The Lord's Prayer is so-called because it was given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. [Matt. 6:9-13, Luke 11:1-4] It teaches us how to pray aright, and is the model after which we should fashion all our prayers. It shows us the manner in which we should come to God, and the things for which we should ask.
ITS CONTENTS. The Lord's Prayer contains an Introduction, Seven Petitions, and a Conclusion. The first three petitions regard God's glory, and deal with His Name, His Kingdom, and His Will; the last four regard our bodily and spiritual needs, and deal with our Daily Bread, Forgiveness, Temptation, and Deliverance from Evil. Six petitions, the first three and the last three, refer to spiritual gifts; and only one, the fourth, refers to earthly gifts. Thus we are taught that, when we pray, we should think first of God's glory; and that we should pray more for spiritual than for temporal benefits.
INTRODUCTION.
Our Father Who art in Heaven.
What is meant by this Introduction?
God would thereby affectionately encourage us to believe that He is truly our Father, and that we are His children indeed, so that we may call upon Him with all cheerfulness and confidence, even as beloved children entreat their affectionate parent.
This Introduction shows us the manner in which we should come to God in prayer; namely, as His children, who are asking their Father for what they need, and who are sure that He loves them and will answer their prayer.
OUR FATHER.[6] God is our Father and we are His children through Christ our Saviour. [Gal 3:26+, 1 John 3:1, 2, Rom. 8:16] We should therefore be sure that He will receive us kindly for Jesus' sake whenever we come before him with our prayers. We should CALL UPON HIM WITH ALL CHEERFULNESS AND CONFIDENCE, EVEN AS BELOVED CHILDREN ENTREAT THEIR AFFECTIONATE PARENT. [Matt. 7:11+, Rom. 8:15+, Heb. 4:16]
[Footnote 6: Observe how the name "Father," by which we are here taught to address God, corresponds with the duty "to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things" as enjoined by the First Commandment.]
We are taught to say our and not my Father, because the Lord's Prayer was given to believers to use in their common worship as well as in their private devotions; and because we should pray not only for ourselves but for our fellow-believers and for all men.
WHO ART IN HEAVEN. An earthly father is not always able to do what his children ask, even if he desires to do so. But the Father to whom we here pray is our Heavenly Father, and is abundantly able to answer all our prayers, [Eph. 3:20+] He not only loves us with an everlasting love, but is almighty, omniscient, and all-wise. He is able to do all things which He wills to do, and will answer all our prayers in the very way that is best for us.
QUESTIONS.—1. Why is the Lord's Prayer so called? 2. What does it teach us? 3. What does it contain? 4. What can you say about the seven petitions? 5. What does the introduction show? 6. Why do we say Our Father? 7. How should this encourage us to call upon Him? 8. Why do we say Our Father? 9. What is to be said about our heavenly Father in comparison with earthly fathers?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.—Gal. 3:26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Matt. 7:11. 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?
Rom. 8:15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Eph. 3:20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
READING.—Christ teaches His Disciples to pray, Luke 11:1-4.
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