After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Matthew 6:9

I remember back to when I started memorizing Matthew 5:1-4 where it beings with Jesus seeing the crowd, goes up into a mountain and his disciples meet him there. This is still Jesus teaching his disciples, these were his friends, his followers, the men who followed, and sat under his teaching. Now Jesus is teaching the orthopraxy of theology, lets the the practical application, how do I do… theology.

Jesus starts with prayer, a model prayer, a prayer that is so rich in theology (knowledge of God) that we often recite it today, maybe without even thinking about what it actually means. It is a great prayer, by means an important prayer.

Our Father, establishing a relationship of a familiar association, father to child. God, our father, to whom we are praying, but as a child we are subordinate to our father, so in a way this is a plea.

Our Father which art in heaven, This is God we are speaking of, my earthy father has no authority over heaven, but God does. So as a child pleas to a father we humbly go before the God of the Universe with our request. This is so important, to whom we pray? I don’t think most people think about that, they create gods and idols in their hearts that they tend to pray to.

When you ask the question, who is this Father in Heaven? Are we making a god that won’t offend us? Are we actually praying to the God who created all things. It should humble us that he actually hears our prayers, why should He? Why should He care to listen to us? But Jesus is teaching here God wants us to speak to Him. Our prayers should be to God, Alone!

Hallowed be thy name, God, Your name is sacred. This going back to Exodus 20:7, as Moses hands down Gods Law:

⁷ Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exodus 20:7

We need to respect God, and by showing honor to his name. To use God’s name in a common, vain or vulgar way doesn’t show Him respect. He is the God of all things, He blesses us each day with breath, life, and provisions.

Lord Help me to honor you, even when things look bad, help me never to dishonor your name. Though this world is a broken and fallen place, I know you still have a purpose for my life. As I am kicked, and punched, abused and while vultures pick my bones, may my life never be a curse to your great name. I surrender all to you, and to you alone will I give praise.