Our Father

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9).


My dad used to tell me, "Julie, just be yourself." I would respond, "But what if I don't know who that is?" Identity is crucial not only in our lives but in the gospels. The primary question of Jesus' temptation was who he was. "If you are the Son of God. . . ." (Matthew 4:6). The first line of the Lord's prayer is also about identity. But instead of questioning God's identity, Jesus is outlining it.

It's almost as if he is saying this is how you should pray: first understand who you are praying to. Who are you praying to? You're praying to "our Father". That means he's "my Father" and "your Father". Jesus is identifying himself with us in the prayer. And what is a father? Ideally he's someone who protects, encourages, challenges, enriches, nurtures, and adores his child.

Who else are you praying to? You're praying to the one whose name is hallowed. What does it mean to hallow a name? The online Merriam-Webster defines it as to "honor as holy". A person's name in the Bible was often equated with his character. So by "hallowing God's name" we're recognizing His character as holy. We're saying, "You are beyond us, more powerful than us--you are righteous."

We're only eight words into the Lord's Prayer, and it's already packed with power. We know something about God in those eight words. He is the holy, righteous, tender Father of this universe--a Father whose holiness could overwhelm us and yet a Father who hears us--who even listens to our prattle.