We find the model prayer found in Matthew 6, which is often referred to as “the Lord’s Prayer”. Jesus starts out teaching the disciples how to pray by instructing them, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'” (Matthew 6:9)
The first phrase, “Our Father in heaven” is to remind us of to Whom we must pray – Almighty God, who is the Heavenly Father of all who have true faith in Jesus Christ! The Bible teaches that were adopted into His family at the moment of salvation, and thus He is now our Heavenly Father, to Whom we bring all our petitions and thanksgivings and praise!
I want to call your attention to the next phrase, “hallowed be Your name”. Of the countless thousands of people throughout the world who recite this prayer, many on a daily basis, I wonder if they truly stop to think what these four words mean? Obviously, we are to pray what we believe, and if we truly believe that God’s name is hallowed, how does that affect our lives each day? The word ‘hallowed’ basically means – holy and sacred. And if we fully believe that God’s name is Holy and Sacred, and we are bold enough to call Him our “Father” – then we should live each day with that in mind.
I like what Adam Clarke (1760 – 1832), says about this in his commentary on Matthew 6:
We hallow God’s name,
1st. With our lips, when all our conversation is holy, and we speak of those things which are meet to minister grace to the hearers.
2dly. In our thoughts, when we suppress every rising evil, and have our tempers regulated by his grace and Spirit.
3dly. In our lives, when we begin, continue, and end our works to his glory. If we have an eye to God in all we perform, then every act of our common employment will be an act of religious worship.
4thly. In our families, when we endeavor to bring up our children in the discipline and admonition or the Lord.
5thly. In our particular calling or business, when we separate the falsity, deception, and lying, commonly practiced, from it; buying and selling as in the sight of the holy and just God.
So, we certainly should not just quote this prayer and these phrases without serious thought as to “Do we TRULY ‘hallow’ His Name?”