←
Explanation for:
Matthew
6
:
9
Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
14
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"By addressing Him as Father, we acknowledge ourselves as His children. Hallowed be Your name - This sanctification occurs not in You, but within us, for when the name of God is disparaged among the Gentiles due to sinners, it is, conversely, glorified for the sake of the righteous."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Jerusalem","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a9af397fcf9d613728f_Cyrill%20of%20Jerusalem.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"O the profound compassion of God! To those who have turned away from Him and harbored deep animosity towards Him, He has granted such forgiveness of sins and a sharing in His grace that they are able to call Him Father: Our Father, who art in heaven. Heaven consists of those who reflect the image of the divine (1 Cor. 15:49) and in whose hearts God resides and walks among them (2 Cor. 6:16). Hallowed be Thy name. The name of God is inherently holy, regardless of our acknowledgment. However, it is sometimes desecrated by the sinful, as it is written: by you my name is always blasphemed among the nations (Is. 52:5; Rom. 2:24). Thus, we pray that God's name may be sanctified within us: not because it will change in its holiness, but because it becomes holy in us when we are transformed and act in ways that reflect that holiness."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He preferred to be addressed as Father rather than Lord, to offer us a solid assurance in our petitions and a profound hope for what we may receive. Servants do not always get what they request, nor do they always ask with sincerity for what is truly needed. Often, their requests are self-centered, focusing on their own interests rather than those of their master; thus, they may not warrant a response. In contrast, children are assured to receive what they request, as they ask with a pure heart and prioritize their father's well-being over their own needs, which grants them the right to be heard. Therefore, if you consider yourself a child of God, seek what is truly good for you, and it is appropriate for Him to provide. However, if your requests are consistently for worldly and material things, you may find it difficult to attain them, or perhaps they will be denied altogether. Can He willingly grant you what He prevents you from obtaining?"},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Your astonishment at the succinctness of this prayer is understandable, yet I have always found deep wisdom embedded in concise expressions. Speaking words may not pose a challenge, but grasping the profound significance of those words is a different matter. It demands not merely a listener but also someone who acts. Thus, I believe that anyone who calls the Lord Father without embodying the virtues of a devoted child oversteps the bounds of audacity; similarly, those who do not engage in actions that honor God's name have no right to proclaim, Hallowed be Thy name. Consequently, the phrase ‘Our Father’ can only be rightfully uttered by those who, through the miraculous regeneration of Holy Baptism and the remarkable law of divine birth, demonstrate their identity as true children of God. Those who declare, Hallowed be Thy name, must live in a manner free from deeds deserving of condemnation."},{"author-name":"Barsanuphius the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88987273231d0b86ede87_Barsanuphius%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"The Lord's Prayer is intended for both the righteous and the sinners. For the righteous, its recitation serves as a reminder of their divine filiation, encouraging them to strive to remain faithful to Him. For sinners, invoking the name of the One they have frequently offended should inspire a sense of shame that leads them to self-examination and repentance."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"A vow differs from a prayer. A vow represents a commitment to God, such as when someone pledges to refrain from wine or other indulgences, whereas prayer involves petitioning for blessings. By addressing God as ‘Father,’ you acknowledge the privileges that come with being His child, and by referencing ‘in heaven,’ you point to your true homeland and the dwelling place of your Father. Thus, if you desire to recognize God as your Father, you should focus on heaven rather than on earthly matters, as advised by St. Theophanes the Hermit. It is important to say ‘Our Father’ instead of ‘My Father,’ as you must regard all others as siblings in the family of the one Father in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name signifies a plea for our sanctification, so that Your name may be glorified; for just as God is tarnished through my actions, He is likewise honored and regarded as Holy through me."