Hallowed be thy Name

“Jesus said, Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father who art (is) in heaven,
Hallowed (Holy) be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”
(Matthew 6:9-10)

As we look closely at the next few words in the prayer of Jesus, He prays for three things. First it is interesting to note that most of us have probably read this first phrase incorrectly for years. At least I can say that I have for years. Most read the first phrase like “Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed (Holy) is Thy name. We read it like Jesus is beginning His prayer to our Father with praise saying how holy He is. Yet that is not what Jesus is saying in this prayer. The Greek word here is “hagiazo” which means to make Holy, i.e. ceremonially purify or consecrate, to venerate, to sanctify or be holy. Jesus is not asking the Father to be holy, for He already is holy. Jesus is asking that our Father’s name be recognized as holy in the earth as it is in heaven. The New Living Translation correctly says, “may your name be honored.”

Therefore Jesus is praying, “May your name Father be honored as holy on earth, as it is in heaven.”

The kings of antiquity were very committed to exalting their own name in their kingdom. Archeologists have found hieroglyphics on the walls of pyramids in Egypt or in temples in Assyria that profusely proclaim the name and deeds of their kings. The name of the king must be glorified and must endure through the ages. These ancient kings were flowing in satanic dominion, for it was he who decided that he would exalt himself above God. Is it any wonder that the devil would entice earthly kings to enter into his twisted desire to demote the Living God while making themselves out to be gods? Yet it is true that to exalt the name of the king is to exalt the king himself. The name and the person go together. To dishonor the king’s name is to dishonor the king.

We can not glorify with our mouth
what we dishonor with our life.

Jesus was passionate about glorifying the name of His Father in the earth. In the Gospel of John 12:28 Jesus prays to His Father by saying, "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." This was one of the main things that Jesus came to do. He was committed to living His life to glorify the name of His God and Father.

If we are going to live as Kingdom Christians, we must also devote ourselves “to make holy and to consecrate” the name of the Lord on the earth.

Reflection...

Do you understand that Jesus is praying this prayer so that the Name of our God and Father will be glorified in the earth through you? Think about that fact! Ask the Father today how you can increase the glory of His great name in your world.


Are there any obstacles which the Lord has already spoken to you about which prevent you from glorifying God in and through your life? If so, confess and turn from them now!