After addressing God as “Our Father in heaven,” Jesus now leads us into the first petition of The Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9b). This is not a phrase we use very often in everyday conversation. The word “hallowed” has an ancient, almost mysterious ring to it. It feels formal, even distant. Yet Jesus places this as the very first request – before daily bread, before forgiveness, before guidance and protection. This is no accident. It reveals something deeply important about how we ought to pray, and more importantly, how we ought to live.
Jesus is teaching us that before we ask God for anything, we must first exalt Him for Who He is. Prayer should not begin with our needs; it should begin with God’s glory – and that glory is most clearly seen in His name – His revealed identity, His character, His fame, and His reputation. To pray “Hallowed be your name” is to cry out from the heart, “May Your name be honoured, revered, glorified, and set apart – not just in the world, but in my life.” This is worship before petition. Reverence before request. Adoration before asking. It then sets the tone for everything else.
What does “hallowed” mean?
The word “hallowed” is the Greek verb hagiazō, which means “to make holy,” “to set apart,” or “to revere as sacred.” It’s exactly the same root word used throughout the New Testament for “sanctify” or “consecrate.” But in this case, it doesn’t imply making God’s name holy – as if it weren’t already – rather, it is a request that His name be treated as holy. We are not changing God’s character with our prayers. We are praying that the world – and our own hearts – would recognize and honour the holiness that is already His. This is an important appeal that God’s name would be glorified, exalted, and held in highest esteem – that it would not be used casually, misrepresented, or ignored, but revered with awe and wonder.
The Name of God: More than a label
In Scripture, a person’s name is more than just an identifier. It reveals something about their nature, their essence. This is especially true of God. When Jesus says, “Hallowed be your name,” He’s referring not just to the word “God,” but to everything God has revealed about Himself. God’s name stands for His character, His reputation, His actions, and His presence. Throughout the Bible, God reveals His name to draw people into deeper relationship. Each name is a window into God’s character. And Jesus teaches us to pray that these names – and all they represent – would be honoured. Consider a few examples:
- Yahweh– “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) – the self-existent, eternal God.
- El Shaddai– “God Almighty” (Genesis 17:1) – the all-powerful sustainer.
- Jehovah-Jireh– “The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14) – the God Who meets our needs.
- Jehovah-Rapha– “The Lord Who Heals” (Exodus 15:26) – the restorer of brokenness.
- Jehovah-Shalom– “The Lord is Peace” (Judges 6:24) – the One Who brings wholeness.
Revering God’s name in a culture of profanity
We live in a world where reverence is rare and God’s name is often misused. It is invoked carelessly in conversation. It is shouted in anger or used as an exclamation. It is mocked in movies and memes. Even among believers, God’s name can be handled flippantly – reduced to a cliché, a slogan, or a fallback in crisis. This is not a small matter.
The third commandment says: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” (Exodus 20:7). This command isn’t just about profanity. It’s about treating God lightly – reducing His holy name to something common or trivial. To “hallow” His name is to push against this cultural current and say: God is not ordinary. He is holy. His name is sacred. When we pray “Hallowed be your name,” we are committing ourselves to a life of honour – a life in which God’s name is lifted up in our speech, our actions, our worship, and our decisions.
The name and the mission
Jesus connects God’s name to His mission. In John 17, as He prays before going to the cross, He says: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.” (John 17:6). “I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known…” (John 17:26). In the original Greek, this is literally: “I have revealed your name.” Jesus’ life and ministry were all about making the Father known – displaying His character, revealing His heart, and glorifying His name.
This is the heartbeat of all Christian mission. We do not simply go into the world to relieve suffering, defend truth, or teach morality – we go to hallow the name of God. We exist to display His holiness, reflect His character, and spread the recognition of His name. That’s why Jesus placed this request first in The Lord’s Prayer. It’s the foundation. Before we seek our needs to be met, we seek His name to be lifted high. Before we ask God to fix the world, we ask that His name be rightly known in the world.
Praying for the glory of God
“Hallowed be your name” is a prayer of worship – and it is also a prayer of alignment. We are asking God to do something in us, not just around us. We are saying, “Let your name be honoured – beginning with me. Let it be hallowed in my words, my choices, my relationships, my work, my prayers.” In this light, the first petition becomes a prayer of surrender. We are saying, “God, may my life be a platform for your glory. May your name be magnified in the way I forgive, the way I spend money, the way I raise children, the way I love my enemies, the way I suffer, the way I rejoice.” This is not a small prayer. It is the most expansive and radical prayer we could ever pray. It is asking God to reorient our desires, reshape our values, and reorder our priorities around His glory – not our own.