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Every word holds significant importance. He instructs us to address Him as Father, reminding us of our divine heritage and, as children of God, to acknowledge the worthiness of such a blessing, living in a manner befitting such a Father. Whoever lives unrighteously yet claims God as their Father misrepresents both God and themselves. Additionally, He urges us to use the term ours to emphasize our unity as believers, all being children of the same God. By continually affirming this truth, we should not elevate ourselves above the humble, nor should we entertain thoughts, speech, or actions that are unkind toward our brethren; rather, we should intercede for one another. He included the phrase, “who is in heaven,” so that we might continually aspire to the heights of heaven, recognizing it as our true homeland, which should encourage us to turn away from earthly attachments and strive to ascend the ladder of virtues to where our Father dwells. By stating that God is in heaven, we do not confine His presence solely to that realm, for He is beyond our comprehension and boundlessness; rather, we confess that He is omnipresent, especially in the most sanctified spaces meant to honor Him. Hence, we affirm God's existence in heaven, a realm characterized by purity, where the incorporeal beings and the assembly of saints reside in His presence. Chrysostom connects this prayer to the Son, who is also known as our Father in His roles as Creator, Intercessor, Provider, and Teacher. On the same token, we can rightfully refer to the Holy Spirit as our Father. This can apply to each Person individually or collectively to the one Godhead. When we say sanctified, we mean glorified. In our virtuous living, God receives honor from those who witness our actions. He encourages us to let our light shine before others so that they may witness our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). May Your name, glorious in essence, be exalted through our lives."},{"author-name":"Symeon of Thessalonica","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897e26d8de9e2f4f210fd_Symeon%20of%20Thessalonica.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":15,"exegesis-text":"Our Father, for You are our Creator, who formed us from nothing, and through Your Son, You have graciously become our Father. You who dwell in heaven, for You inhabit the Saints, embodying holiness, as it is written; the angels who reside in heaven are holier than we, and heaven is purer than the earth. Thus, God primarily abides in heaven. May Your name be revered. Since You are holy, sanctify Your name within us, purifying us as well, so that we, belonging to You, may declare Your name as holy, honor it within ourselves, and avoid bringing it into disrepute."},{"author-name":"Peter of Kiev","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896ddde144a394c69d270_Peter%20of%20Kiev.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":17,"exegesis-text":"What is the prayer known as the Lord's Prayer? It begins with the address: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. What are the divisions of this prayer? It consists of three parts: the introduction, the requests, and the closing. What does the introduction consist of? The introduction is the phrase: Our Father, who art in heaven. What does this introduction signify? Firstly, it conveys that anyone seeking to approach God should come not only as His creation but also as His child, through grace; without being a child, one cannot refer to Him as Father. This gracious adoption is offered by Jesus Christ to those who believe in Him, as stated in Scripture: ‘But to them that receive Him, He hath given them the power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name’ (John 1:12). Furthermore, it is written: ‘Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba Father”’ (Galatians 4:6). Hence, we refer to God as our Father. Secondly, he must be a member of the one holy, universal Church; for one who does not see the Church as his mother cannot truly refer to God as Father, as it is said: ‘But if he shall neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican’ (Matthew 18:17). Thirdly, this individual must harbor no doubts about receiving what they request. They ask from a Father who is compassionate and gracious, the Father of all, as Scripture teaches: ‘Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful’ (Luke 6:36). He does not deny our requests but offers us ways to approach Him and welcomes our prayers, provided they stem from a pure heart. For He knows our needs before we express them, as it is written: ‘Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him’ (Matthew 6:8). Furthermore, it is stated: ‘If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him’ (Matthew 7:11). Fourthly, this introduction indicates that as God is our Father, we, as His followers, should regard one another as brothers, interceding not just for ourselves but for each other. The Scripture reminds us: ‘Pray one for another, that ye may be healed’ (James 5:16), addressing our common Father. Christ Himself instructed: ‘Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven’ (Matthew 23:9). When God observes our fraternal love, which He continually encourages in the Holy Gospel, He, as a Father, rejoices and is more inclined to listen to us. Fifthly, the phrase ‘who art in heaven’ serves as a reminder for us to elevate our thoughts and aspirations from the mundane and temporary to the celestial and everlasting during prayer. Our God and Father is not confined to heaven alone but is omnipresent, omnipotent. As His grace and bountiful blessings are most evident in heaven, it is rightly called His throne, as proclaimed by the Prophet: ‘His throne is in heaven’ (Psalm 10:4). Additionally, it is stated: ‘The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom ruleth over all’ (Psalm 102:19). What is the first request made in the Lord's Prayer? It is: ‘Hallowed be Thy name.’ What does this request encompass? First, we implore our Lord and God to grant us a life that reflects holiness, characterized by virtues and righteous deeds, so that our lives may inspire others to glorify His name, as it is said: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven’ (Matthew 5:16). Second, through this petition, we seek not only for our lives to honor God but also for those who do not believe in Him or recognize Him to be turned toward Him, thereby allowing God's name to be exalted through them. Furthermore, we intercede for those who identify as true followers of Christ but live in ways that tarnish our faith and offend God; about whom the Apostle wrote: ‘Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof’ (2 Timothy 3:5). In another instance, it is stated: ‘The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you’ (Romans 2:24). In this portion of the prayer, we ask for their transformation and repentance from immoral living, urging them to adopt a life of piety and self-control, that God’s name may be revered. It is important to recognize that God's name is inherently holy; however, it becomes sanctified in and through us when we lead lives that are virtuous and devoted to His glory."},{"author-name":"Wladimir (Bogojawlenski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c898de9753dde91f8ba29f_Wladimir%20(Bogojawlenski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Prayer serves as the essential breath of the soul, the heartbeat of spiritual existence. True spiritual vitality must find expression in prayer directed towards God. A lack of authentic prayer signifies an unhealthy spiritual and moral state, just as a robust spiritual life thrives on continual, sincere prayer. The significance of the ability to pray with authenticity and to grow in that communication with God cannot be overstated. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ fervently encouraged His disciples to engage in prayer without ceasing, gifting them the words of the Lord’s Prayer, which is revered as the Lord’s Prayer. He instructed them on this prayer twice: first, when they sought His guidance, as recounted by the Evangelist Luke, asking Him, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and again during His sermon on the Mount, where He cautioned against the false, ostentatious prayers of the Pharisees, urging them to pray earnestly and succinctly, focusing on the essence rather than empty verbosity.\\n\\nBeloved friends in Christ! Even if our Lord had imparted nothing else to us but this prayer, we would still be unable to express our gratitude sufficiently. This prayer, concise and straightforward, can be recited by a child in a moment yet holds profound depth that even the most learned cannot fully grasp. One esteemed theologian candidly acknowledged, “I confess that I do not yet fully understand the Lord's Prayer, despite holding a doctorate.” So, who are we to presume we can fully comprehend its meaning? We are akin to children at a vast, flowing spring, attempting to gather water with our hands, barely able to capture its richness. Almighty, Wise, and Inexpressible God, look down from Your heavenly heights and grant that as we gather here today and in the future to explore the Lord's Prayer, we may draw from this boundless source enough to satisfy our souls' thirst for You, the Living God.\\n\\nPray in this manner: Our Father who art in heaven. We, as siblings in Christ, are aware from our earliest days that God is our Father, which may make it seem simple to call Him Father in our prayers. However, this was a radical perspective for those who prayed to God, a perspective that our Lord bestowed upon His disciples. The idea of approaching God with such childlike confidence was foreign not only to the Gentiles but also to the righteous of the Old Testament. Very few instances in the Old Testament refer to God as Father, and even the most devout individuals held a limited understanding of His fatherly qualities.\\n\\nIn the book of Malachi, for instance, God demands honor that is fitting for a Father (Mal. 1:6). In another instance, He chastises His people for their unfaithfulness, asking, “Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us?” (Mal. 2:10). David, recognizing God as the protector of the weak, calls Him the Father of orphans (Ps. 67:6). Yet, this father figure, for the Old Testament believers, seemed devoid of the nurturing love that connects a father to his children. David himself, who exemplified the essence of prayer and prayed with unmatched sincerity, never dares to refer to God as a father with the intimacy of a child.