Hallowed Be Thy Name

A line-by-line exploration of the Lord's Prayer through the writings of famous theological commentators

"Hallowed be thy Name" is the first of the seven petitions in the prayer (the first three address God, the second four are prayers related to our needs and concerns)

Please select a commentary by clicking on one of the following:-

Matthew Henry on the meaning of "Hallowed be thy Name"

Adam Clarke on "Hallowed be thy Name"

Albert Barnes on "Hallowed be thy Name"

(commentary on Matthew chapter 6, verse 9)

Wesley Study Notes
Matthew 6:9-13
Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:9
Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:10
Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:11
Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:12
Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:13
Sermon by Charles Spurgeon
"The Fatherhood of God"
Sermon by Charles Spurgeon
"A Heavenly Pattern..."
Interpretation by
Alexander Maclaren - intro
Interpretation by
Alexander Maclaren - part 1
Interpretation by
Alexander Maclaren - part 2
a contemporary bible study
on the Lord's Prayer

prayerscapes - creative
prayer music

Matthew Henry on "Hallowed Be Thy Name"

II. The petitions, and those are six; the three first relating more immediately to God and his honour, the three last to our own concerns, both temporal and spiritual; as in the ten commandments, the four first teach us our duty toward God, and the last six our duty toward our neighbour. The method of this prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then to hope that other things shall be added.

1. Hallowed be thy name. It is the same word that in other places is translated sanctified. But here the old word hallowed is retained, only because people were used to it in the Lord's prayer. In these words, (1.) We give glory to God; it may be taken not as a petition, but as an adoration; as that, the Lord be magnified, or glorified, for God's holiness is the greatness and glory of all his perfections. We must begin our prayers with praising God, and it is very fit he should be first served, and that we should give glory to God, before we expect to receive mercy and grace from him. Let him have praise of his perfections, and then let us have the benefit of them. (2.) We fix our end, and it is the right end to be aimed at, and ought to be our chief and ultimate end in all our petitions, that God may be glorified; all our other requests must be in subordination to this, and in pursuance of it. "Father, glorify thyself in giving me my daily bread and pardoning my sins," &c. Since all is of him and through him, all must be to him and for him. In prayer our thoughts and affections should be carried out most to the glory of God. The Pharisees made their own name the chief end of their prayers (Mt 6:5, to be seen of men), in opposition to which we are directed to make the name of God our chief end; let all our petitions centre in this and be regulated by it. "Do so and so for me, for the glory of thy name, and as far as is for the glory of it." (3.) We desire and pray that the name of God, that is, God himself, in all that whereby he has made himself known, may be sanctified and glorified both by us and others, and especially by himself. "Father, let thy name be glorified as a Father, and a Father in heaven; glorify thy goodness and thy highness, thy majesty and mercy. Let thy name be sanctified, for it is a holy name; no matter what becomes of our polluted names, but, Lord, what wilt thou do to thy great name?" When we pray that God's name may be glorified, [1.] We make a virtue of necessity; for God will sanctify his own name, whether we desire it or not; I will be exalted among the heathen, Ps 46:10. [2.] We ask for that which we are sure shall be granted; for when our Saviour prayed, Father glorify thy name, it was immediately answered, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Source: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume V (Matthew to John)

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Adam Clarke on "Hallowed be thy Name"

Hallowed] AGIASQHTWAGIAZW. from a negative, and GH, the
earth, a thing separated from the earth, or from earthly purposes
and employments. As the word sanctified, or hallowed, in
Scripture, is frequently used for the consecration of a thing or
person to a holy use or office, as the Levites, first-born,
tabernacle, temple, and their utensils, which were all set apart
from every earthly, common, or profane use, and employed wholly in
the service of God, so the Divine Majesty may be said to be
sanctified by us, in analogy to those things, viz. when, we
separate him from, and in our conceptions and desires exalt him
above, earth and all things.

Thy name.] That is, GOD himself, with all the attributes of
his Divine nature-his power, wisdom, justice, mercy,

We hallow God's name, 1st. With our lips, when all our
conversation is holy, and we speak of those things which are meet
to minister grace to the hearers.

2dly. In our thoughts, when we suppress every rising evil, and
have our tempers regulated by his grace and Spirit.

3dly. In our lives, when we begin, continue, and end our works
to his glory. If we have an eye to God in all we perform, then
every act of our common employment will be an act of religious
worship.

4thly. In our families, when we endeavour to bring up our
children in the discipline and admonition or the Lord; instructing
also our servants in the way of righteousness.

5thly. In a particular calling or business, when we separate
the falsity, deception, and lying, commonly practised, from it;
buying and selling as in the sight of the holy and just God.

Source: Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Albert Barnes on "Hallowed be thy Name"

Hallowed be thy name. The word hallowed means, to render or pronounce holy. God's name is essentially holy; and the meaning of this petition is, "Let thy name be celebrated, and venerated, and esteemed as holy everywhere, and receive of all men proper honours." It is thus the expression of a wish or desire, on the part of the worshipper, that the name of God, or God himself, should be held everywhere in proper veneration.

Source: Barnes' New Testament Notes