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Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,[a]
12 and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,[b]
    but rescue us from the evil one.[c]

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair[d] and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:11 Or Give us today our food for the day; or Give us today our food for tomorrow.
  2. 6:13a Or And keep us from being tested.
  3. 6:13b Or from evil. Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
  4. 6:17 Greek anoint your head.

The Lord's Prayer

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love (A)to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. (B)Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, (C)go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. (D)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as (E)the Gentiles do, for (F)they think that they will be heard (G)for their many words. Do not be like them, (H)for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (I)Pray then like this:

(J)“Our Father in heaven,
(K)hallowed be (L)your name.[a]
10 (M)Your kingdom come,
(N)your will be done,[b]
    (O)on earth as it is in heaven.
11 (P)Give us (Q)this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And (R)lead us not into temptation,
    but (S)deliver us from (T)evil.[d]

14 (U)For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 (V)but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting

16 “And (W)when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. (X)Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, (Y)anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. (Z)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence
  2. Matthew 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
  3. Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
  4. Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:33 Some manuscripts do not include of God.

28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, (A)even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, (B)O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For (C)the Gentiles seek after all these things, and (D)your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But (E)seek first (F)the kingdom of God and his righteousness, (G)and all these things will be added to you.

34 (H)“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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