\\n\\nThe privilege of calling the invisible God “Father” belongs to us Christians, who have come to know through the revelation of His Son that God is love, and that all His actions are rooted in that fatherly love. It is through the love of God, manifested in Christ, that we understand that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is also our Father, who has blessed us by making us His children. As scripture affirms, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). Likewise, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and to whom He chooses to reveal Him” (Matt. 11:27). Moreover, “To those who received Him, who believe in His name, He gave authority to become children of God” (Jn. 1:12).\\n\\nThus, dear Christian, always reflect before praying the Lord’s Prayer on whether you harbor even a glimpse of those childlike qualities in your heart, and if you indeed have the right to approach the Almighty, Eternal, Holy God—the Creator of heaven and earth—as your Father with that degree of confidence. How joyous it is if His Spirit affirms in your spirit that you are truly a child of God, able to approach Him with that childlike trust. Just as a child seeks everything from their father, confident and open, so too should we approach our Heavenly Father, trusting Him for all our needs.\\n\\nIf you genuinely are a child of God, there is no need for redundancy in your inquiry about why and how you pray. Is there anyone who questions a flower on why it blooms or diffuses its fragrance? It simply cannot help but blossom and emit its scent. In a similar vein, do you question why a star shines? It is in its very nature to shine. Likewise, a Christian, a child of God, cannot refrain from praying; he must do so. In prayer, he finds nourishment, solace, and the outpouring of his heart before the Lord, voicing his thoughts, emotions, aspirations, and requests through supplication and gratitude.\\n\\nThis is precisely why our Lord Jesus Christ positioned His disciples in this rightful relationship to God, seeing them as children to their benevolent Father. Through this, He draws us closer to God, encouraging us to believe in Him as our true Father, and to recognize ourselves as His true children so that we may confidently approach Him just as loving children do their affectionate parent. The invocation of “Father” signifies this intimate connection to God, while adding the term “our” reminds us of our interconnectedness with others, of our communal brotherly rights and responsibilities toward one another.\\n\\nYou are not alone in your need for His paternal love and your right to call Him Father; a vast family of God’s children exists. Millions join you in calling Him Father, seeking His guidance and care alongside you. They are your kin, deserving of remembrance in your prayers. What a profound thought! Wherever you may find yourself, whether in a grand assembly or in solitude, countless others are lifting prayers alongside you, all called to be children of God and beseeching the Father in His name. Our united prayers and hymns ascend to the heights, blending with the celestial praise of those in glory, who offer more worthy adoration than all earthly voices.\\n\\nWith such a vast heart, the Christian prays; he prays with all, and for all—including those yet to recognize Him as their God and Father, who likewise depend on Him as we do and are called to know Him as their Father. But why does our Savior instruct us to add \\"who art in heaven\\"? We understand that God is present everywhere; there is no place in His immense creation where He is absent or where His reach does not extend. David cried out, “Where shall I go from Your spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7).\\n\\nThe Lord Jesus encourages us to seek the Father in heaven, just as David called upon the Lord from the depths of his troubles (Ps. 130:1). This phrasing signifies our recognition of the trials we face on earth while acknowledging that God reigns above it all, in the glory and majesty of heaven. We are blessed that in the midst of our struggles, we can trust in our Father, who stands above every earthly hardship, showering us with every good gift.\\n\\nAs far as heaven is above the earth, so are His thoughts higher than our thoughts, and His ways above our ways. His power and wisdom far exceed earthly comprehension, and His love transcends human affection. The most devoted love of an earthly parent is a mere shadow of the love our heavenly Father has for His children. It is indeed miraculous and unnatural for a mother's love to shift, let alone the immutable heart of our Heavenly Father. Even if a mother forgets her child, He pledges, “I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).\\n\\nSo, dear friend, elevate your aspirations and sentiments towards Him. Do not let your heart cling to the fleeting pleasures of this world, but set your gaze towards your Father in heaven, the embodiment of majesty and glory. That is your true home and heritage, one lost due to sin, and the Father’s house to which you belong. You can return only through the path of sorrow and reflection upon what you lost by straying from your Father's house.