Unpacking the Profound Meaning of ‘Our Father in Heaven’: Seven Revelations from Matthew 6:9
- Rosanne Martin
- Sep 8, 2024
- 3 min read
By Rosanne Martin 8 September 24
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be your name
Matthew 6:9
Have you ever stopped to ask why Jesus taught us to open in prayer in this way?
Why did Jesus so radically change the way we address the Sovereign Lord?
What do these two lines convey?
We often say this part of the Lord’s Prayer without stopping to think about what these lines are saying to us, so I stopped, asked, researched, and spent some time on it with my Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
I came up with seven things these two lines convey. This is not an exhaustive list, but my cup is running over with revelation and gratitude.
My hope is you will have a deeper revelation of our wonderful heavenly Father as you use these two lines in prayer.
Here are Seven Revelations from Matthew 6:9
1. Relationship and Intimacy: By addressing God as “Father,” Jesus highlighted the Father’s heart of love, goodness, kindness, grace, and mercy for his children, those who listen to and follow Jesus. It is an intimate relationship between parent and child.
2. Respect and Reverence: A good Father is a person the child looks up to and respects: is wise, knowledgeable and someone to learn from. There is also a certain amount of healthy and reverent fear in this relationship.
3. Identity and Assurance: Calling God “Father” reassures us of our identity as God’s children. He is approachable and committed to care for us, provide for us, protect us, and correct us.
4. Community and Unity: Using “Our” instead of “My” underscores the unity of family we experience with other believers and Jesus. We all have the same heavenly Father.
5. Divine Authority and Sovereignty: Recognizing God as our heavenly Father underscores His supreme authority and sovereignty over all creation. It reminds us he has ultimate control over everything and is not bound by our earthly knowledge or ways.
6. Heavenly Perspective and Heavenly Resources: Understanding that our Father is from heaven enables us to pray boldly and confidently because he has divine resources. Our heavenly Father has the power to provide for our needs and guide us through life’s challenges. He can do immeasurably more than what we ask or imagine.
7. Reverence and Worship: Honoring God’s name is a great way to focus ourselves on who our Heavenly Father is, His holiness, majesty, and sovereignty bringing us to a place of worship. We are now ready to present our prayers and petitions.
“Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be your name.”
Jesus gave us two little but power packed verses to help us to pray.
These little verses convey so much about who our heavenly Father is, our relationship with him, his holiness and sovereignty and how we can focus our prayers.
I would love to hear your thoughts on these two lines
What do these two lines communicate to you?
Which of the seven points listed can you relate to the most?
Coming up:
5-day Be Encouraged to Pray Teaching Challenge
How to pray purposefully, powerfully, and persistently for the people in your life who have yet to know Jesus and those that do.
Date: 23rd - 27th September
Time: 7:30pm - 830pm NZ time
Via zoom and a private Face book group.
Many of you may have done this challenge.
If you benefited from it then invite your friends to come along to it. Send them the link and let them know how you benefitted from this course.
For more information go to
My Prayer For You
Thank you, Jesus for showing us how to pray.
I ask our Father in heaven to fill you with the knowledge of the great love he has for you.
I pray you will become more aware of his goodness, kindness, grace and mercy, he has for you as his beloved child.
May you experience the unity of family that comes from having the same Father as Jesus.
May you join Jesus to bring glory and honour to our heavenly Father’s name.
May your prayers be bold, courageous, and full of heaven inspired possibilities as you come into our Father’s presence with your requests and petitions.
I ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the first born Son of our Father in Heaven.
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