Therefore pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be holy,
In the opening part of this saying, Jesus is preparing to present to his followers a form, a model of prayer as a guide for how they should pray. It describes the introduction to the prayer we know as the “Lord’s Prayer.” Next we will see that the Lord’s Prayer is short, simple, and directed toward essential values: the glorification of God, the doing of his will, and, in a concise way, a request for our basic needs. The phrase “Our Father in heaven, may your name be holy” is the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer. Here Jesus calls his followers to turn to God, calling God “Father,” who is not only the personal God of those who pray, but the Father of all humanity. The phrase “Our Father” shows an intimate and caring relationship with God. The phrase “in heaven” shows God’s greatness and holiness, that he is above earthly things and reigns over all. The words “may your name be holy” glorify God, emphasizing his holiness and exaltedness, and also our reverence toward him. That is, this is a prayer in which the one praying asks that God’s name always be magnified and honored, and that God’s glory be seen in the world.