\\n\\nStrive with your desires and hopes toward the dwelling prepared for you by the Lord of glory, your Savior, alongside His Father. Do not lose sight of your noble origins and your heavenly home amidst foreign lands. Redirect your focus from the path to the goal, and cultivate your heart’s longing for the inheritance of God’s children in heaven—towards the saints who sing at His throne, exclaiming, “Holy, holy, holy!”—and towards the bliss of heaven to which you are called.\\n\\nThus, when we utter the prayer: Our Father who art in heaven, how essential it is that we do so with the reverence and sincerity that reflects a truly childlike heart! The more genuine our appeal, the more effective our prayer will be, enabling us to utter this prayer with the confidence taught by our Lord Himself. Therefore, as we pray to You, our Father, may You accept us in Your mercy and guide our hearts through the power of Your Holy Spirit, so we may be rightly called Your children, approaching You with full faith and courage, as beloved children would to their treasured parent.\\n\\nWhen our Savior teaches His disciples to pray, He first positions them correctly, adopting a childlike posture towards God, instructing them to pray: Our Father who art in heaven. The more we embody the meaning of this invocation, the more we become true children of God in disposition and the more our prayers align with what is pleasing to God. It all begins with our first words: Hallowed be Thy name!\\n\\nThose without a childlike heart, who do not revere God above all else, will not partake in this prayer’s essence and will merely recite the words: Hallowed be Thy name, without genuine participation. They commence their prayers with the more demanding requests, like “Give us this day our daily bread” or “Deliver us from evil.” It is only those with truly childlike hearts, who genuinely honor and love God above all, that can sincerely address Him as “Our Father” and passionately intercede that His name be glorified.\\n\\nGod has indeed revealed His holy name throughout creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the earth proclaims the work of His hands.” His name is inscribed on every leaf, every creature, celebrating Him through the dance of sunlight and the glow of the moon. Yet, countless individuals remain blind to this testimony, neglecting to recognize their Creator amidst the splendor of nature. For millennia, the heathens have followed their paths, engaged in conflict, and pursued worldly gains, yet they remain oblivious to the God who shaped all existence, failing to honor His name as it should be.\\n\\nGod speaks to your conscience; His name is engraved within you, revealing Him as a holy and just Being. You can hear His call, which warns of judgment, sorrow, and the anguish of sin. Yet how many among us are resistant to that voice, deaf to the overtures of conscience? Or if you hear that voice, do you reject the Father's embracing assurance? That intimate knowledge of God’s heart can only be discovered in His Word—there lies the revelation of His grandeur and merciful love.\\n\\nFor this reason, the faithful of the Old Testament proclaimed: “I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness; for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word” (Psalm 138:2). Christians, who behold how God's name shines even brighter through His only Son, who became incarnate and dwelt amongst us—a reflection of grace and truth—should strive to glorify it.\\n\\nThe mission of our Savior’s earthly journey was to exalt the Father’s name, leading others to worship Him through the Son. Thus, He prayed, saying, “Righteous Father, the world has not known You, but I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. I have made Your name known to them, and I will continue to make it known” (John 17:25-26). Jesus desires His disciples to prioritize the hallowing of their Father’s name above all things.\\n\\nOur praise, worship, and honor do not add to the innate holiness of God's nature. Yet, despite our transgressions, we cannot diminish His glory; like the sun obscured by clouds, it continues to radiate unchanged. When we highlight God’s holiness through our lives, we pray that His name may remain revered among us, reflecting His majesty, wisdom, and goodness.\\n\\nIn what light, then, should we interpret these words from the Lord's Prayer: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name? They are phrases of adoration, reverence, and worship directed towards the divine grace of our God. From the depths of earthly sorrows and sins, I raise my gaze toward my heavenly Father—the one whose name resounds throughout creation. A profound sense of love, awe, gratitude, and worship compels my soul. “O God, Creator, what is Your creation before You, O incomprehensible and majestic Being?” I am but a speck in the vastness of Your creation. You command and worlds form; You withdraw Your breath, and they fade.