ILLUSTRATIONS.--_Prayer for Self_: The Lepers, Luke 17:12, 13; The Blind Beggar, Luke 18:35-43; The Publican, Luke 18:13; _For Others_: Jesus, John 17, Luke 23:32; Abraham, Gen. 18:23-33; Moses, Exod. 32:11; Stephen, Acts 7:60. _Answer to Prayer_: Israel in Bondage, Exod. 2:23, 24; Hannah, I Sam. 1:9-20; Elijah, I Kings 17:21, 22; Jas. 5:17; The Early Church, Acts 12:5-17; Paul, Acts 16:25; II Cor. 12:7-9. CHAPTER XXIV. THE LORD'S PRAYER. 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.