What is the meaning of "hallowed be thy name"?
Jesus mentioned the sanctification of God’s name as the first request in his model prayer. God’s name embraces the full scope of His excellence, majesty, and holiness. In another prayer, Jesus addressed God as “Holy Father.” (John 17:11) Since God is holy, all principles and laws that originate with him are holy. In spite of this, in the garden of Eden, Satan slyly questioned God’s right to set standards for humans. By lying about Jehovah, Satan slandered God’s sacred name.—Gen. 3:1-5.
Jesus, on the other hand, truly loved the name of God. (John 17:25, 26) Jesus contributed to the sanctification of the divine name. (Read Psalm 40:8-10.) By his perfect life course on earth, Jesus proved that it is reasonable and righteous for God to set standards for his intelligent creatures. Even when Satan subjected Jesus to an agonizing death, Jesus remained completely loyal to his heavenly Father. By being loyal, Jesus proved that a perfect human could maintain perfect obedience to God’s righteous standards.
We can show we love God's name by our conduct. God requires that we be holy. (Read 1 Peter 1:15, 16.) This means that we worship only God and that we obey him with our whole heart. Even when we are persecuted, we do our best to live according to His righteous principles and laws. By performing righteous deeds, we let our light shine and thus bring glory to God’s name. (Matt. 5:14-16) As holy people, we prove by the way we live our lives that God’s laws are good and that Satan’s accusations are false. When we make mistakes, as we all do, we genuinely repent and turn away from practices that dishonor God.—Ps. 79:9.
On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, God forgives the sins of those who exercise faith. He accepts as his worshippers those who dedicate themselves to him. God declares anointed Christians righteous as his sons and those of the “other sheep” righteous as his friends. (John 10:16; Rom. 5:1, 2; Jas. 2:21-25) So even now, the ransom enables us to have a righteous standing with our Father and to share in the sanctification of his name.