\\n\\nYet You remain near, O God; Your presence surrounds us, in our weaknesses and in our sins, offering grace. Thus, we approach You with the boldness of children, lifting our voices: Our Father! Can we ever adequately thank You for such fatherly love that allows us to join our feeble cries with the celestial choirs who sing Your praises from Your throne? Let our very existence be an unending melody glorifying Your name. Such should be our thoughts and intentions as we utter the Lord’s Prayer. \\n\\nWe must consider that anyone lacking such heartfelt sincerity when praying this cannot utter a genuine Lord’s Prayer. Yet, upon reflecting on the moral status of humanity, a somber reality presents itself. How greatly it falls short of the reverence God's glory deserves! Millions remain unaware of Him, having never pronounced a word of praise or thanksgiving. \\n\\nEven among those who profess to follow Him, many pursue the allurements of earthly wisdom and joy, focusing solely on material comforts and well-being. Whose honor are they pursuing? Is it for the glorification of the One who deserves it, from whom every good and perfect gift arises? Or, is it for the praise of their own names? Do not modern individuals echo the words of the Babylonians, desiring to forge their own legacies apart from God?\\n\\nLet us now turn inwardly, examining our hearts to gauge how our lives are structured towards glorifying God. Do your actions and words uplift the name of the Lord Jesus, all done in gratitude to God the Father? Does a consistent thread of “Not to us, but to Your name be the glory, O Lord” run through your life? Or have you deviated from these principles, constructing a life serving other motives? \\n\\nAfter witnessing the undeniable demonstrations of God’s power, wisdom, and goodness in your life, does unbelief still linger in your heart? Are you still bound to murmuring and doubt, clinging to self-righteousness and pride? Following moments of divine communion, do you still allow self-interest to overshadow your devotion to God and love for others? \\n\\nAs we are called to Him with “Our Father who art in heaven,” should He not respond justly, as He did to Israel: “A son honors his father, and a servant his master; if I am a father, where is the honor due me?” For we proclaim, “My name will be great among the nations,” yet we may mock it (Mal. 1:6, 11-12). Thus, the petition, “Hallowed be Thy name,” expresses not only our worship but also serves as a humble request for God to address the dishonor His name endures.\\n\\nIn His grace, may He help us recognize and appreciate His love, guiding us to glorify Him through our faithful lives. May the Lord grant us His blessings, illuminating us with His light so our actions reflect Him before humanity, leading them to glorify our Father who is in heaven. Amen."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Pray in this manner. The Lord provides a template for Christian prayer, which does not imply that one should exclusively use the words of the Lord's Prayer without incorporating additional prayers. This prayer encapsulates the heart of Christian supplication, while its components can serve as themes for countless prayers that arise within the Church of Christ and are shared among various Christian communities and traditions. \\n\\nOur Father. God is the Father of all humanity, as He is the Creator and the initial Source of all life, as well as the Sustainer of the entire human race. Additionally, He is the Father of all believers through His gracious adoption of them in Christ (Rom. 8:14-17). Ours. This phrase encourages us to pray not only for our own needs but also for the welfare of all people, emphasizing the importance of seeking the good of others (Chrysostom; cf. Theophylact). Who art in heaven! While God is present everywhere, His glory and the fullness of His grace are most evident in Heaven, where His angels and chosen ones bask in His presence. Heaven primarily reflects His majesty and splendor, serving as a unique domain of His sovereignty; there rests His throne (Is. 66:1; Ps. 2:4; Ps. 102:19, 11, 24; Job. 22:12ff; Acts 7:55-56; 1 Tim. 6:16). From this place, the Holy Spirit descends (Acts 2:3-4), accompanied by God's voice (Jn. 12:28) and His angels (Jn. 1:51). By uttering this invocation, the one praying is encouraged to release all earthly distractions and elevate their mind and heart towards Heaven, the ultimate aspiration for all our efforts (cf. Chrysostom and Theophylact). \\n\\nHallowed be Thy name. God's name possesses inherent holiness; yet, it can be honored further by believers who glorify it through their words and actions (Matt. 5:16). Conversely, it can also be defamed through blasphemy and grave misconduct. “May Thy holy name be exalted and revered by all, in every place, at all times, across the whole universe” (Chrysostom; cf. Theophylact). Thy Name. This encompasses all that Thy name signifies and represents: Thy essence, Thy perfections, and attributes revealed to humanity for their understanding and glorification. The term \\"Name\\" stands in for the essence of God."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Amphiteatrov)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896e9b7a2ebaf99e4620a_Philaret%20(Amphiteatrov).