In the first petition of the Lord’s prayer, we learn to Whom we pray and how we should regard his Name as holy. Answer the devotional questions to truly understand what you are praying.
by Rev. Jaco Lemmer
We can only understand the Lord’s prayer, which our Lord Jesus Himself taught his disciples, when we see how Jesus understood prayer. He teaches us how He understood it in verses 5 to 8 of Matthew 6. Jesus’ understanding of prayer is expressed in the words “for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8).
With these words, Jesus is teaching his disciples that prayer is not about getting as many things from God as possible, but it is about a relationship with God – the God that everyone can call “Father” through Jesus Christ. With this great truth, Jesus teaches his disciples and his church how to pray.
“Our Father…”
The first words of Jesus’ prayer are the way we may address God, the Father. It is with the moving words “Our Father”. The Word “Father” is the Aramaic word “Abba” which Jesus always used when He spoke to his Father. It is very interesting that Jesus teaches his disciples to call his Father their Father too.
What we must note is that Jesus never addressed God as “our Father”, but as “my Father”. For example, in the garden of Gethsemane he says, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” (Mathew 26:39). Jesus was thus in a unique relationship with the Father (Mathew 11:27).
However, the disciples, and all believers who are Jesus’ adopted brothers and sisters, may call God “our Father”. Paul makes this even clearer in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. To be able to call God Almighty “our Father” is and will forever remain the greatest privilege and fruit of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
God becomes our Father through the complete atoning work that Jesus performed. When we call Him “Father”, it is an absolute act of faith. We acknowledge and expect that just as we are children of God, He too may look at us just as a Father would. The perfect Father who makes all things work together for my good and makes me inherit everything that is Jesus’ (Romans 8:17, 28).
Devotional Questions
- What does it mean to you as a believer that you may call God “Father”?
- Think of your earthly father and everything he means (or does not mean) to you. What then makes it so special and wonderful to be able to call God our Father?
- What image of God do you have when you think of Him? Do you think of Him as a Father or as something else? How can the Word correct our image of God?
“in heaven…”
In about half of the times “your Father” or “our Father” is used in the Bible, reference is also made to heaven (for an example, see Matthew 18:14). This shows us how God should be approached. We can come to Him through Christ and talk to Him like a child would talk with their father, with tremendous love and openness.
However, there is always the great realization of who this Father is. He is not just your friend or just your companion, but He is the God who created everything by speaking. He maintains everything and deserves all honor and praise. Saying “… in heaven…” after we say, “our Father”, reminds us of who God is. He is my Father, but He is also in heaven and deserves all my honor and respect.
“Hallowed be thy Name;”
God’s Name is equal to Him, in the same way that each person’s name is also to some extent representative of the person himself. Because God is holy (set apart, totally exalted, and morally perfect), his Name is also holy (Psalm 111:9).
The first request of the prayer that Jesus teaches us is therefore that we should pray that God’s name be sanctified. This is not a request to make God more holy in any way than He already is. God is holy and his character cannot be changed. Rather, it is a request that the world recognize God’s Name as holy. In other words, that the world will recognize that God alone is holy and exalted and God, and that He deserves all honor and worship from all people.
That is why the blasphemy of God’s Name is one of the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:7). When someone does not “sanctify” God’s Name, it means that He is not honored and worshiped by man as He deserves.
The most important desire of Jesus and his followers’ hearts is that God will be known and worshiped in the correct manner. Therefore, this is the first request in prayer that Jesus teaches us. So, the way in which we should start all our prayers must be God-centered.
Devotional Questions
- How do you usually start your prayers? If you are honest, are your prayers God-centered or people-centered?
- Why is it so important for believers to ask God that his Name be sanctified by the people of the world?
- In what ways is God’s Name not sanctified in our society? As a Christian, what should you do about it?