When Jesus teaches us to pray, “Hallowed be your name,” He is calling us to lift our eyes from our needs to God’s glory. He is inviting us to begin prayer not with a shopping list, but with a song of praise. He is teaching us that the ultimate purpose of life – and of prayer – is to honour God. This simple phrase, though often overlooked, is a powerful daily reminder: God is holy. His name is sacred – and my highest calling is to revere Him with all that I am.
When God’s name is not hallowed
To truly grasp the weight of this prayer, we must consider the opposite. What does it look like when God’s name is not hallowed? Scripture gives us many examples of times when people treated God’s name as common or profane. One of the most sobering stories is in Leviticus 10, when Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered “unauthorized fire” before the Lord – something He had not commanded. As priests, they had a responsibility to represent God’s holiness, but they acted presumptuously.
The result was swift judgment: “So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:2). God then says: “Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honoured.” (Leviticus 10:3). The holiness of God is not just theoretical. It has real consequences. When His name is treated casually, or worse – misused, twisted, or commercialised – it dishonours His glory and misleads people.
In Ezekiel 36, God rebukes Israel for profaning His name among the nations. Their disobedience and idolatry caused the surrounding peoples to mock the God of Israel. But God promises to act – not because His people deserved it, but to vindicate His name: “I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone… I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 36:21,23). This is crucial: God is passionate about the honour of His name. He will act to uphold His glory – not because He is insecure, but because His name represents truth, righteousness, and life. To misrepresent Him is to distort the very foundation of reality.
Hallowing His name in our worship
One of the most immediate ways we hallow God’s name is through our worship. When we gather as the church – in homes, chapels, auditoriums, or cathedrals – we come not to be entertained, but to honour God. Worship is not a warm-up to the sermon. It is not an emotional experience for our benefit. It is a holy act of reverence. It is hallowing the name of our Father. The Psalms are filled with calls to honour the name of the Lord: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness.” (Psalm 29:2) “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” (Psalm 34:3). These verses show us that worship is not about preference – it is about posture. Whether we sing old hymns or modern songs, the goal is the same: to lift high the name of God. But this is not limited to singing. Our entire gathering – from the prayers to the preaching to the way we interact with one another – should reflect reverence for God’s name. When worship revolves around performance, popularity, or production value alone, we risk treating what is holy as common. To hallow God’s name is to centre our gatherings around His glory – not our comfort or personal preference.
Hallowing His name in our words
Beyond worship services, we also hallow or profane God’s name with our everyday speech. James addresses the inconsistency of blessing God with our mouths while cursing others: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings… Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9–10). When we speak, we reveal what we believe about God. If we honour His name on Sunday but gossip, slander, and lie on Monday, we are not hallowing His name – we are misrepresenting it. Jesus warned that we will give account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36). That includes how we speak about God, how we use His name, and how we reflect His character in our language. This applies to how we talk to others and also how we talk about God – both in reverence and in truth. Preachers, teachers, and leaders bear an even greater responsibility. We must speak of God with accuracy, humility, and honour, never using His name for personal gain or manipulation.
Hallowing His name in our conduct
Ultimately, our lives are the loudest proclamation of whether or not we hallow God’s name. When we claim the name Christian, we are carrying the name of Christ. What we do, how we treat people, how we respond to trials – all of it either honours or dishonours God’s name. Jesus said: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). This is a beautiful image of what it means to hallow God’s name: to live in such a way that people are drawn to the God we serve. When we forgive generously, love sacrificially, serve humbly, and walk in integrity, we are reflecting our holy Father.
The opposite is also true. When Christians act with hypocrisy, greed, or cruelty, it damages the reputation of God. Gandhi famously said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” We cannot separate the holiness of God’s name from the holiness of our lives. As His children, we are called to be living billboards for His glory.
A Prayer to live by His name
To pray “Hallowed be your name” is not just a request – it is a commitment. It is a declaration that we want our lives to be vessels of honour. It is a prayer that says:
- May Your name be honoured in my home.
- May Your name be honoured in my parenting.
- May Your name be honoured in my workplace.
- May Your name be honoured in my choices, my conversations, and even my internet browsing.
This prayer moves us from the theoretical to the practical. It shapes how we speak, how we spend, how we vote, how we work, how we treat others, and how we pursue holiness. It is a dangerous prayer – because it invites God to purify us. But it is also a beautiful prayer – because it leads us into the life we were created for: a life of honouring our Father in heaven.
