Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Matthew 6:9.
The concept of “hallowing” God’s name is to treat something as holy and revere it. Jesus taught His disciples to revere God’s holy name in the context of the Lord’s Prayer. Their way of life was to communicate this reverence for their heavenly Father.
One of the best ways to see the power of this request is to see the opposite, to see what it looks like when God’s people do not revere His name. This was the tone of God’s promise to the house of Israel in Ezekiel 36:22-23:
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
The way Israel did not revere or respect God’s holy name was because of their disobedience and sin. They blasphemed (profaned) His name by acting inconsistent with His character. God does not exist to vindicate His people as much as He will vindicate His holy name, which His people had dishonored in full view of the nations around them.
“Hallowing” His name was not just a formal title of address; it was a calling to His followers about how they were to live. If they claimed to know God and be part of His family, they were called to conduct themselves to reflect the family name—God’s name. They represented a holy God as they lived in a broken and sinful world.
This prayer was a constant reminder of their Father’s expectations of how they lived. Their attitude and conduct could honor or dishonor Him. If they obeyed Him, they had confidence that they were honoring Him well. If they disobeyed Him, they would be dishonoring His name.
Are we living in a way that honors His holy Name?
Pastor Brad.
