.
barnesMatthew 6:9: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
This passage contains the Lord's prayer, a composition unequalled for comprehensiveness and for beauty. It is supposed that some of these petitions were taken from those in common use among the Jews. Indeed some of them are still to be found in Jewish writings, but they did not exist in this beautiful combination. This prayer is given as a "model." It is designed to express the "manner" in…
pulpitMatthew 6:9: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
Verses 9-13. - The pattern of prayer. Parallel passage: Luke 11:2-4. For most suggestive remarks on the Lord's Prayer, both generally and in its greater difficulties of detail, compare by all means Chase, 'The Lord's Prayer in the Early Church:' (Cambridge Texts and Studies). Observe: (1) If the prayer had already been given by the Lord in the sermon on the mount, "one of his disciples" wou…
The opening "Our Father" isn't just a gentle term of endearment; it's a radical reorientation, shifting prayer from a mere list of needs to a conversation rooted in a profound, established relationship. This immediately establishes the why and how of approaching God, not just the what.
Jesus, having just finished teaching about genuine faith and prayer in contrast to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, provides his disciples with a model prayer. This prayer begins by addressing God as "Our Father" and immediately prioritizes God's honor by asking for His name to be treated as holy. It then moves to God's kingdom and will before addressing human needs.
Jesus, having just finished teaching about genuine faith and prayer in contrast to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, provides his disciples with a model prayer. This prayer begins by addressing God as "Our Father" and immediately prioritizes God's honor by asking for His name to be treated as holy. It then moves to God's kingdom and will before addressing human needs.
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When we pray, 'Hallowed be your name,' we acknowledge both His intimate love for us and His ultimate, awe-inspiring majesty.
The very first petition is 'Hallowed be your name.' Why is God's name – His very reputation – the primary focus of prayer, even before our own needs?
Jesus immediately directs our hearts to God’s glory. Praying 'Hallowed be your name' is a powerful declaration of devotion and a plea for God's reputation to be honored.
What 'Hallowed' Means:
This first petition recalibrates our perspective, reminding us that our relationship with God is fundamentally about Him, not just about what He can do for us.
"Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven." — The opening "Our Father" isn't just a gentle term of endearment; it's a radical reorientation, shifting prayer from a mere list of needs to a conversation rooted in a profound, established relationsh…