Sanctify G-d's Name

Messiah Says

Messiah affirms this commandment for His disicples when He instructs them to pray:

Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.' (Matthew 6:9)

 

Hallowed is a word that means "made holy".  Messiah teaches His disciples to sanctify G-d's name.

  

Pictures of Messiah

This command to sanctify G-d's name pictures the holiness of Messiah's name:

"I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are."  (John 17:11)

 

As a consequence of Messiah's faithfulness and obedience, G-d has given to Him the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9).  Just as G-d's name should be sanctified so should the name of the Messiah.

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by sanctifying G-d's special and holy name, YHVH, to the point of never using it in all of recorded Scripture.  He used other words in place of G-d's special name: "Heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:48), "Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 3:2), and "Lord" (Matthew 4:10) are just a few examples.

  

Traditional Observance

This commandment is traditionally observed in several ways.  Here are two examples:

When a person is reading Scripture aloud and the Holy Name of G-d is in the text, the reader inserts "HaShem" in place of G-d's name.  HaShem is Hebrew for "The Name".

When a person is praying to G-d instead of pronouncing the Holy Name of G-d, the person praying uses "Adonai" which is a Hebrew word that means "Master" or "Lord" (which is why many English translations use "LORD" in place of G-d's Holy Name).  Adon or Adonai is frequently used in Scripture to refer to G-d.

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment and we should sanctify G-d's name.

 

This positive commandment to sanctify G-d's name means we should set it apart for sacred use; to consecrate it.¹.

This commandment mirrors the next one which is "do not profane G-d's name".

The word "G-d" is not His holy name.  "G-d" is a title. 

His holy name is the special four-letter name He gave to Moses (Exodus 6:2-3).  It is transliterated into English as YHVH.  Some Bibles incorrectly translate this name as Jehovah or Yahweh.  Many Bibles use LORD (all caps) in place of this name because its true pronunciation is unknown.

Another way to "sanctify" G-d's name is by living holy lives that reflect well upon G-d's character and His name.  When we claim to be His and live in an unholy manner then we disgrace His Name (His character, His authority, and His renown).

Messiah commanded us:

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  (Mattthew 5:16) [emphasis added]

 

Oh, Lord, may it be so!

 

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Footnotes

1. Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition  © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and distribution in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved. [back]