Why is the concept of "hallowed be Your name" significant in Matthew 6:9? Historical and Literary Context “Hallowed be Your name” is the first petition in the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus places worship before petition, re-centering the disciples on God’s character prior to any personal request. In first-century Judaism, reverent address of God’s Name (הַשֵּׁם, Ha-Shem) was already common; the Master affirms that tradition while locating it in the intimacy of “Father.” Theological Meaning of “Name” In Scripture God’s “name” (שֵׁם, ὄνομα) signifies His revealed character and reputation (Exodus 34:5-7; Psalm 8:1; John 17:6). To ask that His name be hallowed is to desire that His attributes—holiness, justice, mercy, truth—be publicly acknowledged and revered. Definition and Nuance of “Hallowed” To hallow is not to make God holier—He is intrinsically “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah 6:3)—but to recognize and display that holiness. The passive imperative indicates a request that God act so His name is treated as sacred in every sphere: in heaven, on earth, and within the petitioner’s own heart. Old Testament Foundations The petition echoes Ezekiel 36:22-23 : “I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations… and the nations will know that I am Yahweh.” Jesus lifts Ezekiel’s prophetic promise into daily prayer, weaving redemptive history into personal devotion. Jesus’ Covenant Fulfillment By instructing His followers to pray for the Father’s name to be hallowed, Jesus aligns their desires with God’s redemptive agenda consummated in Himself (John 17:4-6). The resurrection vindicates that name: Philippians 2:9-11 proclaims that at “the name of Jesus every knee should bow,” an event forecast in this petition. Eschatological Dimension The plea anticipates the consummation when the earth “will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh” (Habakkuk 2:14). Praying “hallowed be Your name” is an eschatological longing for the universal acknowledgment of God’s kingship that will characterize the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:3). Practical Implications for Prayer and Life 1. Worship First: Aligns priorities—God’s glory before personal needs. 2. Personal Sanctification: Invites God to purge hypocrisy so that His holiness shines through His people (1 Peter 1:15-16). 3. Mission: Propels evangelism; lives and words are to exalt His name among the nations (Matthew 28:19). Patristic Witness Ignatius (c. AD 110) cites the phrase in Epistle to the Smyrnaeans 4. The Didache 8.2 (late 1st–early 2nd cent.) reproduces the petition verbatim, showing its liturgical use within decades of Christ’s resurrection. Cultural and Rabbinic Background Second-Temple Jews avoided vocalizing the Tetragrammaton, substituting “Adonai.” Jesus retains the reverence yet invites filial boldness. The petition transforms a cultural practice into a heartfelt plea for God’s fame. Connection to the Resurrection and Gospel The holiness of God exposes human sin (Romans 3:23). Christ’s atoning death and verified resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, multiply attested by enemy-attestation principle and early creed) provide the only adequate means of reconciling sinners to a holy God. To pray “hallowed be Your name” is therefore to embrace the gospel that makes such reverence possible (Hebrews 10:19-22). Summary and Application “Hallowed be Your name” is a four-dimensional petition: theological, eschatological, missional, and personal. It affirms God’s intrinsic holiness, longs for universal recognition of that holiness, propels the church’s witness, and reforms the believer’s life. Because Scripture is trustworthy, manuscript evidence solid, and Christ risen indeed, the petition rests on unshakable ground—inviting every generation to join the eternal anthem: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8). |
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