How to Pray

⁵ “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.^{(A) 6} But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^{[a](B) 7} When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.^{(C) 8} Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.^(D)

The Lord’s Prayer

⁹ “Therefore, you should pray like this: ^(E)

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray^(A) always and not give up.^{(B) 2} “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God^(C) or respect people. ³ And a widow^(D) in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

⁴ “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps^(E) pestering me,^[a] I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out^[b] by her persistent coming.’”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ Will not God grant justice^(F) to his elect^(G) who cry out to him day and night?^(H) Will he delay^(I) helping them?^{[c] 8} I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,^(J) will he find faith on earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He^(K) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves^(L) that they were righteous^(M) and looked down^(N) on everyone else: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray,^(O) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee was standing^(P) and praying like this about himself: ^[d] ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy,^(Q) unrighteous,^(R) adulterers,^(S) or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast^(T) twice a week; I give a tenth^[e](U) of everything I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector, standing far off,^(V) would not even raise his eyes to heaven^(W) but kept striking his chest^(X) and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,^[f](Y) a sinner!’ ^{(Z) 14} I tell you, this one went down to his house justified^(AA) rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”^(AB)

⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.^(A)

¹² Rejoice in hope;^(A) be patient in affliction;^(B) be persistent in prayer.^(C)

Our Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.^{(A) 15} For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are,^(B) yet without sin.^{(C) 16} Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.