Matthew 6:9-13 “Hallowed Name”
Author: Dr. George M. Flattery“Hallowed Name”
NAU Matthew 6:9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen .’ (Mat 6:9 NAU)
More Thoughts from The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13.
Jesus taught us how to address God when we pray. Then He gave us a set of three petitions that have to do with God. The first petition is “Hallowed be your name.” We will consider the word “hallowed” today and “name” tomorrow.
The Greek word translated “hallowed” means “to sanctify.” As one commentator points out, it means to set apart from everything common and profane to esteem, prize, honor, reverence, and adore as divine and infinitely blessed. Jesus did not mean that there could be an increase in the holiness or sanctification of God. The petition that He gives us has to do with us.
The Greek verb is in the passive form. It means, “Be hallowed.” The petition is that God will enable us to hollow His name. Thus, the prayer is for God to make His Word and presence fully honored in the hearts of men.
Through our attitudes and actions, we can profane the things of God. When we pray, our prayer is that God will produce in us a sense of sanctity, awe, and reverence. All too often our familiarity with God and His house dulls our sense of reverence. Others, of course, deliberately profane anything that has to do with God. We must pray that God be hallowed among them as well.
More Thoughts from The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13.
Jesus exhorted the disciples to pray “hallowed be Your Name.” In my last “thoughts” we discussed the term “hallowed.” Today we will focus on “Your Name.”
The name of God represents God Himself. When we treat His name with reverence, we treat Him with reverence. If we speak His name without respect, we treat Him without respect. Our words, our language, are important. We should not use His name lightly or profanely.
When we reverence God’s name, we will not be comfortable hearing His name treated without reverence. Does it hurt us when the name of Christ is taken in vain? Are we ashamed when God’s name is used in an oath? Should we speak up when people profane the name of God? Various factors will affect what we do in a given situation. I know that the Spirit of God will guide us and give us wisdom.
When we pray, let us exalt the name of God. Although we need not come into His presence with fear, we must come with reverence. In the sense of reverence, we must “fear” God (Eccl. 12:13).
George M. Flattery, Ed.D., is the founder of Global University and Network211.