I. The first part of the preface is "Our Father." Father is
5:14. And sure we pray according to his will—when we pray according to the pattern he has set us. So much for the introduction to the Lord's prayer, "This, then, is how you should pray."
The prayer itself consists of three parts:
1. A Preface.
2. Petitions.
3. The Conclusion.
1. The preface to the prayer includes, "Our Father;" and, "Who is in heaven."
I. The first part of the preface is "Our Father." Father is sometimes taken personally, "My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28); but Father in the text is taken essentially for the whole Deity. This title, Father, teaches us that we must address ourselves in prayer to God alone. There is no such thing in the Lord's prayer, as, "O saints or angels, hear us"; but, "Our Father in heaven."
In what order must we direct our prayers to God? Here the Father alone is named. May we not direct our prayers to the Son and Holy Spirit also?
Though the Father alone is named in the Lord's prayer—yet the other two Persons are not excluded. The Father is mentioned because he is first in order; but the Son and Holy Spirit are included because they are the same in essence. As all the three Persons subsist in one Godhead. So, in our prayers, though we name but one Person, we must pray to all.