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"What should we seek from our heavenly Father? What shall we inquire of His abundant heart? What shall we knock upon in His infinite mercy? Our Savior encapsulates our genuine requests in a concise yet spiritually rich prayer, which He imparted to His disciples to instruct all believers on how and what they ought to pray for. In this Lord's Prayer lies the essence of all other prayers made by the Church of Christ, as if contained in a seed. If we could begin to express this prayer from the depths of our hearts and actions as soon as we articulate it with our lips, we would rapidly transform into true pray-ers. The opening phrase of the Lord's Prayer invites us to approach God with profound humility, unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, genuine love for our fellow believers, and a heart devoted away from earthly desires toward our eternal homeland. For who are we to call Him our Father? Conceived in sin and born of iniquity (Psalm 50:7), naturally children of wrath (Eph. 2:3), what claim would we have to the title of children of God without the sacrifice made by His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who redeemed us and restored to us the invaluable right of sonship to our Father in heaven (Gal. 4:5)? The Divine Love incarnate, in His boundless humanity, gave Himself for all. Consequently, He urged believers to pray not only for themselves but collectively, so that we, while lifting our prayers for our own needs, may embrace all humanity with love from our hearts and offer it up to the God of love, the Father of all, who resides in heaven, where His divine glory is revealed in the company of angels and saints, and where our eternal inheritance is safeguarded, imperishable, and unfading (1 Pet. 1:4). With hearts aligned with this disposition, let us, dear brethren, recite the beginning of the Lord's Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. This is our initial request! God's name is inherently sacred. It embodies holiness itself and is the ever-present source of all sanctity. The Savior instructs us to first implore our Father in heaven that His name, eternally holy in its essence, may also be revered within us and among all humanity. It is hallowed in our hearts when we continually recall it with profound reverence, ever mindful not to offend His infinite majesty through even the smallest sins, hidden from others yet visible to His all-seeing eye. It is sanctified in our thoughts when we consistently place ourselves in the holy presence of God, vigilantly guarding against any ill thoughts that might tarnish our souls, consecrated in our holy baptism as a pure temple for the Lord. It is respected in our speech when we refrain from idle chatter, malicious words, falsehoods, and slander, using our tongues instead to extol His praise and build up our neighbors. Lastly, it is sanctified in our actions when we renounce disreputable passions, striving through our holy lives and devotion to manifest the sanctity of our Christian faith, so that our light shines before others, allowing them to see our good deeds and glorify our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Let us strive first for the hallowing of God's name within ourselves, dear brethren, wholeheartedly as we present our petition before our heavenly Father: Hallowed be Thy name. May we long for it to be honored in all humanity through the purity of their faith and lives, that those who do not recognize God and His Christ may turn to His one holy Church. May all redeemed by the blood of His only-begotten Son glorify the holiness of the Triune God in their hearts, words, and actions, joining the heavenly hosts of angels who ceaselessly glorify Him: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is filled with Thy glory (Is. 6:3)."},{"author-name":"Ignatij (Briantchaninow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ce37597540c9caa5df5_Ignatij%20(Briantchaninow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord's Prayer begins with the invocation: Our Father! Who among righteous individuals would dare to approach God in such a way, acknowledging themselves and their fellow sinners—those rejected and bound by the adversary and the finality of death? Clearly, no one has that right except for God Himself. He granted this privilege; and if He did so, it signifies His approval. When the Son of God became incarnate, He established mankind as children of God and His siblings. He possesses a natural claim to relate to God as Our Father! - and He bestows upon us the gracious ability to approach God as our Father, enabling us to commence our supplication with an extraordinary and awe-inspiring address that no mere human would presume to consider: Our Father! The opening of the Lord's Prayer is a divine gift, one of immeasurable worth, bestowed by the Redeemer upon those He redeems, the Savior upon those He saves. The requests contained in the Lord’s Prayer are for the spiritual blessings won for humanity through redemption. There is no mention within the prayer of earthly, temporary needs. He who instructed His followers to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, also pledged to meet their physical needs when they pursue this kingdom. Following the proclamation, there is an immediate