A Surprising Lesson
Often there are times when we are concentrating on one idea, and we end up gaining an understanding of another idea or concept. Today we get an opportunity to make such a discovery. In Matthew 6, Jesus is speaking about prayer. Jesus’ words are often sought after in regard to the mechanics of prayer. Many books have been written about what we ought to pray about, and this passage figures prominently in that regard. Today, however, I hope to ponder a different thought. I endeavor to travel a different path with the words of Jesus in Matthew 6.
As Jesus instructs on prayer in Matthew 6, He points out to whom prayer must be addressed. Jesus says that prayer begins with the words, "Our Father who is in heaven.” Obviously, when we speak with God, we must know to whom we are speaking. When we address God, we must understand that we are engaging the One who dwells in the heavens. God is the majestic creator of this universe. He is the one to whom we speak when we participate in prayer. While we could unpack this idea and learn many things from these words, I want to examine what Jesus says next.
After Jesus points to God as the one to whom we must speak, He says, “Hallowed be your name.” The word “hallowed” is unique. It is no longer used in our everyday language, but to “hallow” something is to treat it as sacred, holy, and ultimate. While the Greek word for “hallowed” is rather common, there are few English words that do justice to the idea. As Jesus speaks of prayer and talks about God, He uses this word to show that God must be the ultimate person, thing, idea, or value in our lives. To “hallow” something is to make it one’s ultimate concern, one’s greatest priority.
While this is not a difficult concept to grasp, I’m not so sure that we really understand the words of Jesus. Many people, when they pray, ramble on about whatever thoughts come to mind. Often people approach God (in prayer or life) as if He is a vendor offering services at the local carnival. Jesus is indicating that when we speak with God, we must do so with an attitude of reverence. If we are to be brutally honest, there is very little we show reverence for in today’s world. The prevailing philosophy is that “we” are the center of the universe. For many, life is all about "me, myself, and I." If we have placed ourselves on the throne of the universe, where will God sit?
As Jesus speaks in Matthew 6, He is alluding to much more than prayer. He is building a system of understanding that points to the fact that God must be the supreme ruler of our lives. Jesus is constructing an assumption that will affect all that we do and all that we think. If we live and believe that God is hallowed, then our interaction with Him will be profoundly affected. For example, if God is the center of my life, the reason I live and breathe, there is nothing that will be off-limits to Him. There will be nothing that I hold back from God. There will be nothing too important to sacrifice for His glory. In light of this, doesn’t it make sense that Jesus begins His instructions about prayer with the thought that we must adore God, that He must be hallowed? Continue with me over the next few weeks as we ponder what it means to adore God and "hallow" Him with our lives. Keep looking up!