Matthew 6:9-13
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. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord's Prayer, though often recited verbatim, is primarily a model, emphasizing the manner of prayer. It's a comprehensive guide to expressing our deepest needs and desires to God, not a rigid script to be followed exactly.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about true righteousness, contrasting it with the performative piety of the religious leaders, and now provides a model prayer. This prayer begins by addressing God as Father and prioritizing the sanctification of God's name above personal needs. It sets the tone for the rest of the prayer by focusing on God's kingdom and will before turning to petitions for daily sustenance and forgiveness.
Did Jesus intend these exact words for every prayer, or something deeper?
Jesus gives His disciples a model for prayer, not a rigid script. The repetition of this prayer throughout history, and the variations found in Luke's Gospel, suggest its purpose is to shape our approach to God and the substance of our requests. It's a pattern to guide our hearts and minds toward what truly matters in our relationship with the Father.
Why does Jesus start with 'Our Father' and immediately follow with the incredible truth about His name being hallowed?
Jesus' opening, 'Our Father,' invites us into an intimate relationship. It's a profound privilege, rooted in His creative power, His ongoing care, and His adoption of believers into His family. Yet, this intimacy is immediately balanced with awe. 'Hallowed be your name' calls us to recognize God's absolute holiness, His transcendent majesty, and His unique identity, distinct from any earthly father or created being.
What does it practically mean to ask for God's name to be 'hallowed'?
To 'hallow' God's name means to acknowledge it as holy, to treat it with supreme reverence, and to recognize God Himself as set apart, distinct, and utterly worthy of worship. This petition isn't about making God holy (He already is!), but about our desire and prayer that His holiness would be recognized and honored by all people, everywhere. It's a longing for His true character – His power, wisdom, love, and justice – to be seen, respected, and lived out in the world.
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.
artos · Greek Noun
Referring to the provision of physical sustenance necessary for survival and life. In a biblical context, it acknowledges God as the ultimate provider for both physical and spiritual needs.
opheilēma · Greek Noun
A term used metaphorically to represent sin or moral failures. It signifies a debt or obligation owed to God because of disobedience, which man is unable to pay.
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
To release from a penalty, debt, or obligation. Biblically, it signifies the act of God remitting the guilt of sin, and the believer's subsequent duty to grant release to those who have wronged them.
peirasmos · Greek Noun
A trial, test, or enticement to sin. It refers to situations that challenge a person’s faith or circumstances that might entice one to act against God’s will.
rhuomai · Greek Verb
To rescue or set free from danger, bondage, or the influence of the wicked one. In the context of the Lord's Prayer, it is a cry for God to protect His people from the sphere of wickedness.
ponēros · Greek Adjective/Noun
Referring to the essence of moral corruption or the personified force of wickedness (the Devil). It characterizes that which is contrary to God’s nature and destructive to human life.
The Lord's Prayer, as taught by Jesus, emerged during a time of Roman occupation and Messianic expectation. The opening address, 'Our Father,' was revolutionary for its time, offering a deeply personal yet communal connection to God, distinct from typical Jewish or Hellenistic address to deities. This model prayer was intended to guide followers toward a relationship with God centered on His glory, not just human needs.
c. 20 BC - 4 BC
Herod the Great's Reign
Herod the Great, a client king of Rome, ruled Judea. His reign was marked by ambitious building projects, political intrigue, and suppression of dissent, creating an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty for the Jewish people.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and healing across Galilee and Judea. His message of the Kingdom of God, repentance, and a new covenant challenges the religious and political status quo.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Teaches the Sermon on the Mount
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines the ethical and spiritual principles of the Kingdom of God, providing a model prayer for his disciples.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, and later resurrected. This event becomes the cornerstone of Christian faith.
c. AD 40s-60s
Apostolic Ministry and Early Church Growth
The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire, establishing numerous churches and facing persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities.
c. AD 62
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman-Jewish War culminates in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. This catastrophic event profoundly impacted Jewish identity and religious practice, further highlighting the need for a new spiritual framework.
This passage describes the seraphim crying out 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty!' which echoes the desire to hallow God's name by acknowledging His supreme holiness.
Psalm 111:9This verse states that God's name is holy and awesome, reinforcing the idea that 'hallowed be your name' is a prayer for God's name to be recognized and revered as such by all.
Matthew 23:5-7Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their love of public honor and titles, contrasting with the prayer's emphasis on hallowing God's name above human accolades.
1 Peter 3:15This verse encourages believers to 'sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,' which aligns with the prayer's request that God's name be set apart and honored above all.
John 12:28Jesus Himself prays 'Father, glorify your name!' during His earthly ministry, demonstrating that this petition to hallow God's name is central to His own prayer life and mission.
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 Lord's Prayer, though often recited verbatim, is primarily a model, emphasizing the manner of prayer. It's a comprehensive guide to expressing our deepest needs and desires to God, not a rigid script to be followed exactly.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about true righteousness, contrasting it with the performative piety of the religious leaders, and now provides a model prayer. This prayer begins by addressing God as Father and prioritizing the sanctification of God's name above personal needs. It sets the tone for the rest of the prayer by focusing on God's kingdom and will before turning to petitions for daily sustenance and forgiveness.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about true righteousness, contrasting it with the performative piety of the religious leaders, and now provides a model prayer. This prayer begins by addressing God as Father and prioritizing the sanctification of God's name above personal needs. It sets the tone for the rest of the prayer by focusing on God's kingdom and will before turning to petitions for daily sustenance and forgiveness.
"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. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,
as we also have…" — The Lord's Prayer, though often recited verbatim, is primarily a model, emphasizing the *manner* of prayer. It's a comprehensive guide to expressing our deepest needs and desires to God, not a rigid…
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