reference to the location of the Father, who transcends all space, being present everywhere and encompassing all: Our Father, who art in heaven. By mentioning the Father's heavenly abode, the praying individual is uplifted beyond earthly concerns. Dismiss all worldly distractions; disregard the transient nature of this life; turn your focus entirely to your true homeland, heaven, which was lost due to the fall but restored through redemption. Offer a prayer for the granting of eternal, spiritual, wholly divine treasures, which far surpass human understanding or that of angels. These gifts are already prepared for you and await your acceptance. God’s justice, which is inherently tied to His goodness, requires that your desire for these heavenly gifts be demonstrated through both your pleas and your way of life. All servants of the Lord will be in awe of the magnitude of the Lord's Prayer. The blessings of God are distributed by His hand. Even the most righteous acknowledge their unworthiness and view their requests as beyond their rights. This bewilderment is even more profound for the sinner who recognizes their own deserving only of condemnation. Yet this confusion finds clarity through understanding. The Lord's Prayer was given to humanity even before their redemption was fully realized; they were designated as sons and invited to sonship before being adopted, before the regeneration of baptism, prior to participating in the Last Supper, and before the renewal through the Holy Spirit. The Lord's Prayer is a gift to sinners. Where God acts, all things are attainable, and all things can defy comprehension. The Lord's Prayer is bestowed upon sinners, who first learn to honor God their Father, with reverence for His name. In this plea lies the acknowledgment of human sinfulness and the need for repentance. 'Hallowed be Thy name in my soul!' I make this request because I do not find it within me. Instead, I discover the contrary: I am mournfully enslaved to sin and the fallen spirits who brought it into existence, who have ensnared me and continue to hold me through sin. In my inner being, I wrestle with sinful and repulsive thoughts and feelings. I am uncertain whether they infiltrate from outside or are born within; what I do know is that they have taken control, and I lack the strength to cast them out. These thoughts and feelings provoke God's anger; they offend the holy one; they blaspheme Him; they alienate me from Him. I require cleansing! I crave repentance! Bestow upon me, my heavenly Father, a profound repentance that purges my inner dwelling of all defilement and foulness, enabling me to receive the adoption You have granted, so that even while I dwell on earth, I might reside in heaven. Until now, I have walked upon the earth. Let the true knowledge of God take root in my soul; let it sanctify my mind, my heart, and all my actions: let Thy name be revered in me. This encapsulates the essence of this request. We may yearn for repentance and purity; we can and should exhaust all possible efforts to attain it; yet the attainment itself is not within our control. It is a gift from God. We must first beseech the Heavenly Father to draw from His spiritual treasures and grant us the gift of repentance, cleanse us of our sinful stains, and adorn us with the blessed purity that sees God and is capable of receiving the true knowledge of Him. Hallowed be Thy name!"},{"author-name":"Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896ffb7a2ebaf99e46539_Philaret%20of%20Moscow%20(Drosdow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"HOW CAN WE CALL GOD FATHER? We are able to address God as Father through our faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of new birth. ‘To those who received Him, to those who believe in His name, He has given authority to be children of God, who are not of blood, nor of the desire of the flesh, nor of the desire of the husband, but are born of God’ (John 1:12-13). IS IT ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO PRAY OUR FATHER? It is essential to recite the Our Father, even when praying alone. THIS IS WHY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP involves calling upon God and seeking His aid not just for oneself but for all people. WHY DO WE SAY ‘HE WHO IS IN HEAVEN’? In our invocation, we refer to ‘He who is in heaven’ to elevate our thoughts and hearts above worldly and transient concerns, directing them towards the eternal and divine. DO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SANCTITY OF GOD'S NAME? The name of God is inherently holy and is undoubtedly sacred. ‘Holy is His name’ (Luke 1:49). HOW CAN WE HONOR GOD'S NAME? The sanctity of God's name can be reflected in individuals, manifesting His eternal holiness through their lives. HOW IS GOD'S NAME SANCTIFIED? God's name is honored through individuals in several ways: by embodying His holiness in our thoughts and actions, thereby living as He has called us to live, which brings glory to Him; and by allowing others to witness our virtuous lives, prompting them to glorify God. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:16)."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