“Hallowed be your name” is not just a line in a prayer – this is a lifelong pursuit. It is the lens through which we view worship, speech, conduct, and mission. It is a reminder that God’s glory is the goal of our lives, and His name is the banner over all we do. As we allow these words to shape us, we begin to live differently. We become people who do not use God for our ends, but who exist for His glory. We become reflections of His holiness in a world that desperately needs to see what it means to live in awe of the living God.
When we don’t feel like hallowing His name
Let’s be totally honest here – there are times in life when it feels difficult to hallow God’s name. We are overwhelmed, discouraged, angry, or numb. Sometimes we are walking through personal pain. Other times, we are watching injustice in the world and wondering where God is. In those moments, we may not feel like lifting His name in praise. We may even feel distant from Him. But this is where The Lord’s Prayer offers us a gift – it teaches us to pray not from our feelings, but from our faith.
When we say, “Hallowed be your name,” we are not always declaring how we feel – we are declaring what we believe. We are anchoring ourselves in the truth of God’s character, even when our emotions are stormy. We are choosing to exalt His name above our circumstances. The Psalms give us a powerful model of this: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.” (Psalm 42:5). There’s the key: “I will yet praise Him.” That’s what it means to hallow God’s name in the dark – to say, “Even now, even here, You are holy, and I will honour you.”
Hallowing God’s name in a hostile world
We live in a cultural moment that is increasingly hostile or indifferent to the things of God. His name is often mocked, dismissed, or distorted. Biblical truth is seen as offensive. The church is scrutinized – sometimes fairly, often unfairly. In such a climate, how do we hallow God’s name? First, we do not retreat in fear or shrink back in shame. We stand firm in truth, but we do so with gentleness and humility. Peter urges us: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer… But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15). To hallow God’s name in a hostile world is to live in such a way that our lives speak louder than our words. It is to hold fast to our convictions without becoming combative.
It is to love boldly and serve generously, so that even those who oppose us might take notice. Paul writes to the Philippians: “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:15-16). Hallowing God’s name means reflecting His light into the darkness – not by yelling at the darkness, but by simply shining.
Hallowing God’s name in prayer and practice
So how do we actually hallow God’s name in daily life? Here are four simple but powerful ways:
- By Honouring His Word: When we cherish, study, and obey Scripture, we are declaring that God’s truth matters more than human opinion. We are hallowing His revealed will.
- By Trusting His Promises: When we choose faith over fear, hope over despair, and obedience over convenience, we are saying, “God, your name is trustworthy.” That honours Him.
- By Confessing Our Sin: When we admit our failures and run to His mercy, we demonstrate that His holiness is real – and that His grace is sufficient. Honest confession hallows His name more than shallow perfection ever could.
- By Pointing Others to Him: Every time we share the gospel, encourage a fellow believer, or explain why we live differently, we are lifting up His name before others.
Remember Jesus’ words in John 12:32: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” While that referred primarily to the cross, it reflects a spiritual principle: When we exalt Christ, people are drawn to Him.
The glory of God in all things
To pray “Hallowed be your name” is to embrace the central purpose of all creation – to glorify God. The prophet Habakkuk gives us this vision: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14). This is where history is headed. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). On that day, God’s name will be fully hallowed across heaven and earth. But we don’t just wait for that day to begin. We start right now. We hallow God’s name not just on Sundays, but in school drop-offs, staff meetings, quiet evenings at home, and conversations with neighbours. Every moment is an opportunity to live for His glory. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
A life that hallows God’s name
As we conclude this sermon, the question becomes deeply personal: Am I living in a way that hallows God’s name?
- Is His name honoured in my thoughts, speech, and habits?
- Do my relationships reflect His grace and truth?
- Does my use of time, money, and energy to glorify Him?
- Do I approach worship with reverence and awe?
- Do I confess sin quickly and rely on His mercy daily?
None of us does this perfectly. But the good news is that Jesus already has. He lived a life that perfectly hallowed the Father’s name – and then He gave that life for us, so that we could be forgiven, adopted, and empowered to do the same. Because of Christ, we can now pray this prayer not as beggars, but as beloved children – children who long to see their Father’s name lifted high in every corner of their lives and in every corner of the world.
Conclusion
“Hallowed be your name.”
This is not a passive hope. It is an active pursuit. It is the heartbeat of worship, the fuel of mission, and the mark of true discipleship. It is the cry of the redeemed who have seen the holiness of God and want His name to be known, loved, and revered – in every heart, every home, every nation.
Let this be the prayer that shapes our lives:
Father, may your name be honoured … in me … through me … around me … and forevermore.